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WIP Wikivoyage: Karelianastan
Karelianastan, officially The Worker's State of Karelianastan is a large nation in The Communist Bloc, home to over five billion residents and is an economic powerhouse. The country is mostly known for its marvellous natural sights, friendly populace and laid-back, calm cities. Being a popular tourist destination, Karelianastan has a lot to offer for any type of traveller, from adventurers to connoisseurs of the fine arts.
Regions
Karelianastan is a federal state, with each individual province having relatively large autonomy. However, for the purposes of tourism, they can be separated into the following three categories.
The Coastal Regions: Home to the nation's largest cities, but also extensive beaches and sandy dunes.
The Southwest: Flatlands, agriculture and the eccentric city of Essex Falls.
The Southeast: Almost completely covered by dense forests, sparsely populated; houses several important national parks.
Cities
Large Cities
Kingsburg. The national capital has long been a place where trade flourished. This heritage is visible in the well-preserved old town, mostly consisting of buildings erected in the 18th and 19th century. Along with this goes a decent selection of museums and other cultural institutions. The city is also important as an international business city, with many of the government-owned industry being headquartered here.
Port Windford. Being overshadowed by the capital for a long time, Port Windford has gained confidence in recent times, rapidly expanding and modernizing. The city is dominated by glass and steel, with many of the nation's highest buildings being located here. The inner city is an architecture enthusiast's dream, with many different styles being implemented at once.
Millersbrook. While it might not be as flashy or classy as other places, it still has some interesting spots, most notably the nation's biggest aquarium and an excellent museum on marine biology. Also said to have a surprisingly high density of wonderful restaurants.
Essex Falls. Originally a town built to exploit the natural resources of the area, it has evolved into the party hub of an entire nation. Renowned for its eccentric nightlife and parties. Industrial heritage still visible and alive, making for an odd mix that stands out.
Smaller Cities
Edgar Bay. A picturesque fishing town, it is located at the very northern tip of a peninsula. With its old streets and charming alleys, it is widely regarded as the most romantic city of Karelianastan.
Remerton. Not the most exciting place, but what matters are its surroundings. Located at the foot of the Pearl River National Park, it is a perfect starting point to explore the nation's famous natural beauty. Very touristy for this reason.
Laytonville. Best known for its role as a major centre of traditional artisan craftsmanship, nowhere is a better place to purchase authentic souvenirs like woven baskets, musical instruments or wooden household items.
Other Destinations
Pearl River National Park. Mentioned previously in connection with Remerton, it is home to a plethora of plants and wildlife, ranging from rare lynxes to the national animal, the kingfisher, found in and around the park's large number of lakes and rivers. Named after the Pearl River, which flows through a large portion of the park.
St. John's Cave. The nation's largest and most well-mapped cave, mostly interesting for adventurers. Attention: some parts of the cave can only be visited with special gear and equipment!
Astral Lake. A sizeable lake about an hour's drive from Kingsburg, it is quite a popular place for weekend trips. Surprisingly shallow, ideal for families with small children.
Understand
Units of Measurement
The country mandates the use of the metric system.
Climate
The areas at or near the coast are characterized by a maritime climate that leads to moderate summers and winters, rarely exceeding 28°C in the former or falling below 5°C in the latter.
Further inland, the climate becomes more continental, though still not excessively. Summers are noticeably hotter, with temperatures of up to 35°C during peak season and -15°C in the winter months.
Public Holidays
The following dates are celebrated as holidays throughout the entire country.
Date | Holiday |
01.01. | New Year's Day |
05.04. | Spring Day |
16.05. | National Holiday |
20.07. | Day of Science |
13.10. | Forest Day |
09.11. | Remembrance Day for the Victims of War and Oppression |
25. and 26.12. | Christmas |
Get In
Entry Requirements
There are no extraordinary requirements when entering the country. Adults must be in possession of a visa and a passport that is valid for at least 6 more months; children under the age of 16 may travel under their parent's passport. A standard tourist visa costs around $20 per person and permits a stay of up to 45 days. This period may be extended once to 60 days, and after that, it must be upgraded to a residence permit. The latter can only be acquired in the country and grants you the ability to take on work as well. Special exceptions are made for professions like musicians, who may temporarily work regardless of visa status.
There are no regular border controls upon entering the country by train or road, however, you're almost certain to encounter them when travelling by ship or plane. In the latter case, the formalities can be done on board and will only be checked along with your passport, leading to a rather quick process; don't expect it to take longer than 30 seconds.
In general, there are many ways to enter Karelianastan - for neighbouring countries, the excellent train services are almost always the best option, while further away destinations will be more convenient by air travel.
By Plane
Kingsburg Capital Airport (IATA: KCA), Port Windford Deborah K. Bucher Int'l (PWD) and Millersbrook Int'l (MLB) are the nation's biggest aviation hubs. While all of them have short- and medium-haul flights to surrounding countries and beyond, almost all substantial long-haul traffic is concentrated into Kingsburg, and almost every self-respecting flag carrier will have connections to the city. While this may land you quite a distance away from your ultimate goal, the outstanding train network will swiftly get you to any corner of the country in a reasonable amount of time - check for rail&fly offers!
By Train
The Karelianastanian Railway Company KRC offers frequent connections to the neighbouring countries, usually operated by a modern fleet of high-speed trains capable of over 200km/h, with some reaching 350km/h in regular service on major lines. The national rail network is, as opposed to air travel, quite decentralized and connections between two cities that aren't the capital are completely normal. This means that virtually any substantial city in Karelianastan will have at least some connections to foreign destinations, even though frequency varies greatly between them.
Be wary, though, as spontaneous ticket purchases tend to be around twice as expensive as those booked in advance, so plan your journey beforehand and save yourself a good deal of money by doing it.
By Ship
Kingsburg, Port Windford and Millersbrook all have harbours with international connections. However, as the nation is not a warm tourist paradise with over 20°C all year round, cruises tend to be limited to the summer months. International ferries do exist, though they largely run relatively infrequently.
By Bus
A good option if you don't want to spend as much money compared to the previous methods. While international bus travel is slower than rail and air, the buses are for the most part comfortable and safe. Pay attention to your time management though, as these journeys can take well over 5 hours, depending on the destination and traffic. Eating and drinking are usually not permitted on board, but do bring some food for the breaks en route as service stations often charge above-average prices.
Get around
By Plane
The largest airline of the country, KFS Airlines, operates flights between all major cities with airports, though the fares can be quite high if booked too late. However, air travel is relatively centralized and getting to smaller destinations will often require a layover at Kingsburg. Several low-cost carriers are serving many of the same routes, though usually more focused on destinations with a large number of casual travellers and tourists.
By Train
Trains are the pride of the nation and are treated accordingly. Clean, efficient, and comfortable, there's hardly a destination that the fleet of modern trains does not serve. Make sure to reserve seats in advance, as the individual trains can get quite full, especially during the time around holidays or festivities. A free seat reservation is usually included in the ticket when travelling on long-distance trains with the state-owned railway company, though it is not mandatory to have one.
In general, it is advisable to avoid rush-hour, which begins at around 6-7am in the morning and 17pm in the evening. Fares are reasonable, though as always, booking earlier can save substantial amounts of money. For example, prices for a ride between Kingsburg and Port Windford may vary from $19 to $130 in second class. First class usually means a 25-50% surcharge, though you will rarely want to book it, as standard class is usually sufficient for tourist purposes.
By Bus
Fans of bus travel, should they even exist, will be disappointed in Karelianastan. While the larger cities have good bus networks in their public transport system, intercity travel is not particularly popular and surprisingly does not offer significant price advantages over other means of transport. Special busses to tourist destinations do exist, and hotels in larger cities will often have a timetable of when and where they leave.
By ship
Ferry services between coastal settlements are relatively limited but offer a unique experience compared to other means of transport. Also have the advantage of being able to transport cars.
The country does have navigable rivers, but ships are nearly irrelevant for everyday life there. There are several river cruises, though.
By car
Renting a car is a good option if you value more individualistic travel and do not want to be bound by timetables and schedules. Rentals are, for the most part, trustworthy and deliver what they promise; however, drivers may need to pay more attention to the road, as Karelianastanian road signs differ quite heavily from the neighbouring nations.
Road conduct in general is no problem, though you may need to watch out for more adventurous drivers on smaller, remote roads.
By Tramping
Not a vehicle, but very valid for travelling nonetheless. Pedestrians are banned on larger roads such as highways, so you'll have to snatch a ride at a gas station or similar places. Karelianastanians are generally friendly towards tourists, so you shouldn't have to wait for too long before someone offers you a ride.
Talk
The national language is English, making communication unproblematic. French is also understood by many people on a basic level, though you start getting into trouble with other languages. Don't worry if your English is not up to high standards, as Karelianastanians are generally patient and will do their best to understand and help you.
Do
Karelianastanian Culture
For many foreigners, nothing captures the idea of the nation more than woven baskets, forests, crocuses and tea. While a few of these have evolved into unrealistic stereotypes, there is a surprising amount of truth to them.
The country's artisan culture, exemplified by basket weaving, is still kept alive, and more importantly not as a tourist trap. Many Karelianastans value this craftsmanship as part of the national identity, and products of high quality can be found all throughout the country. While clay dominates the north, wood is the most important material of the southern forested regions.
When thinking of the countryside, the first thing that may come to mind are forests - and you wouldn't be wrong to think that, as the national parks cover vast areas of the sparsely-populated south-east. Home to impressive oaks and majestic maples, the scenery is especially pretty in spring and autumn. Conversely, travelling in winter is possible there, but your time is better spent elsewhere.
