General Information
LOCATION: Tansalesia borders with the federal republic of Buleh in the North, with the kingdom Nabulai in the east and the democratic republic of Imbia in the South and West.
AREA: 157,190 square kilometers
ALTITUDE: Varies from 70 meters to 3500 meters
CAPITAL: Lahlu; second biggest city: Malletu
POPULATION: 8,491,097
LANGUAGES: Tansalesian and English
CLIMATE: Tansalesia has four major seasons, namely (1) Winter: December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer: June-August, (4) Autumn: September- November.
Tansalesia can be visited the whole year round.
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People and Religion
Tansalesian people are mainly divided into two distinct groups the Lahluus (in majority Christians), located in the north western part of the country, and the Malletuus (believers in many gods), situated in the Tansalesian Mountains, in the east and south of Tansalesia).
The Malletu high plateau is the spiritual and cultural meeting point of both religions. Tansalesia is politically ruled by a central governor from Lahlu, Sir Krown.
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Money Matters
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The official currency of Tansalesia is the Ren. One Ren equals to one hundred Ru.
10 Ru = 1 Ren
The approximate value of one Euro is equivalent to 10 TR (Tansalesian Ren).
Tansalesian Ren notes come in TR 5, TR 10, TR 20, TR 50, TR 100, TR 500, TR 1000.
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipts from such transactions are to be obtained and retained. Visitors must make payments for hotels, travel or trekking agencies and air tickets in foreign currency.
Getting In and Out
ENTRY PROCEDURES
All visitors except those of neighboring countries must hold a passport and a valid visa. The visas can be obtained at the Tansalesian Diplomatic Missions and Consuls abroad. Fifteen day visas are also issued at entry points. The visa can be extended later at the Department of Immigration. The Department also issues multi-entry visas for visitors.
ENTRY POINTS
By Air: Tansa International Airport, Lahlu.
By Land: Buleh-Tansalesian border in the North, over the Nabulai-Tansalesian friendship bridge in the east and through the Imbian-Tansalesian border post in the West.
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CUSTOMS
All baggage is subject to customs check at the point of entry. Visitors are allowed to bring in the consumable articles such as liquor up to 1.15 liters, 200 sticks of cigarette. Visitors are also allowed to carry into the country one pair of binocular, one camera, one movie camera, one video camera, one radio, one CD player, one laptop, one bicycle, one wrist watch, 15 CDs into the country on the condition that they are declared and are to be taken back on return.
The import of narcotics, arms and ammunitions is strictly prohibited. Visitors are allowed to export souvenirs to their respective countries. The export of antiques requires a special certificate from the Department of Archaeology. Gold, silver, precious stones, wild animals and their skins, horns, and all drugs whether processed or in their natural state, are prohibited for export.
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Getting Around
INTERNAL TRANSPORT
Metered taxis are available in Lahlu and Malletu.
Metered tempos (three wheeler scooter) are also available and are slightly cheaper than taxis.
Bicycles, motorcycles and rickshaws are also available on hire. The fare for the bicycles or motorcycles is fixed whereas the fare of rickshaws is to be negotiated.
There are regular bus services between Lahlu and Malletu.
FACILITIES
Tansalesia has every type of accommodation facilities that a tourist might ask for. This ranges from the international standard star hotels to budget hotels and lodges.
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Festivals
Tansalesia is a land of Festivals.
Festivals may be linked with the remembrance of the water god Babu, who drowned himself to rescue nature. Others herald the different seasons, mark the beginning or end of the agricultural cycle, or celebrate the national day, the Governor’s birthday, and many more occasions.
On these celebration days, Tansalesians take their ritual bath, worship different gods and goddesses, visit temples or their local shaman, and eat and drink as much as they possibly can.
The most important aspect of Tansalesian culture is the religious harmony and understanding prevailing among the Christians of the Lahlu valley and the Malletuus of the high plateau.
Some of the major festivals of Tansalesia are:
- New Year's Day - 21st of March
- Last Bath of Lord Babu - 2nd of June
- Governor Krown's birthday - 1st of July
- Constitution Day (national holiday) - 9th of October
- Reincarnation of Lord Navin - 6th of November
- Light Festival - 7th of December
- Happy Piggy Day - 31st of December
On festival days it is strictly forbitten to buy or sell goods, to teach or learn, to transport, to travel or to work (unless the work involves the preparation of food).
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Tourist Attractions
Very few places in the world can offer as many varieties of landscapes. Tansalesia provides mountain scenery ranging from the Malletu high plateau (2100 meters altitude) to single peaks up to 3500 meters above sea level.
The Tansalesian mountain range is the birth place of both the Malletu and the Lahlu river. Major lakes are situated in the east and in the south of Tansalesia. The Lahlu valley was originally occupied by thick uninhabitable jungle. Now streets and industrial infrastructure are pushing back natural resources.
Trekking is the best way to get to interesting and remote mountain villages of Tansalesia. River rafting, which is known as "White Water Adventure" represents another major attraction.
Within distance of 100 kilometers, one can see the topographical variations with the rivers rising from the higher points and then dropping dramatically to lower levels.
For those who wish to view wildlife, Tansalesia offers plenty of range. There are three National Parks, two Wildlife Reserves and two conservation areas in Tansalesia.
For the less adventurous, the holy Babu Lake is unlike any other as it provides various opportunities for fishing, swimming, canoeing and boating along with the sightseeing of majestic panoramic views in its background. For the nature lovers Tansalesia is heaven on earth. Metaphors cannot describe its natural treasures.
At the same time, Tansalesia proffers an incomparable scope to the scholars and connoisseurs of art and culture to see and study the different aspects of the fine-arts, be it painting, sculpture, wood carving or architecture.
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