Isolated Planet: The Full Guide to Sophisticism [+ Q & A]

[Sophisticism]

Isolated Planet Inc; the world's leading guide-book publishing company, is proud to present its newest book: The Full Guide to Sophisticism.
This book will tell you anything you'd need to know visiting the country. Informative descriptions, combined with photographs, on all attractions in the country, are written in the book.

Book index:

1. Basics and introduction to the country.
2. 10 things not to miss.
3. Al Tarum island and the Sophisticated arctics.
4. The capital Eee-que.
5. The five main islands.
6. Moyo and its surroundings.
7. The red cliffs.
8. The tropical islands.
9. Handy information.

[Sophisticism]

Basics and introduction to the country
Sophisticism is a huge, rich, archipelago country. It is made of over a thousand islands, which out of five are considered major (over 80% of the population lives in these major islands).

Geographically, it is located in the Pacifist Ocean, named in memory of the times when the state had no military. The Pacifist Ocean, known also as The Pacifist, is a part of the Kirabuckian Ocean, a vast ocean spreading throughout the huge Alliance of Kirabuck.

A map of Sophisticism.

Sophisticism is an absolute monarchy, ruled by the mostly benevolent Gorge family. Anti government incitement in media is illegal, but violators get nothing more than a small fine at most cases. Civil rights are at the top of the government's priorities, and any kind of torture is illegal.

There are two main religions in the state - Buddhism, which has been the major religion since the early 5th century, and Islam, which has been gaining believers at a rapid rate since the late 14th century, when the national prophet Al Tarum appeared in the state. As of 2010, there are 45% Buddhists, 40% Muslims and 5% of other religions in the state. The royal family has converted to Islam in 1642, and has been very religious since.

The government is considered rather "green", although recent laws have caused huge protests after the government allowed a foreign mining company to bulldoze a very old forest in order to mine in the area. The issue is now discussed in court.
The state's two main power sources are nuclear energy and electricity-producing dams, dramatically reducing the nation's CO2 emission.
Cities are mostly unpolluted thanks to the efficient government funded public transportation.

The national currency is the Sophisticated Dollar, which is, as of December 2010, equal 1.75 NSD.

[Sophisticism]

10 things not to miss
Sophisticism is a huge country with many attractions - an year won't be enough to explore all it has to offer. We have gathered a list of the most impressive attractions, places and activities, so you can have a short impression of the variety this nation has to offer.

10. Visit one of the nation's unique forests, home to many special animal and plant species (see chapter five, the five main islands).
9. Try a special massage in one of the tropical island's many spas (see chapter eight, the tropical islands).
8. Go fishing in the northern Al Tarum island (see chapter three, Al Tarum island and the Sophisticated arctics).
7. Go hiking in one of the many well maintained walking paths the main island has to offer (see chapter five, the five main islands).
6. Shop in one of Moyo's many boutique shops, a place where Sophisticism's rich and famous live (see chapter six, Moyo and its surroundings).
5. Swim with sharks or dolphins in the Pacifist Ocean (see chapter eight, the tropical islands).
4. Go skiing in Moyo (see chapter six, Moyo and its surroundings).
3. Tour the capital city, visiting its markets, museums and historical monuments (see chapter four, the capital Eee-que).
2. Swim or try water-sports in one of the nation's sandy beaches (see chapter eight, the tropical islands).
1. Rent a boat in red cliffs at dawn or sunset for an unforgettable view of this natural wonder (see chapter seven, the red cliffs).

[Sophisticism]

Al Tarum island and the Sophisticated arctics
Al Tarum island, named after the Sophisticated prophet who first appeared in the island at 1381, is the largest island in the Sophisticated arctics. It inhabits 100,000, 95% of them in the regional capital Kha Sokombh (literally "the gateway"). The island serves as a major religious center - thousands visit it every year to participate in the traditional Al Tarum mass.

Apart for being a religious center, the island also hosts the Sophisticated Arctic Center, one of the world's leading arctic exploration and research centers, which operates a fascinating museum 2km north of Kha Sokombh. The center also operates arctic expeditions for tourists, departing from Al Tarum port in Kha Sokombh. Tours are 3, 7 or 21 days, depending on the selected itinerary. Tours are only operated in summer and cost around $200 per day - not cheap, but a worthwhile experience.

The fishing industry is the most dominant in the area, which produces over 80% of Sophisticism's fish exports. Many local companies offer fishing tours in the island's freezing water (these companies operate from Al Tarum port, expect around $25 per person per hour).

Al Tarum island is flat, with the exception of Muhamad's hill. Climb up or take the chairlift ($10 round trip) for spectacular panoramic views. There is an excellent traditional food restaurant on top, "Paga Eskobia". A meal is around $25 per person.

There is a huge, top-secret air force base in the southernmost parts of the island, hidden in the pine tree forest. Refrain from entering the fenced zone, and save yourself from being arrested or shot.

Apart for Al Tarum island, there are a several small islands scattered in the Sophisticated arctic region. These are, with no exceptions, made of tiny, sleepy, fishing villages. You may well skip visiting those not much interesting islands.
If you do wish to visit them, take a ferry from Kha Sokombh (departs daily at 09:00 from the port) which stops in most of these islands.

Arrival:
As of Summer 2010, a trans-Sophisticism sea-shuttle program is planned: in the near future arrival in Al Tarum island would be possible by a ferry from Eee-que (approximately 15 hours).
Until planning is complete, the only way to reach Al Tarum island is by air. National airline Sophisticated Airways operates a daily flight from Al Tarum International Airport to Eee-que as well as weekly flights to other destinations in the country. Competitor Air Tropical operates two weekly flights from Al Tarum to Eee-que as well as one weekly flight to their hub in Malaggy (see chapter eight, the tropical islands, for more info about Malaggy). Finally, the Sophisticism Government Aviation Program operates biz-jet flights to the island.
Flights from Eee-que take 2:06 hours. A return ticket should cost between $500 in the high season (summer) and $150 in the low season (winter).
A taxi from the airport to Kha Sokombh would cost $45 and take 30 minutes (or longer if weather is bad). A fast train leaves the airport every half an hour (in summer) or every two hours (in winter).
The airport is closed annually between December 10th and March 20th due to the harsh weather in the area.

[Sophisticism]

The capital Eee-que
Much has been told about the national capital, a huge metropolis with more than ten million citizens. The city is the nation's oldest, with evidence that people have lived there before 2,000 BC, and for a reason. The city is located in the western shores of the capital island, protected from the monsoon storms arriving from the east. Weather is chilly but not freezing, and a large amount of rain falls every year - ensuring the ability to grow food.

There are magnificent remains from ancient times displayed in various museums and national parks in the city. Head to the Tukkon park (located in the city center, free entry) to see the place where the Tukkon tribes lived. There are various buildings that have remained since the extinction of the tribe in the 5th century BC, now restored and shown to the public.
From the park go to Maarkh Street. Three museums operate in this medieval street - the Ancient Linguistics Museum (Maarkh St. 73, 10:30 to 14:30 daily except Tuesdays, free entry; shows the history and development of the Sophisticated national language, Engrew), the Natural History Museum (Maarkh St. 113, 09:00 to 17:30 daily, closed on national holidays, $5 per ticket; owns the largest collection of fossils in the country) and the Buddhist Museum (Maarkh St. 230, 12:00 to 22:00 except Buddhist holidays, $10 per ticket; an interesting museum showing history of Buddhism in the nation. The museum is under-funded due to the pro-Islamic government, and therefore a high entry price is taken).

The Theodor Maarkh market, located in the southern parts of the Maarkh Street, is the city's most important. It was opened in 1546, and since has been a major trading area. Browse the market for fresh fruit, meats, textiles etc.
If hungry, go to the sea-side parts of the market where many restaurants are available.

A must visit place is the royal palace - this huge palace was designed by local architect Tono Makiatto in 1788, and construction was complete in 1802. Take the guided tour in English (every round hour between 09:00 and 16:00; $7.5, children under 12 free) to visit the beautiful fresco decorated rooms. The royal family still lives in this palace - and it is frequently closed to the public due to the family's requests. Call in advance (01-7689-114).

Arrival:
Out of all Sophisticated cities, the capital is the easiest to rich.
There are five train stations in the metropolis with frequent trains to many destinations in the capital island (go to the central station for most frequent and fast trains).
A huge port is currently (as of 2010) under construction in the city. Once complete, ferry services to all Sophisticated islands will operate from it on a daily basis.
The city is served by two large airports: Eee-que international, which is the country's most important international airport, and Gorge Regional Airport, which gets mostly charter or low capacity flights.
Sophisticated Airways' main hub is in Eee-que international, where they offer 300 daily flights to various destinations around the world. Air Tropical operates from both airports, with the majority of flights landing in Gorge Regional Airport. Among their flights you'll find three daily flights to Malaggy (see chapter eight, the tropical islands, for more info about Malaggy), two weekly flights to Al Tarum island as well as charter flights to a variety of cities around The Alliance of Kirabuck. The Sophisticism Government Aviation Program is also based in Eee-que international airport - this government owned company offers bizjet leasing.
If flying with a foreign company, you will probably land in Eee-que international airport, however if in doubt check with your airline or in the Border Control Authority's site (http://www.airports.gov.dis, http://www.border.gov.dis or http://www.BCA.gov.dis).

[Sophisticism]

The five main islands
While not the country's most beautiful or special, these five large islands make the most important region. They are located in northern-central parts of the Pacifist Ocean, and are made of very fertile land. Ancient tribes have chosen these islands as their home thousands of years ago thanks to the rich variety of plants and animals, offering an easily available source of food.
Main industries in the main islands are information-technologies, wood-chopping , paper production and mining. The islands are the richest in the country, with the highest average wage and consumption rates. Tourism is a minor industry - visit the islands for exciting, off-the-tourist-map attractions. An exception for this is the capital island, which is swarmed by tourists year round.

[Sophisticism]

Moyo and its surroundings
Moyo is the northernmost city in the capital island, capital of the Moyo Province. The province is the country's leading winter sports area; Sophisticism's rich and famous come to their villas here every winter. A total of 137 ski resorts operate in the tiny 2,200km² region, offering skiers of all levels exciting ski-slopes.

Only 45,000 citizens permanently live in the town of Moyo (additional 20,000 live in the Moyo Province), but over 65,000 Sophisticated citizens own vacation homes in the town. The high season is winter, when prices for anything jump to great heights, and the region is flooded with hundreds of thousands of tourists. Many businesses and shops work during the high season only.

Lysendinia is a small town located 50 kilometres south-east of Moyo. The city is a rather new one, founded in 1990. It is named after Lysendine, crown princess of Sophisticism. The city is also an attractive skiing destination, but is considered less prestigious than Moyo - mainly because of its location: while Moyo is at the centre of a beautiful valley, at an altitude of over 1,000 metres above sea level, Lysendinia is located at the plains south of the Moyo Mountain Range, at an altitude of only 300 metres.
Nevertheless, the scenery in Lysendinia is very beautiful, and many Sophisticated citizens choose to ski in it rather than in Moyo.
Lysendinia is also a popular trekking destination - over 15 walking trails pass through it. Trekking is only possible during summer, after snow from the winter melts.
Prices in the town can be up to 25% cheaper than in Moyo.

The main attraction in the area, as mentioned before, is winter-sports. Go to the tourist information office (133 Main St; Moyo) to get information about resorts fitting your own needs. The list is too long to be printed here. Apart for the mentioned above, many people come to do shopping in the town. Moyo is famous for its boutique shops, selling mainly clothing and jewelery. Take a walk around the main street for an unforgettable shopping experience - both for you and your pocket.

Arrival:
The brand new Moyo port is served by line '5 - North', which departs from Eee-que port every Sunday and Wednesday at 07:00 (from Moyo the ferry continues north to its final stop in Al Tarum island, arriving approximately 15 hours after departure from Eee-que), and by line '5 - South' which is the exact reverse of the North variant. Route 5 stops in all small islands in the northern parts of the nation, so it is a great option if you intended to visit a small island not reachable by air.
If you prefer arriving by air, Moyo airport (located 13 kilometres south of the city) is an excellent option. It is served by many airlines, with up to 15 daily flights to Eee-que in winter (in summer, frequency reduces to just one or two flights daily).
Lysendinia also has an active airport, with several daily flights from Eee-que. There are several daily flights between Lysendinia and Moyo, allowing those who decide to sleep in one city and ski in the other to do so.

[Sophisticism]

The red cliffs
The red cliffs are a group of massive stone cliffs located offshore the southern tip of the capital island. The cliffs have emerged out of the sea because of a special geological phenomenon unique to the area. They attract hundreds of scientists to their area (the South Sophisticism University is famous for its geological department), but tourists also flood the area (over one million tourists from around the world have entered the red cliffs nature reserve last year).

Visiting the cliffs is only possible by sea - on an official tourist boat (these have between 5 and 150 seats, depending on how much you wish to pay and how much privacy you want). A normal tour takes around 8 hours, and costs around $150 per person (or even more on smaller boats). The afternoon tour is recommended because at sunset the cliffs are coloured a magnificent, romantic red, making the cliffs much more dramatic and beautiful.

The cliffs, that were selected by the Isolated Planet company as Sophisticism's #1 attraction, are a must visit, even for those visiting the nation for a short time. Don't let the high price demotivate you from visiting - these are probably the best $150 you'll spend in the nation.

Please note that the area is nature reserve, meaning you are not allowed to swim or throw anything into the water. Many 'green-police' boats patrol the area, and those found overpassing these regulations would be forced to pay an extremely high fine (up to $10,000), as well as being banned from entering the reserve again in the next ten years. Keep the area clean for next generations and save yourself from being fined.

Photo by Okkoo Mikawn

Photo by Arpo Obellistra

Photo by Luuk G. Arno

[OOC: these images were made by myself using a neat tool called Terragen. Please do not copy them or use them in your own topics]

[Sophisticism]

The tropical islands
Sophisticism is made of over a thousand islands, out of them 534 are considered to have tropical weather. The size of these islands varies - some are huge while others are just a few kilometres long and wide, but there are a few things that are common to all - and that thanks to them the islands have become famous:

• Some of the world's most beautiful beaches - sunbather's heaven, a paradise for swimmer.
• The luxuries hotels, highly rated for their great service.
• The rich reefs, full with special fish unique to Sophisticism. Go diving for an unforgettable experience, or simply enjoy a meal in a seafood restaurant.
• Local culture - join the locals in one of the many festivals occurring year round. Try a special 'Sophisticated' message.
• Developed nightlife - many of the islands are known for their great clubs and bars - go

Since the amount of islands is huge, we can't recommend on just one or two. Go to a travel agency and ask for help choosing your ideal island destination. Some islands are more crowded with tourists, some are more isolated. Since there are so many islands, some would surely fit your needs!

Malaggy is the largest tropical island and the most famous among them. If you're going to a smaller island by air, you will probably have to transfer flights in the huge Malaggy airport. Malaggy town is known for its malls, cinemas, theatres and fancy hotels. The sea life museum (Shark's Street 335, free entry, 08:00 to 24:00 daily, guided tours leave every hour. The museum's aquariums are full with rare animals, and the ceilings are decorated with huge stuffed animal - well worth a visit).

Arrival:
As mentioned above, Malaggy is the main aerial getaway to the tropical area. Air Tropical is based in Malaggy International, operating 100 daily flights to destinations around the nation. Sophisticated Airways operates 20 daily flights from Malaggy to Eee-que. Many foreign companies also fly to Malaggy.
From Malaggy, many smaller companies offer charter flights to tiny tropical islands. A ferry departs Malaggy daily at 07:00 and 10:00, heading towards other islands in the area.

[Sophisticism]

Handy information
As of February 11, 2011,
1 Sophisticated Dollar = $1.47,
There are 2,049,000,000 citizens in the nation,
Education is the top government priority,
and there are no known security threats.

In any case of an emergency, dial 001 to reach local police, 002 to reach fire brigades and 003 for medical services.

Gay and Lesbian relationships are legal, but try to keep out of religious areas.

If arrested by a policeman, you are allowed to request to see an official Policeman Certificate. You must be given an opportunity to make a phone call within 12 hours of being arrested and you may demand to see a lawyer within 24 hours. If you are interrogated, you may choose to keep silent.

The national top level domain is .dis, and government sites are .gov.dis.

Sophisticism is the most cultured nation in the region. The nation's well funded museums, concert halls and theatres were declared as a "must visit for any arts enthusiast or professional artist". This is another great reason to visit the country.

Sophisticated cheeses are some of the best in the world. They were recently positioned in the top 10% best in the region.


For more questions, or if you wish to share your experiences in the nation, you may visit our Sophisticism portal at http://www.sophisticism.isolatedplanet.com.

[Sophisticism]

Questions and answers
Any questions sent to us [OOC: on this topic] would be added to this page, which would be printed when the next edition of this book is released.

[Sophisticism]

After months of work, the Isolated Planet's Full Guide to Sophisticism is finally complete. Please feel free to ask any question regarding Sophisticism or travelling in the nation in this topic. Our Sophisticism experts would happily answer any request.

[Sophisticism]

Bump for questions / comments!