Around The World

The Galapagos Islands

2010-07-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of continental Ecuador. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site: wildlife is its most notable feature.

The Galápagos islands and its surrounding waters are part of a province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish. The islands have a population of around 23,000.

The islands are geologically young and famed for their vast number of endemic species, which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

The first crude navigation chart of the islands was done by the buccaneer Ambrose Cowley in 1684. He named the individual islands after some of his fellow pirates or after the English noblemen who helped the privateer's cause. More recently, the Ecuadorian government gave most of the islands Spanish names. While the Spanish names are official, many users (especially ecological researchers) continue to use the older English names, particularly as those were the names used when Charles Darwin visited.

Source : wikipedia.org

The Great Best Cars are Here!!

2010-04-03T20:28:00.001-07:00

Investing money to buy car is sometimes quite risky and complicated, especially if you do not know about the best car you should choose and also the best place to go. In this case, it is important to make sure that you will get the best service when buying the car and also the after sales services. The following explanation will guide you to find the best place to go. So, the amount of money you would have spent will be the real worthy investment. Hopefully, you can find the best car you really want so far. Car is a symbol of lifestyle and personality, thus the best dealer is hopefully able to bring its best product for you.

The place to go as the answer of perfect help for you in buying car is the Garage Del Parco. It is not only perfect in giving the service of selling the car for the customers, but also buys the cars from them. This place has experiences for years and will provide the professional assistance for you. You can look at auto usate milano to see the various brands of cars offered. You can find many famous names, such as VW, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Porsche, and so on. You can do test driving there and they will assist and answers all the questions from you about the cars.

There are several different classifications in this site. For those who look for used cars, you can look at vendita auto usate. You should not feel worry, since you can read the translated version of this Italian language (the primary language used in the site). If you want to buy the new or even used cars, just look at compro auto usate. This is the real best place to find your dream cars. They will provide the top protection service for your cars too.

It’s time to drive your car

Cliffs of Moher

2010-04-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Cliffs of Moher are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south-western edge of the Burren area near Doolin, which is located in County Clare, Ireland.

The cliffs rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head (Irish: Ceann na Cailleach), and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, eight kilometres away.The cliffs boast one of Ireland's most spectacular views.On a clear day the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the valleys and hills of Connemara.

O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in order to impress female visitors. From atop that watchtower, one can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk Mountains and the Twelve Pins to the north in Connemara, and Loop Head to the south.

The cliffs consist mainly of beds of Namurian shale and sandstone, with the oldest rocks being found at the bottom of the cliffs. It is possible to see 300 million year old river channels cutting through the base of the cliffs.

There are many animals living on the cliffs. Most of these are birds, with an estimated 30,000 birds from 29 species. These include the noted Atlantic Puffins, which live in large colonies at isolated parts of the cliffs and on the small Goat Island. Also present are hawks, gulls, guillemots, shags, ravens and choughs.

Bu Tinah Island

2010-03-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

Off the western shores of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, lies a unique natural treasure, wild and undisturbed by human activity: Bu Tinah Island. Bu Tinah’s thriving ecosystem forms a unique living laboratory with key significance for climate change research. An undisturbed paradise, Bu Tinah has much to teach mankind about environmental protection and survival. This distinctive natural habitat has shallow waters, seagrass beds and tall mangroves, set amid extensive coral reefs. It hosts beautiful and endangered marine life. Seabirds, including flamingos and osprey, various species of dolphins and the critically endangered hawksbill turtle live in Bu Tinah.

The island’s waters host the world’s second-largest population of dugong, a large marine mammal that is threatened worldwide. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve - the region's largest marine reserve. Its protection and survival must be ensured.

Black Forest (Schwarzwald)

2010-02-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a wooded mountain range in southwestern It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the mountain Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 meters. The region is almost rectangular with a length of 200 km and breadth of 60 km.

Geologically, the Black Forest consists of a cover of sandstone on top of a core of gneiss and granites. Formerly it shared tectonic evolution with the nearby Vosges Mountains. Later during the Middle Eocene a rifting period affected the area and caused formation of the Rhine graben. During the last glacial period of the Würm glaciation, the Black Forest was covered by glaciers; several tarn lakes such as the Mummelsee are remains of this period.

The forest mostly consists of pines and firs, some of which are grown in commercial monoculture. Similar to other forested regions, the Black Forest has had areas damaged by mass logging. Due to logging and land use changes the forest proper is only a fraction of the size it used to be. The storm Lothar knocked down trees over hundreds of acres of mountaintops in 1999. This left some of the high peaks and scenic hills bare, with only primary growth shrubs and young fir trees.

The main industry is tourism. In addition to the towns and monuments noted below, the Black Forest is crossed by numerous long distance footpaths, including some of the first to be established. The European long-distance path E1 crosses the Black Forest following the routes of some of the local long-distance paths. In addition there are numerous shorter paths suitable for day walks, as well as mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails. The total network of tracks amounts to around 23,000 kilometres (14,000 mi), and is maintained and overseen by a voluntary body, the Schwarzwaldverein (Black Forest Society), which has around 90,000 members (figures from Bremke, 1999, p.9).

Source : wikipedia.org

The Bay of Fundy

2010-02-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

The Bay of Fundy is renown for having the highest tides on the planet (16.2 metres or 53 feet). One hundred billion tonnes of sea water flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy twice daily – more water than the combined flow of all the world’s fresh water rivers. Fundy’s extreme tides create a dynamic and diverse marine ecosystem. The Bay is renown for its coastal rock formations, extreme tidal effects (vertical, horizontal, rapids and bores) and sustainable coastal development. It is also a critical international feeding ground for migratory birds, a vibrant habitat for rare and endangered Right whales, one of the world’s most significant plant and animal fossil discovery regions. The Bay of Fundy is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on North America’s east coast.

The Bay of Fundy lies in a rift valley called the Fundy Basin; as the rift began to separate from mainland North America, volcanic activity occurred, forming volcanoes and flood basalts. These flood basalts poured out over the landscape, covering much of southern Nova Scotia. Sections of the flood basalts have been eroded away, but still form a basaltic mountain range known as North Mountain. As a result, much of the basin floor is made of tholeiitic basalts giving its brown colour. The rift valley eventually failed (see aulacogen) as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge continued to separate North America, Europe, and Africa.

Dead Sea

2010-01-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Dead Sea is a salt lake between Palestine and Israel to the west and Jordan to the east. At 420 metres below sea level, its shores are the lowest point on Earth that are on dry land. With 30 percent salinity, it is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean.

The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world's first health resorts (for Herod the Great), and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products, from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers. People also use the salt and the minerals from the Dead Sea to create cosmetics and herbal sachets.

There are no fish or any kind of swimming, squirming creatures living in or near the water. There are, however, several types of bacteria and one type of algea that have adapted to harsh life in the waters of the Dead Sea. What you'll see on the shores of the Sea is white, crystals of salt covering EVERYTHING. And this is no ordinary table salt, either. The salts found in the Dead Sea are mineral salts, just like you find in the oceans of the world, only in extreme concentrations. The water in the Dead Sea is deadly to living things. Fish accidentally swimming into the waters from one of the several freshwater streams that feed the Sea are killed instantly, their bodies quickly coated with a preserving layer of salt crystals and then tossed onto shore by the wind and waves.

Best Professional Golf in Golf Academic

2010-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

For the golf lover like you, the Gut Ising is the best place to learn more about professional golf rules which you may want to learn about. You may want to combine your golf holiday with a hotel, the offers you with overnight stays in a 4 star Golf Hotel Gut Ising which rounds the Championship course perfectly, because golf course and driving range directly adjacent to the hotel and everything conveniently is accessible without a car that you may difficult to find, because you can go around by walking.

If you are the athletic beginners of those who have already once demonstrated a golf taster course, the Power golf course which is incorporates the substance of the Championship course will be perfect for your need. It is important for obtaining the Green Card for those whom his own time frame which is the Golf Platzreife placed with individual coaching. Their handicap course is very popular because you have got here yourself enough time to develop your personal training strategies without time pressure in golf academic. It is an ideal place for everything around the game of golf which you can also find under the supervision of trained golf professionals. You can also find everything which related with the golf thing in Golfshop which provide you everything you need for your golf game.

The Cedars in Lebanon

2010-01-25T19:57:00.000-08:00

The Cedars of God are among the last survivors of the immense forests of the Cedars of Lebanon that thrived across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. Their timber was exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as well as the Phoenicians. The wood was especially prized by Egyptians for shipbuilding; Solomon used them in the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and the Ottoman Empire also used the cedars to build its railroad system.

Once Lebanon was shaded by thick cedar forests, so it is no coincidence that the tree is the symbol of the entire country. Today, after centuries of persistent deforestation, the extent of this forest heritage has been markedly reduced. The trees however, do survive in mountainous areas and there they seem to reign supreme. This is the case of the slopes of Mount Makmel that tower over the Kadisha Valley where, at an altitude of more than 2000 meters, rest the Cedars of God. Four of them have reached a height of 35 meters and their trunks are between 12 and 14 meters around. Concern for the Biblical Cedars of God goes back to 1876 when the 102-hectare grove was surrounded by a high stone wall, which was financed by Great Britain's Queen Victoria. The wall protects saplings from being destroyed by local goats.

Source :
wikipedia.org

Get your beautiful bag with lower price at Louis Vuitton

2009-12-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Are you a career woman? Want to buy new bags but have no money? You can trust Louis Vuitton as your best online bag shop with very affordable bags at a very affordable price. They provide many models, from the elegant to the executive classy. All at a very affordable price. For you who enjoyed big discounts, Louis Vuitton provide you with your big discount. 50 - 90% discount for all the bags you want. Now, what are you waiting for? Visit their site at Louis Vuitton Handbags and get your quality bags with your daily budget.

They will also provide you with other products such as wallets, belts, and businessmen suitcases. Check out their products at Louis Vuitton Bags, also at a very affordable price. You can save your expenses on the bag you really wanted. What are you waiting for? Order their bag products now. They provide more than 100 newest bag collections every month, so you'll never get bored with their bags.
Lots of people had bought their bags and satisfied with Louis Vuitton's services. It's your turn to order. Submit your order now and get up to 90% off on their products.

Ragunan zoo

2009-12-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

Ragunan zoo is a kind of combination between zoo and park. It has almost 30,000 plants from 250 different kinds of. Since it is a combination between zoo and park, Ragunan Zoo is also known as Ragunan Zoological Park. Ragunan Zoo was constructed based on the open zoo concept that allowed visitors to feel nearer to the animals. Besides being a recreation park, Ragunan Zoo has an important role in animal conservation through the cultivation program, and it also becomes a good place for educational and research activities. Some animals that have been successfully cultivated in Ragunan Zoo are white tiger, Sumatran tiger, orang utan, komodo, phyton, and some types of birds (i.e kakatua bird, parrot, and cassowary) as well as other kind of animals.
Dunia Fantasy SeaWorld Indonesia Gelanggang SamuderaNational MuseumJakarta History Museum Wayang Museum Fine Art and Ceramic Museum Textile Museum Battle'45 MuseumMaritime Museum History

In 1864, when Jakarta was still named as Batavia, the first zoo was open at Cikini area, Jakarta Pusat, which was named as “Planten En Dierentuin”. The zoo was managed by flora and fauna lovers association (Culturule Vereniging Planten en Dierentuin at Batavia). The land where the zoo stood was granted by Raden Saleh, a famous Indonesian painting artist, which width was about 10 hectares. Since the zoo in Cikini considered as too small and not really adequate for animal exhibition so in 1964 DKI Jakarta’s government granted a land with 30 hectares width at the south suburb area of Jakarta, later named as Ragunan Zoo. In 1966, Ragunan Zoo was officially opened by the governor of DKI Jakarta with a name of Ragunan Zoological Park. The first director of Ragunan Zoological Park was a fauna lover, named Benjamin Gaulstaun.

Source : indonesia-travel-guide.com

Create Your Own Holiday With Holiday Villa In Playa Blanca

2009-10-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

Do you want a holiday to Lanzarote?

Lanzarote is one of the islands in Spain . It is located approximately 11 kilometers from Fuerteventura and only one kilometer from Graciosa. One of the interesting places to visit there is Playa Blanca, the coastal areas with beautiful view. In addition to coastal areas, Playa Blanca is also a fishing village, which can give you the atmosphere of a unique typical coastal village with the smell of salted fish and salt.

This area is ideal to visit during the summer or autumn. Do not worry about accommodation, as a developed tourist objects, there are many comfortable and pleasant of accommodation, such as villas and apartments

If you have a plan to get there on vacation, then our partner can rely on to find a comfortable accommodation.

You want to find the villa or apartment? Our Partner is the answer. Holiday Villas in Playa Blanca will assist you in finding a comfortable and luxurious villa, without you have to waste time and money to find it with yourself. Our partners work with many villas’ entrepreneurs and local travel agent in Playa Blanca.

There are various luxury villas that available in our partner’s database. You can see an image of the villas that you want. You can set your own villa location that you want to rent, at an affordable price and facilities you need. Any information about these villas is complete, you should carefully when determining the choice and complete description of our clients can help you. Everything can be found online, without having to spend a lot of time to search for data on other media.

Villa was the right choice for a vacation, but if you want to stay longer in Playa Blanca and villas to rent a fairly heavy load, then you can choose apartment. Unlike the apartment in general, our partners provide some apartment that you can rent on weekly rates. The price varies, starting from 190 euros to 570 euros per week. Of course, complete with a variety of information about each apartment, is it images, facilities or the pool room and booking details.

For more information, we recommend you visit their website. You will be guided to the best villas and apartments. There is also some information about Playa Blanca and interesting places worth your visit. So do not wait longer, create your own holiday in Playa Blanca with Holiday Villas in Playa Blanca.

Coral Island Thailand

2009-10-23T00:33:00.000-07:00

Coral Island is outstanding, and comes closer than most to fulfilling that seductive mental image, we all seen to have of discovering a remote, perfect, untouched island escape, where the sand is pure and white, the water translucent, the sunsets religiously inspiring and the crowds for away.

Only 15 mins. by speedboat or 30 mins. by ferry from Phuket, there's total seclusion in this lovely resort.

A short trek over the small hill and rocks will lead you to a small, quiet cove with a beautiful beach.

An excellent hideaway during the day. Fishing and a sunset sailing cruise can also be arranged. Watersports are available on the beach. Diving and instruction is available in English, Japanese, Chinese and Thai.

By coralislandresort.com

Brown's Wharf Inn For Your Accomodation

2009-09-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard about Brown's Wharf Inn? Perhaps for those of you who frequent. Visit to Maine , especially Boothbay Harbor , You must know about this inn.

Yes, Brown's Wharf Inn is one kind of the Boothbay Harbor Inn. Owned and Managed by the Brown family, this inn is located right on the harbor. One of the advantages of this inn is to have direct access to the sea view, so it allows you to enjoy beach activities such as fishing without having to walk far.

You will be very easy to find this inn because it has unique characteristic, a gigantic statue of the Old Lobster Fisherman with a yellow dress. This statue will be seen striking among the blue color of the sea and the many ships that rely on the port. Besides that unique, Brown's Wharf Inn also has any variety of facilities. Not only a comfortable room, friendly services, but also private dock for your boat.

Going to Maine is not complete if not visit Boothbay Harbor ; the same is not complete if you have not booked a room there. To enjoy the package, you can get it online and prepare your self to enjoy the beautiful Boothbay Harbor Maine.

Prambanan Temple

2009-09-10T00:40:00.000-07:00

Prambanan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.

This temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta.

There are 237 temples in this Shivaite temple complex, either big or small. But the majority of them have deteriorated, what is left are only scattered stones. The Prambanan temple complex consists of three zones; first the outer zone, second the middle zone that contains hundreds of small temples, and third the holiest inner zone that contains eight main temples and eight small shrines.

The outer zone is a large space marked by a rectangular wall (destroyed). The original function is unknown; possibilities are that it was a sacred park, or priests' boarding school (ashram). The supporting buildings for the temple complex were made from organic material; as a consequence no remains occur.

Source : wikipedia.org

Tips for Choose a Hotel

2009-09-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

How do you choose the hotel when traveling? More prefer the cheapest one? Do not underestimate your place of rest at night, especially when on vacation and business travel. You need tips for choosing the hotel.

Choose hotels can be an easy thing. People can only spend five minutes to observe the hotel room, but the comfort you will not actually enjoy for five minutes. For best results you can book a room through a travel agency. They usually have knowledge of the appropriate room for you. Booked through a travel agent can also prevent you from additional costs if you reservation via online.

Primary thing when choose a hotel is the price. But do not worry; travel agents usually have the information’s about the cheap hotel. You can ask them to find a hotel according to your budget.

If you already have a fix destination, for example Singapore , then you can request that information. Each country you visit usually has some features of cheap hotels, such as cheap hotels singapore and cheap hotels in seattle , so you just need to find them.

When you book a room you want, make a copy of the confirmation of the reservation which was given to you. This copy is important as evidence you are going to take at check-in. This is to avoid the mistakes made by the hotel.

These are some tips for choose the hotel, wish it can be useful.

Marina Bay, Singapore

2009-09-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

Marina Bay is a region in the south of Singapore, on the east side of the mouth of Singapore River, next to the artificial bay created by land reclamation. Now proud as a large conference center, several hotels and major retail and office areas.

Suntec City is interesting buildings in Marina Bay as a building designed to look like a hand with fingers and thumbs are visible from the ground. An artificial bay, it was formed when land reclamation created the Marina Centre and Marina South areas, which form a body of sheltered waters of what was once open sea. In the reclamation process, Telok Ayer Basin was removed from the map, while the Singapore River's mouth now flows into the bay instead of directly into the sea. A barrage was completed in 2008 to make Marina Bay a reservoir for drinking water.

In contemporary local common usage, however, the term Marina Bay has largely been attached to the developments in the vicinity of Marina Mall in the Marina South reclaimed area, particularly to the eateries found there. Although technically erroneous, this association may have been stemmed from the association of the venue's limited accessibility to the Marina Bay MRT Station, which has served as the main means of public transport to Marina South.

It was announced in 2007 that Marina Bay will play host to a Formula One Race. The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix took place on September 28 2008 on a street circuit through Marina Bay. It was the first ever Formula One Grand Prix to be staged at night, with the track fully floodlit.

Source : wikipedia.org

Cheap Flights on Travel.com.au

2009-08-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

One thing that you have to concern if you plan to go overseas is choosing a right travel agent due to international airfares that could be very expensive if you are in not right travel agent. I had a bad experience about it, I chose a wrong travel for my tickets and I got more expensive fare than other travels. You have to be wise men if you want save money in your vacation overseas.

If you live in Australia, I only recommended an online travel agent that has well known as the best travel agent for your overseas vacation. With a competitive price for some international airlines such as Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar, and or United Airlines, you only need to go to one travel which is travel.com.au to get your best seat in cheap fares.

Not only those airlines that you can find on travel.com.au, you can always choose your own favorite airline of course with very cheap fares compared to other online travel. This site is also featured by many information of popular destination all around the world, so before you decide to book your ticket, you can also surf the information about your destination. So, do not bet your vacation overseas to another travel agent that cannot be trusted anymore, only on travel.com.au.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

2009-08-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, also known as the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis, near present-day Al Hillah, Babil in Iraq, are considered to be one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. They were built by the Chaldean king Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC. He is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his sick wife, Amytis of Media, who longed for the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland Persia.The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes after the 2nd century BC.

The lush Hanging Gardens are extensively documented by Greek historians such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus. Through the ages, the location may have been confused with gardens that existed at Nimrud, since tablets from there clearly show gardens. Writings on these tablets describe the possible use of something similar to an Archimedes screw as a process of raising the water to the required height.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are perhaps the most mysterious of the seven wonders. They are remarkable in that they compose the only wonder whose very existence has been very seriously called into question. That’s right, it appears uncertain at best that the hanging gardens ever really existed; the alternative being that they were some sort of hypothetical flight of fancy from the minds of some of the more poetic historians of ancient times.

Reference :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon

Chichen Itza

2009-08-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Chichen Itza was a major regional focal point in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic through the Terminal Classic and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period. The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc Maya of the northern lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

Recently voted as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, the ruins of Chichen Itza lie about midway between Cancun and Merida, so that the journey from each city takes around 2 or 3 hours via the toll highway. It is possible to see the main structures on a day trip from Cancun, and many tour buses do just this resulting in a large influx of visitors around 10-11am.

Chichen Itza is the most visited site in the Yucatán and it can get very crowded here, so if at all possible try to arrive soon after the 8am opening. This will give you time to explore the site before it gets too hot. Alternatively, leave your visit until later in the day and stay overnight nearer the site, returning in the early morning. Ideally, you will need two days for a good understanding of the site, which covers 4 square miles.

Have A Fun Holiday With Myrtle Beach Resort

2009-08-20T23:29:00.000-07:00

When seeing sunset in the beach, my imagination fly away to my own vacation and of course it is not complete if I do not stay in the best resort nearby the beach. Just imagine we can see sunset from our room that face directly to the beach, it could be a wonderful holiday we got. The entire plan we have can be only reached in Myrtle Beach Resort.

With all the features offered such as best resorts choice and also completed by some special events, golf range, and interesting discount up to 20% for you who a personnel of military. The Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resort is one of your best choices for your summer holiday because we can get many special packages like water adventures, spa escape, or you can choose also some shows in theatre.

All the pleasures above can you get only in Myrtle Beach Resorts by Towers on The Grove so do not hesitate to book your room and your holiday packages by now. It is easy and fun having your vacation in the Myrtle Beach.

Borobudur Temple

2009-08-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

The glorious ninth century Buddist stupa of Borobudur, the largest Buddist monument in the world. This Buddist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia’s single most visited tourist attraction.

Holiday to Myrtle Beach

2009-08-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Many people like to go to the beach. No wonder if beach becomes a crowded place on holiday. But that is not a problem for me, because I have decided to bring my family to the beach in next summer. After consider many things, I decide to bring my family to Myrtle beach in South Carolina.

As many people want, I want the best for my family. Before decide, I have looked some information about that beach. The primary thing, I check the accommodation. From any sources, I find if Myrtle Beach Accomodation provide a comfort hotels and also many features. Golf field, water recreation plaza, music concert, and also a room which direct overlooking to the beach. Beside those, Myrtle Beach Accomodations offer a superior room with an affordable price.

Myrtle beach hotels are located along the coast. This makes me easier to take care my children, so I can feel safety when they play on the beach while I enjoy the swimming pool.

Myrtle beach is the best option for family holidays, how about you?

Mount Fuji

2009-07-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

Mount Fuji (Fujisan) is with 3776 meters Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people.

Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano, which most recently erupted in 1708. It stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days.

The easiest way to view Mount Fuji is from the train on a trip along the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka. If you take the shinkansen from Tokyo in direction of Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, the best view of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from around Shin-Fuji Station on the right hand side of the train, about 40 to 45 minutes after leaving Tokyo.

Note however, that clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mount Fuji, and you have to consider yourself lucky if you get a clear view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer, and in the early morning and late evening hours.

If you want to enjoy Mount Fuji at a more leisurely pace and from a nice natural surrounding, you should head to the Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region at the northern foot of the mountain, or to Hakone, a nearby hot spring resort.

Mount Fuji is officially open for climbing during July and August via several routes.

Niagara Falls

2009-07-20T02:20:00.000-07:00

The Niagara Falls are massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the border and American Falls on the American side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow,[1] and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s. (en.wikipedia.org)

Kuta Bali

2009-07-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

Kuta in addition to being the Sunset Site Number One, with its daily spectacular sunsets, it is also the centre of night life activities in Southern Bali and a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants line up the streets as well as the Bachfront,Hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive homestay to a luxurious resort, will ready accomodate you.

The beach of Kuta is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. On the south, the beach is fenced by the airport’s runway, which gives you a breathtaking landing experience. The beach stretches as far north as the eyes can see. As short walk away north, waves will invite you to test your surfing

Kuta is very short drive away from the airport, and transportation is readily available to take you from and to Kuta to and from anywhere else in Bali.

Al Hasa Oasis

2009-06-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Oasis and region in northeastern Saudi Arabia, the region named after the oasis. Both the region and the oasis are administered as part of the Eastern Province.
The oasis lies 65 km from the Persian Gulf and is the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world, with an area of about 120 km² and a population of 600,000 (2003 estimate). It is bounded by the ad-Dahna and ad-Daman deserts.

The central economic activity of the oasis is agriculture, fed by more than 60 artesian wells. Around 3 million date palms produce a variety of date. Additional products are rice, corn, citrus and other fruits. There is also intensive raising of sheep, goats, cattle and camels. Egg farms add to the variety, making al-Hasa one of the major Saudi food producers. Wind carrying sand is a great problem for the oasis, but in modern times the government has planted protective tree barriers.
Al-Hasa also has some industries producing cement and plastics, in addition to more traditional small-scale industries.

More than 50% of the population of the oasis are Twelver Shi'i Muslims. Hofuf (320,000, 2005 estimate) is the only city here, embracing the southwestern part of the oasis. There are around 50 traditional Arabian villages spread around the oasis. (i-cias.com)

Batu Caves

2009-03-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Batu Caves-Just 13km north of the city, the huge Batu Caves are among Malaysia's best known tourist attractions. Now used for Hindu festivals and pilgrimages, the caves also form an intense backdrop to the spectacularly masochistic feats performed annually by Thaipusam devotees. The main cave, a vast open space known as the Temple Cave - is reached by a 272-step climb. Beyond the stairs is the main temple. There are several other smaller caves in the same formation, including one with elaborately painted Hindu figures.

Sunway Lagoon- A huge theme park with waterslides and the worlds biggest surf pool, this is a very popular attraction for locals and tourist alike. As big as a city, with it's own hotel and restaurants, a whole day is required to take it all in.

Genting Highlands- Perched on a mountain range, this ultramodern hill station looks mystical, shrouded in mists that blanket the hills. In Malaysia's only casino, you'll find Western gambling along with traditional Chinese games like tai sai. Muslims are expressly forbidden from entering the casino.
Set in a lush and cool countryside, Genting has several modern hotels, an artificial lake, a golf course, a family theme park with roller-coasters and the largest video-virtual reality arcade in Malaysia.

Fraser's Hill - A cool retreat in the mountains, Fraser's Hill is for those who like to relax in the countryside, walk along jungle paths or swim in the pool of the Jerlau Waterfall . There is also a golf course, tennis courts and pony rides.

Templer Park-North of the city, Templer Park was established during the colonial period. The 1235 acre park is a tract of primary jungle featuring marked jungle paths, swimming lagoons and several waterfalls.Just north of the park is a 350m limestone formation known as Bukit Takun.

Pangkor Island - About 3 hours from KL, this tiny island is one of the few places on the west coast to offer palm fringed beaches. Until tourism arrived, it's economy depended on the sea and that is still evident in the number of fishing villages which extend on stilts far out over the water. Beach chalets, clear water and warm weather make it an ideal weekend getaway.

Source :
www.geocities.com/citiesoftheworld/aroundkl.html

Mount Sinai

2009-03-05T03:04:00.000-08:00

Mount Sinai also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gebel Musa or Jabal Musa ("Moses' Mountain") by the Bedouin, is the name of a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula. It is the traditional location of the Biblical Mount Sinai.

Mount Sinai is a 2285 m-high mountain in the Sinai region. It is next to Mount St. Catherine (at 2,629 m, the tallest peak on the Sinai peninsula). It is surrounded on all sides by higher peaks of the mountain range.

Mount Sinai rocks were formed in the late stage of the Arabian-Nubian Shield's (ANS) evolution. Mount Sinai displays a ring complex that consists of alkaline granites intruded into diverse rock types, including volcanics. The granites range in composition from syenogranite to alkali feldspar granite. The volcanic rocks are alkaline to peralkaline and they are represented by subaerial flows and eruptions and subvolcanic porphyry. Generally, the nature of the exposed rocks in Mount Sinai indicates that they originated from different depths. (M. G. Shahien, Geol. Dept., Beni Suef, Egypt)
(wikipedia.org)

Jeita Grotto

2009-03-01T02:39:00.000-08:00

The Jeita Grotto is a compound of interconnected karstic limestone caves in Lebanon located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Beirut in the Valley of Nahr al-Kalb (Dog River). This grotto complex is made up of two caves, upper galleries and a lower cave through which an underground river runs. The lower cave was rediscovered in 1836 by Reverend William Thomson, the upper gallery was discovered in 1958 by Lebanese speleologists.

The upper gallery has been designed to include a series of walkways without disturbing the natural landscape. The Jeita Grotto which is run by the German, Beirut based private firm MAPAS is a candidate in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition, and has been chosen by popular vote as the national candidate that will represent Lebanon in the next stages of the competition. (en.wikipedia.org)

Amazon River and Rain Forest

2009-02-25T02:32:00.000-08:00

The Amazon is a region of superlatives. It spans the borders of eight countries and one overseas territory, is the world's largest river basin and the source of one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth. Its rain forests are the planet's largest and most luxuriant, and home to - amazingly - one in ten known species on Earth.

In the last decades, scientific research has established a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the integrity of the global environment, but still only a fraction of its biological richness has been revealed. Today, rapid deforestation threatens the Amazon. At current rates, 55 percent of its rain forests could be gone by 2030—a looming disaster not only for the region’s plants and animals, but for the world.

The immensity of the Amazon's challenge, like the scale of its landscape, requires a long-term conservation vision backed by strong scientific expertise. WWF has been at the forefront in protecting the Amazon for more than 40 years. Our approach is succeeding because we engage local communities and partner with governments to identify mutual solutions that can bridge the needs of economic development and conservation.

Chocolate Hills

2009-02-17T02:36:00.000-08:00

The world-renowned cone-shaped Chocolate Hills is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and romance. Spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate Hills is the province's signature attraction. It consists of approximately 1,268 hay cock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered as a National Geologic Movement. During the summers, the dome-shaped grass covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown, transforming the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate "kisses"
Two of the highest hills have been developed and provided with facilities such as a restaurant, hostel and view deck.

Legend has it that when giants live with mortals, a gentle giant fell in love with a beautiful village girl. Agoro , the giant was handsome and though a favorite among female giants, was also a loner. When everything and everybody sleeps, Arogo would sit by his favorite spot near the river to ponder or just watch the night pass by.

One night while Arogo was by his spot, he noticed a beautiful native girl with hair as black as the night by the river bank. He instantly fell in love with Aluya. After that night. Arogo would always wait by his place to take a glimpse at his beloved Aluya.

A rumor reached Arogo that Aluya would soon marry a man her parents chose for her.
The night before Aluya's wedding, Agoro kidnapped Aluya. Seeing a giant, Aluya screamed, kicked and cried, but to no avail. Arogo was successful in abducting Aluya.
In the giant's cave, Arogo tried to give Aluya food and water but the girl kept on crying. Her sadness reached her heart that she died with tears in her eyes. Arogo buried her and kept his vigil. He cried for days and months. Giant tears fell to the ground. He cried a thousand years for the loss of his love.
After sometime, Arogo's tears hardened and became what we know today as Chocolate hills. The Hills were witnesses of an unrequited love of the years go by.

Chocolate Hills dot the plains of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. There are at least 1,776 uniform hills that leave visitors no wonder how they came to be.

One could view and even count the hills its 210 feet above the ground view deck, Climbing the 214 steps of the view deck to the top is a rewarding exercise.
Chocolate Hills is also cited as a Geological Movement of the country and is also known as the Eight Wonder of the World. (www.luzpalma.com)

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

2009-02-13T02:27:00.000-08:00

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one of the most important conservation areas in the Philippines. It was created to protect the impressive cave systems, lush old growth tropical rainforest, interesting wildlife, unspoiled natural beauty of the area and one of the most impressive cave system in the world. Its main focus is 8.2 km. long underground river that flows beneath a spectacular limestone formation before directly emptying into the sea.

It is a core area for the Palawan Biosphere Reserve and is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA). It was also declared as a National Geological Monument. In recognition of global significance, the PPSRNP has been inscribed to the list of natural World Heritage Sites.

As a natural area, the Park has attracted an increasing number of hikers, biologist, photographers, students and nature lovers. It is a source of pride and a key element in the identity of the people of Puerto Princesa in particular and of the Philippines as a whole.

Kalahari Desert

2009-02-09T01:58:00.000-08:00

The Kalahari desert is part of the huge sand basin that reaches from the Orange River up to Angola, in the west to Namibia and in the east to Zimbabwe. The sand masses were created by the erosion of soft stone formations. The wind shaped the sand ridges, which are so typical of the landscape in the Kalahari.

Only in recent geological history, 10 to 20,000 years ago, were the dunes stabilised through vegetation, so the area should actually be called a dry savannah. Unlike the dunes of the Namib Desert, those of the Kalahari are stable and not wandering.

The dominant vegetation: grasses, thorny shrubs and Acacia trees, can survive long drought periods of more than ten months every year.

The remarkable nests of the weaver birds in the camelthorn trees and in other acacias are a frequent sight in the Kalahari. These inconspicuous little birds, which resemble sparrows, live in huge communal nests with a diametre of up to two metres. At any given time, hundreds of lively little birds are breeding and feeding their youngsters in such a nesting colony. (southafrica-travel.net)

Great Blue Hole

2009-02-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 300 metres (984 ft) across and 120 metres (394 ft) deep. It was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. As the ocean began to rise again, the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed.[1] It is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.

On-shore caves of similar formation, as large collapsed sinkholes, are well known in Belize.[2]

This site was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. In 1971, he brought his ship, the Calypso, to the hole to chart its depths.[3] Investigations by this expedition confirmed the hole's origin as typical Karst limestone formations, formed before rises in sea level in at least four stages, leaving ledges at depths of 21, 49 and 91 meters (69, 161 and 299 ft). Stalactites were retrieved from submerged caves, confirming their previous formation above sea level. Some of these stalactites were also off-vertical by 10°-13° in a consistent orientation, thus indicating that there had also been some past geological shift and tilting of the underlying plateau, followed by a long period in the current plane.

This is a popular spot amongst recreational scuba divers, who are lured by the opportunity to dive in crystal clear water and meet several species of fish, including giant groupers, nurse sharks and several types of reef sharks, such as the Caribbean Reef Shark or the Blacktip Shark. Other species of sharks, like the bull shark or hammerheads, have been reported there, but are not regular sightings. Usually, dive trips to the Great Blue Hole are full-day trips, which include one dive in the Blue Hole and two further dives in nearby reefs. (wikipedia.org)

Machu Picchu, Peru

2009-01-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. While the Inca people certainly used the Andean mountain top (9060 feet elevation), erecting many hundreds of stone structures from the early 1400's, legends and myths indicate that Machu Picchu (meaning 'Old Peak' in the Quechua language) was revered as a sacred place from a far earlier time. Whatever its origins, the Inca turned the site into a small (5 square miles) but extraordinary city. Invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs, Machu Picchu seems to have been utilized by the Inca as a secret ceremonial city. Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. These structures, carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh 50 tons or more yet are so precisely sculpted and fitted together with such exactitude that the mortarless joints will not permit the insertion of even a thin knife blade. Little is known of the social or religious use of the site during Inca times. The skeletal remains of ten females to one male had led to the casual assumption that the site may have been a sanctuary for the training of priestesses and /or brides for the Inca nobility. However, subsequent osteological examination of the bones revealed an equal number of male bones, thereby indicating that Machu Picchu was not exclusively a temple or dwelling place of women.

One of Machu Picchu's primary functions was that of astronomical observatory. The Intihuatana stone (meaning 'Hitching Post of the Sun') has been shown to be a precise indicator of the date of the two equinoxes and other significant celestial periods. The Intihuatana (also called the Saywa or Sukhanka stone) is designed to hitch the sun at the two equinoxes, not at the solstice (as is stated in some tourist literature and new-age books). At midday on March 21st and September 21st, the sun stands almost directly above the pillar, creating no shadow at all. At this precise moment the sun "sits with all his might upon the pillar" and is for a moment "tied" to the rock. At these periods, the Incas held ceremonies at the stone in which they "tied the sun" to halt its northward movement in the sky. There is also an Intihuatana alignment with the December solstice (the summer solstice of the southern hemisphere), when at sunset the sun sinks behind Pumasillo (the Puma's claw), the most sacred mountain of the western Vilcabamba range, but the shrine itself is primarily equinoctial.

Shamanic legends say that when sensitive persons touch their foreheads to the stone, the Intihuatana opens one's vision to the spirit world (the author had such an experience, which is described in detail in Chapter one of Places of Peace and Power, on the web site, www.sacredsites.com). Intihuatana stones were the supremely sacred objects of the Inca people and were systematically searched for and destroyed by the Spaniards. When the Intihuatana stone was broken at an Inca shrine, the Inca believed that the deities of the place died or departed. The Spaniards never found Machu Picchu, even though they suspected its existence, thus the Intihuatana stone and its resident spirits remain in their original position. The mountain top sanctuary fell into disuse and was abandoned some forty years after the Spanish took Cuzco in 1533. Supply lines linking the many Inca social centers were disrupted and the great empire came to an end. The photograph shows the ruins of Machu Picchu in the foreground with the sacred peak of Wayna Picchu towering behind. Partway down the northern side of Wayna Picchu is the so-called "Temple of the Moon" inside a cavern. As with the ruins of Machu Picchu, there is no archaeological or iconographical evidence to substantiate the 'new-age' assumption that this cave was a goddess site.

Taj Mahal

2009-01-14T18:23:00.000-08:00

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.

Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.

The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole. (islamicity.com)

Kiyomizu Temple

2009-01-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

The hugely popular Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera, in Japanese) is a must for most visitors to Kyoto. The main hall is built out onto pillars. The effect is that of a deck reaching out from the foot of the mountain.

The original Kiyomizu Temple dates from the eighth century.

After visiting the temple, wander around Sannenzaka, a small shopping street lined with traditional shops and wooden houses. You can follow this road as it winds its way down to Gion - the traditional pleasure and geisha quarters of the city. On the way is Yasaka Gojonoto, a five-story pagoda.

Kiyomizu-dera is composed of several Buddhist temples and is a must see. The temple was founded in 798, and it is named for a waterfall on the grounds ("Kiyoi mizu" means pure water).

The most well-known aspect of Kiyomzu dera is the huge veranda of the main hall. It juts out on wooden pillars and is an impressive site.

After taking in the views of Kyoto city from the veranda, most tourists wander down to the waterfall below. The water is said to have healing properties.

In addition to the veranda and for health reasons, Kiyomizu dera temple brings in visitors hoping for luck in love. The sub-temple Jishu-jinja has two love stones placed roughly 20 meters apart. If you can manage to walk between with the stones, eyes closed, you will find love--or so the faithful believe. (Cheating however is allowed: pilgrims are often seen being led by their significant other.)

In addition to being a World Heritage Site, Kiyomizu was recently submitted as a candidate as a New Seven Wonders of the World. (japanvisitor.com)

Grand Canyon

2008-12-27T03:24:00.000-08:00

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the United States state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park — one of the first national parks in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

View from the South Rim.

A map of the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas, circa 1908.

Longstanding scientific consensus has been that the canyon was created by the Colorado River over a six million year period. The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km) and attains a depth of over a mile (1.83 km)(6000 feet).[1] Nearly two billion years of the Earth's history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. The "canyon started from the west, then another formed from the east, and the two broke through and met as a single majestic rent in the earth some six million years ago. [...] The merger apparently occurred where the river today, coming from the north, bends to the west, in the area known as the Kaibab Arch."[2]

Prior to European emigration, the area was inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon ("Ongtupqa" in Hopi language) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it.[citation needed] The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.[3] In 1869, Major John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War veteran made the first recorded journey through the canyon on the Colorado River. Powell referred to the sedimentary rock units exposed in the canyon as "leaves in a great story book"

Krakatau, Volcanic Islands

2008-12-22T03:19:00.000-08:00

Nestled between the large Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra is the Krakatau Volcano National Park. In the fourth century, a single marine volcano stood at this site, but in 416 A.D., the caldera of the volcano collapsed. The remnants formed a new caldera, or volcanic feature formed by the collapse of land following an eruption, around 7 km in diameter, with the peak’s remnants becoming the three islands of Verlaten, Lang and Krakatau.

This volcano remnant was not dormant, however, and in August 1883, the volcano on Krakatau erupted with such violence that the sound was heard as far away as Madagscar and Alice Springs, Australia, thousands of km away. It was one of the largest terrestrial explosions in recorded history. The eruption also caused a tsunami 40 m high. Since 1927, continued eruptions and outflow material has formed a fourth island in the park, Anak Krakatau, or “Child of Krakatau.” (www.new7wonders.com)

Beautiful Dongjiang in Hunan

2008-12-16T17:45:00.000-08:00

The Dongjiang Lake is in Zixing county of Chenzhou, 38 kilometers from the center of Chenzhou. The lake is close to the Beijing-Guangzhou railway and the 107 national highway. The whole area covers about 160 square kilometers and is considered the "Dongting Lake of southern Hunan." The lake scenes are beautiful, full of many islands and trees, giving it the nickname of the "Eastern Swiss" Lake.

Name:Chenzhou Dongjiang Lake (Dongjiang Hu)
City:Chenzhou
Address:Zixing Town, Chenzhou

Source from : english.china.com

Red Light District in Amsterdam

2008-12-10T22:45:00.000-08:00

From brothels to sex shops to museums, the Red Light District leaves nothing to the imagination. It is very likely that you will have heard about this neighbourhood and to be frank, everything you will have heard is probably true , but to really put rumours to rest, you have got to check it out for yourself. The Rossebuurt, as the locals know it, is unlike any other place. Guaranteed. Certainly, the Red Light District that everyone knows about is the one where women, of all nationalities, parade their wares in red-fringed window parlours, many ready to offer more than a school boy peep-show in a private cabin. Another familiar image of the Red Light District is of packs of men, young and old , couples holding hands and pointing in shock of it all, giggling groups of women celebrating a hen night , and busloads of Japanese tourists toting cameras (except not in the direction of the female entertainers! Strictly banned!). This is proof enough that the RLD deserves a visit, if not a little look in.

Perhaps what few really notice is that the Rossebuurt (Dutch for ‘pink’ or ‘red’ neighbourhood) is in fact one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the city with its long winding narrow, cobbled streets and utterly charming 14 th century architecture, such as the gothic Oudekerk, or Old Church. The Red Light District simply oozes charm and one cannot help but admire the old buildings that lean at odd-angles, and the tree-enshrouded canals. Music, especially during the summer season, invites you to linger just that little bit longer while the arrival of new classier eateries and great authentic restaurants such as Café Pacifico, one of Europe 's first Mexican restaurants, make it so appealing. Recently resurfaced streets, restored façades and trendier clientele to the area are now transforming what was once a dark and seedy part of town.

Amsterdam prides itself, and rightly so, on its wholly liberal and tolerant attitude, embracing the fact that people may be into prostitution, soft drugs and pornography-and this is only human. So instead of criminalizing everything, this very upfront city wears its heart on its sleeve-what you see is generally what you get. Enjoy the honesty of it all, as you won’t find it anywhere else. So how do you get to it? It depends which RLD you are looking for as t here are in fact three Red Light Districts in Amsterdam: the main area is in the Walletjes area (between Centraal Station and Nieuwenmarkt), and the other two, in Singel (between Raadhuistraat and Centraal Station) and de Pijp (behind the Rijksmuseum).

Prostitution in Amsterdam
Prostitution is legal in Holland, and in Amsterdam most of it is concentrated in the Red Light District where it has enjoyed a long tradition of tolerance. Since October 2000, window prostitutes have been allowed to legally ply their trade. Today, prostitutes in the Netherlands are also taxpayers. Unfortunately, discrimination is still very much part and parcel in this trade as many prostitutes report that some banks even refuse to grant mortgages for example. However, now as a legal profession, the government ensures that all prostitutes are able to access medical care and work in better conditions by regulating and monitoring working practices and standards. Help is also at hand in the district itself thanks to the Prostitution Information Center. Also, contrary to popular belief, the RLD is actually the safest area in Amsterdam as clusters of policemen, and private bodyguards employed by the girls themselves are always on duty.

Condom shop Het Gulden Vlies
This shop is a kingdom of condoms. It has all colors, shapes, sizes and flavors. Some are even hand painted and are for decoration only. You can find a surprising amount of information and books about our rubber friend, and it even has a small condom museum.
(www.amsterdam.info)Picture : amsterdam-red-light-district.info

Madurai - An Ancient City

2008-12-09T00:50:00.001-08:00

Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre Christian era. The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this millennium; it later on came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom after its ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik Kafur). During the 16th through the 18th centuries, Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar.

The Sangam age or the Golden age of Tamil literature – produced masterpieces way back in the Pre christian era and in early 1st millennium CE. Madurai was the seat of the Tamil Sangam or Academy of learning.

The entire city of Madurai, is built around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple – the temple par excellence. Concentric rectangular streets surround the temple, symbolizing the structure of the cosmos.

Popular belief is that Meenakshi (Parvati), is the queen of Madurai, a Pandyan princess known originally as Tatatakai, who married Shiva. The coronation and the marriage ceremonies are still celebrated in a grand manner, that can be compared to the Dussera Parade of Mysore. Meenakshi and Somasundarar are regarded as the eternal rulers of the Pandya Kingdom.

Over 20000 pilgrims and visitors visit the temple each day. This temple is a vibrant cultural center brimming with tradition, festivals, art, architectural and sculptural splendor and can be described as the best possible representation of the millennia old cultural ethos of the Indian subcontinent – in terms of the plurality of faiths that surround the temple, the richness of traditions and festivals,

Also in Madurai are the Aappudaiyaar Koyil Tevara Stalam and the Koodalazhagar Divya Desam. In the vicinity of Madurai is Tirupparamkunram, one of the 6 padai veedu shrines of Murugan (glorified in Madurai Sangam Nakeerar’s Tirumurugaatruppadai). Also in the vicinity of Madurai is Alagar Koyil, one of the prominent Divya Desam shrines of the Sri Vaishnavite faith. (www.templenet.com)

Sydney Harbour

2008-12-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

Sydney Harbour is commonly referred to as the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. Those who come to see it will understand why. The 240 kilometres of shoreline encompass approximately 54 square kilometres of water, which translates to an enormous area for exploration and discovery. Although there are exclusive homes dotted around the water's edge, there are large tracts of parklands, reserves and gardens that balance the harbour environmentally. It is possible to walk around much of the harbour edge and picnic in many spots.

On a warm sunny day, the harbour is a vibrant blue and dotted with hundreds of sailing boats, cruise boats and ferries.

The best way of seeing the harbour is to be on it and that's easy to do. Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world.

The hub of Sydney Harbour is Circular Quay, a ferry terminus situated at the bottom end of the central business district. Government ferries depart from here for most parts of the harbour. From here its an easy walk or short ferry ride to The Rocks, the Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour and Bondi Beach.

Private cruise operators also run excursions around most parts of the harbour, and these vary in price and can extend from a short trip around the harbour to an evening cabaret/dinner cruise with a four-piece band and dance floor.

Another way of seeing the harbour, and gaining some perspective on its size and beauty, is to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and go to the top of the Pylon Tower. From here, for a fee, you will get is a magnifient view of the harbour, the city skyline, the Opera House, The Rocks, Darling Harbour and North Sydney. The traffic passing underneath is also quite spectacular.

Another way of seeing the harbour from a lofty position is to take the lift to the top of Sydney Tower, Australia's highest man-made structure. Here there is a revolving restaturant where you can have lunch or dinner and watch the city go by beneath you. There is also an observation tower for general viewing.

Although we tend to associate the Harbour with the city of Sydney and its urban spread there are significant areas of bushland surrounding it which is protected in Sydney Harbour National Park and Crownand council reserves. Many of these offer extensive bushwalks where one can see the natural flora and, if you're lucky, some of the local fauna such as the Long-nosed Bandicoot and Little Penguin.

Source : www.sydney.com.au/harbour.htm

Tinago Falls

2008-11-27T00:56:00.000-08:00

The Tinago Falls is one of the main tourist attractions in Iligan, a city known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. Tinago is a Filipino word meaning "hidden", the falls being hidden in a deep ravine. Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase. It is said that Tinago Falls is a sanctuary for weary souls seeking to commune with nature. The trip to the falls actually exposes you to a variety of wildlife. Today, the trail is refurbished into a wildlife park hosting different species of wild animals.

The falls is approximately 240-feet high, its very cold waters cascading beautifully into a deep and calm basin-like pool which appears like a blue-colored lagoon. Under the falls is a small cave where people can enter and listen to the rumbling waters. The foot of the falls is a very ideal place for swimming. The place also has man-made swimming pools for children. It is truly a majestic place that resounds an atmosphere of serenity, a perfect escape from the noisy metropolitan.

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

2008-11-26T00:46:00.000-08:00

Engineering marvel, art deco icon, monument to progress: The Golden Gate Bridge does much more than connect San Francisco to Marin County. Named for the strait it spans -- the 3-mile passage between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific -- the bridge is a grand symbol of one of the world's most striking cities.

Completed in 1937, the $35 million structure of concrete and steel embodied a city's unquenchable spirit -- and, by extension, the nation's. Set off by its signature orange paint job, twin 750-foot towers that seem to disappear into the heavens and spidery cables that stretch like harp strings, the Golden Gate was unlike anything else ever built. At 4,200 feet, the main suspension span was easily the world's longest. (Almost 70 years later, it ranks seventh.) Facts and figures tell only a partial story: Admired as a practical feat, the bridge is beloved as a work of art, one of the greatest the 20th century produced in any medium. For more, go to sfvisitor.org

The upper Mississippi River

2008-11-26T00:42:00.000-08:00

For third-place honors, we turn to an area less celebrated than others, but nonetheless packed with the unique beauty our nation abounds in. Its low profile makes it all the more charming. To truly appreciate the Mississippi, we leave the familiar territory of Huck and Tom and take a spin on the Great River Road as it runs alongside Old Muddy's upper reaches through Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

One of the nation's most scenic routes, it winds over hills, atop towering bluffs and through one 19th-century river town after another. The sites along the way read like chapters in American history. Ancient Indian burial mounds punctuate rolling parkland, sidewheelers ply the river, and villages on either bank present fine examples of Steamboat Gothic, the ornate architectural style born in the heyday of river travel. In Galena, Ill., 85% of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.

At Trempealeau, Wis., the Trempealeau Hotel has offered haven to watermen since 1888. The whole laid-back region's real draw is the river itself. Steady and timeless, it makes one fine traveling companion as it rolls toward the Gulf.

Koh Samui

2008-11-25T23:51:00.000-08:00

Koh Samui, the beautiful island of the coconut trees, is the third largest Thai island. (Only Phuket and Koh Chang are bigger) The Island is 21 Kilometres at its widest point and 25 at its longest.The area is about 247 square kilometre's and it is located 700 km south of Bangkok in the Surat Thani province.
See Sattelite image.The Island's inland consists of jungle hills of limestone and granite, and the shoreline is made up of countless palm-fringed beaches and bays.Light bright blue seas surround the Island to make this Island a true paradise. In two decades Koh Samui has been developed into one of Asia’s leading holiday destinations for relaxation and a vast range of health programs, soothing massages and spa treatments to enjoy. .See Spas and Hotels

Every year more and more visitors are drawn to explore its beauty and relax on its sun-drenched beaches and its world famous Spas. One trip will tell you why – Samui is a magical place, the original island paradise.The moment you land on Samui you are caught in its beautiful and relaxed magical atmosphere.

But there’s a lot more to Samui than its miles of golden beaches. Jeeps, motorbikes and bicycles can be rented to explore its rugged interior. There are also treks to do and there are three spectacular waterfalls await your visit on Samui either by foot or on the back of an elephant. Then there are famous “Grandfather and Grandmother“ phallic rocks and a dizzying range of temples and animal sanctuaries to see.
Koh Samui is also a centre for water sports, diving, snorkelling and sea canoeing adventures which set off from the main beaches everyday. You can also visit the nearby islands of Ang Thong Marine National park the unspoiled Eden which inspired the Leonardo DiCaprio movie ‘The Beach’
Well known beaches are Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Big Buddha, Choeng Mon, Hua Thanon and Maenam. Samui also has many sister islands; Koh Tao, (one of the top diving islands in Asia) Koh Phangan, Angthong National Marine Park, Koh Tan and beautiful Koh Nang Yuan

EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS

2008-10-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

There are about 110 pyramids currently known in Egypt, many in a state of great disrepair and almost unrecognisable. Some were built as burial places for kings and others for queens. A pyramid also may have represented a stairway for the king to ascend to the heavens. Another possibility is that it was symbolic of the primeval mound on which the sun god/creator was born.

How the Egyptians managed the complex organisation of labour and the physical movement of large stone blocks is still a matter for debate. Pyramid construction may have involved ramps being erected around the pyramid. Blocks of stone would have been pulled up on sledges and the ramps dismantled later. It is believed that most of the labour for the construction of the pyramids would have come from farmers who were available during the inundation season when the Nile River flooded and farmland was underwater. It would also have been an ideal time for the transportation by boat of large stone blocks from their quarries to the pyramid sites.

The earliest pyramid was the Step Pyramid of king Djoser of the Old Kingdom's 3rd Dynasty over 4,600 years ago. The pyramid (at right) was the largest structure ever erected at Saqqara, the necropolis that overlooked the ancient capital of Memphis. Its construction was initially in the form of a low mastaba tomb upon which extra levels were gradually added to give it a step-like appearance.

Underneath Djoser's pyramid was a complex system of corridors with a burial chamber lined with Aswan pink granite about 28 metres underground. The entrance was sealed with a three-tonne granite plug. The pyramid's outside would have been cased with fine limestone, but this was removed long ago. Nearby were the Mortuary Temple, a Great Court and various other structures.

The first true pyramid (at right) was developed for King Sneferu during the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. It is referred to as the Red Pyramid, because of its colour, or the North Pyramid because of its position at Dashur south of Cairo. It was about 105 metres high with its sides measuring 220 metres.

The largest pyramid ever built was the Great Pyramid at Giza southwest of modern Cairo (see Giza and the Pyramids). Built for king Khufu, this pyramid was completed around 2550 BC.

It is estimated that the pyramid contains approximately 2,300,000 blocks of stone with an average weight of 2.5 tonnes each and some up to 15 tonnes. Its sides measure 230 metres in length. The structure would have towered about 146.6 metres high, but it is now a little shorter owing to the outer casing having been removed to build many of Cairo's buildings during the Middle Ages. The interior design was changed during the pyramid's construction and the burial chamber was relocated.

The Beach of Kuta Bali

2008-10-25T23:04:00.000-07:00