This home is situated in a beach in Tanzania. Looks very unfamiliar and non-conventional. Truly a home out of the ordinary. Would love to have a look inside.
Apart from homes of this kind, beaches in Africa are quite interesting.
Tuesday 26 May 2015
Nonconventional Home in the Ocean, Tanzania
This home is situated in a beach in Tanzania. Looks very unfamiliar and non-conventional. Truly a home out of the ordinary. Would love to have a look inside.
Apart from homes of this kind, beaches in Africa are quite interesting.
Monday 25 May 2015
Cameron Highlands Pahang, Malaysia
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations.
The size of Singapore, it occupies an area of 712 square kilometres
(275 sq mi) in the Titiwangsa Mountains.
To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak.
Situated at the northwestern tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala Lumpur. It is the smallest constituency in Pahang.
Discovered in 1885, it consists of three districts, namely Ringlet (5,165 hectares), Tanah Rata (2,081 hectares) and Ulu Telom (63,981 hectares). Its eight sub-districts are Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, the Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. All are nestled at different elevations ranging from 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level.
To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak.
Situated at the northwestern tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala Lumpur. It is the smallest constituency in Pahang.
Discovered in 1885, it consists of three districts, namely Ringlet (5,165 hectares), Tanah Rata (2,081 hectares) and Ulu Telom (63,981 hectares). Its eight sub-districts are Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, the Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. All are nestled at different elevations ranging from 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level.
Sunday 3 May 2015
Dervish Lodges Konya, Turkey
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. It is the
seventh most populous city in Turkey. As of 2011, the Konya Metropolitan
Municipality had a population close to 1.1 million. Konya is one of the
most economically and industrially developed cities in Turkey.
Konya was historically the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate and the Karamanids. The Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük in Konya Province was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
Konya was historically the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate and the Karamanids. The Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük in Konya Province was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
Palace of Westminster, London
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons
and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United
Kingdom. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its tenants,
the Palace lies on the Middlesex bank of the River Thames in the City of
Westminster, in central London. Its name, which derives from the
neighbouring Westminster Abbey, may refer to either of two structures:
the Old Palace, a medieval building complex that was destroyed by fire
in 1834, and its replacement New Palace that stands today. For
ceremonial purposes, the palace retains its original style and status as
a royal residence.
Sir Charles Barry's collaborative design for the Palace of Westminster uses the Perpendicular Gothic style, which was popular during the 15th century and returned during the Gothic revival of the 19th century. Barry was a classical architect, but he was aided by the Gothic architect Augustus Pugin. Westminster Hall, which was built in the 11th century and survived the fire of 1834, was incorporated in Barry's design. Pugin was displeased with the result of the work, especially with the symmetrical layout designed by Barry; he famously remarked, "All Grecian, sir; Tudor details on a classic body".
Sir Charles Barry's collaborative design for the Palace of Westminster uses the Perpendicular Gothic style, which was popular during the 15th century and returned during the Gothic revival of the 19th century. Barry was a classical architect, but he was aided by the Gothic architect Augustus Pugin. Westminster Hall, which was built in the 11th century and survived the fire of 1834, was incorporated in Barry's design. Pugin was displeased with the result of the work, especially with the symmetrical layout designed by Barry; he famously remarked, "All Grecian, sir; Tudor details on a classic body".
Rainbow over a Bridge - Rhode Island
Rhode Island officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States.
Rhode Island is the smallest in area, the eighth least populous, but the
second most densely populated of the 50 US states behind New Jersey.
Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to
the north and east, and it shares a water boundary with New York's Long
Island to the southwest.
Rhode Island was the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776, two months before any other colony. The State was also the last of the thirteen original colonies to ratify the United States Constitution.
A Mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Samarkand alternately Samarqand or Samarcand is the second-largest city
in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. The city is most
noted for its central position on the Silk Road between China and the
West, and for being an Islamic centre for scholarly study. In the 14th
century it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) and is
the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (a
modern replica) remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The
Registan was the ancient center of the city. The city has carefully
preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold embroidery,
silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting on
wood.
According on Sanskrit texts, the original name of Samarkand was "Markanda", named after the Vedic saint of the same name - Markanda. The Greeks later referred to the city as Maracanda, which is a corruption of its former Sanskrit name. The city was known by an abbreviated name of Marakanda when Alexander the Great took it in 332 BC. There are various theories of how Marakanda evolved into Samarkanda/Samarkan. It is common to prefix "as" or "su" to names in Sankrit to denote its good nature, hence Sumarkanda. Another derives the name from the Old Persian asmara, "stone", "rock", and Sogdian kand, "fort", "town".
According on Sanskrit texts, the original name of Samarkand was "Markanda", named after the Vedic saint of the same name - Markanda. The Greeks later referred to the city as Maracanda, which is a corruption of its former Sanskrit name. The city was known by an abbreviated name of Marakanda when Alexander the Great took it in 332 BC. There are various theories of how Marakanda evolved into Samarkanda/Samarkan. It is common to prefix "as" or "su" to names in Sankrit to denote its good nature, hence Sumarkanda. Another derives the name from the Old Persian asmara, "stone", "rock", and Sogdian kand, "fort", "town".
The Rock of Cashel, Ireland
The Rock of Cashel also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's
Rock, is a historic site located at Cashel, South Tipperary, Ireland.
The oldest and tallest of the buildings is the well preserved round tower (28 metres, or 90 feet), dating from c.1100. Its entrance is 12 feet from the ground, necessitated by a shallow foundation (about 3 feet) typical of round towers. The tower was built using the dry stone method. Modern conservationists have filled in some of the tower with mortar for safety reasons.
The entire plateau on which the buildings and graveyard lie is walled. In the grounds around the buildings an extensive graveyard includes a number of high crosses. Scully's Cross, one of the largest and most famous high crosses here, originally constructed in 1867 to commemorate the Scully family, was destroyed in 1976 when lightning struck a metal rod that ran the length of the cross. The remains of the top of the cross now lie at the base of the cross adjacent to the rock wall.
The oldest and tallest of the buildings is the well preserved round tower (28 metres, or 90 feet), dating from c.1100. Its entrance is 12 feet from the ground, necessitated by a shallow foundation (about 3 feet) typical of round towers. The tower was built using the dry stone method. Modern conservationists have filled in some of the tower with mortar for safety reasons.
The entire plateau on which the buildings and graveyard lie is walled. In the grounds around the buildings an extensive graveyard includes a number of high crosses. Scully's Cross, one of the largest and most famous high crosses here, originally constructed in 1867 to commemorate the Scully family, was destroyed in 1976 when lightning struck a metal rod that ran the length of the cross. The remains of the top of the cross now lie at the base of the cross adjacent to the rock wall.
Balboa Park San Diego, California
Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) urban cultural park in San Diego, California. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. There are also many recreational facilities and several gift shops and restaurants within the boundaries of the park. Placed in reserve in 1835, the park's site is one of the oldest in the United States dedicated to public recreational use. Today, Balboa Park is managed and maintained by the stewardship of the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego.
Named for the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the park hosted the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition and 1935–36 California Pacific International Exposition, both of which left architectural landmarks. The park and its historic Exposition buildings were declared a National Historic Landmark and National Historic Landmark District in 1977, and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Colours of Caminito in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Caminito ("little walkway" or "little path" in Spanish) is a street
museum and a traditional alley, located in La Boca, a neighborhood of
Buenos Aires, Argentina. The place acquired cultural significance
because it inspired the music for the famous tango "Caminito" (1926),
composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto.
During the 1800s, a small stream flowing into the Riachuelo River ran along the same route where the Caminito is now. Later that century, this area of the stream became known as the Puntin, the Genoese diminutive term for bridge (a small bridge allowed people to cross the stream there). When the stream dried up, tracks for the Ferrocarril Buenos Aires y Puerto de la Ensenada were installed at the site. Disused tracks remain at the end of Caminito, along Garibaldi Street.
In 1954 the rail line was closed and the area where Caminito is now became a landfill and a neighbourhood's eyesore. Over the following three years, Argentine artist Benito Quinquela Martín who lived nearby, painstakingly prepared the walls facing the abandoned street, applying pastel colors and, by 1960 having a stage put up at the southern end; the wooden-plank stage was replaced with a nearby theatre house in 1972. The artist was a personal friend of Argentine tango composer Juan de Dios Filiberto, who created a well-known 1926 tune by the same name.
During the 1800s, a small stream flowing into the Riachuelo River ran along the same route where the Caminito is now. Later that century, this area of the stream became known as the Puntin, the Genoese diminutive term for bridge (a small bridge allowed people to cross the stream there). When the stream dried up, tracks for the Ferrocarril Buenos Aires y Puerto de la Ensenada were installed at the site. Disused tracks remain at the end of Caminito, along Garibaldi Street.
In 1954 the rail line was closed and the area where Caminito is now became a landfill and a neighbourhood's eyesore. Over the following three years, Argentine artist Benito Quinquela Martín who lived nearby, painstakingly prepared the walls facing the abandoned street, applying pastel colors and, by 1960 having a stage put up at the southern end; the wooden-plank stage was replaced with a nearby theatre house in 1972. The artist was a personal friend of Argentine tango composer Juan de Dios Filiberto, who created a well-known 1926 tune by the same name.
Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of
Siena. The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World
Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist
attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008. Siena is
famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a
horse race held twice a year.
The Siena Cathedral (Duomo), begun in the 12th century, is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Its main façade was completed in 1380. It is unusual for a cathedral in that its axis runs north-south. This is because it was originally intended to be the largest cathedral in the world, with a north-south transept and an east-west nave. After the completion of the transept and the building of the east wall (which still exists and may be climbed by the public via an internal staircase) the money ran out and the rest of the cathedral was abandoned.
The Siena Cathedral (Duomo), begun in the 12th century, is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Its main façade was completed in 1380. It is unusual for a cathedral in that its axis runs north-south. This is because it was originally intended to be the largest cathedral in the world, with a north-south transept and an east-west nave. After the completion of the transept and the building of the east wall (which still exists and may be climbed by the public via an internal staircase) the money ran out and the rest of the cathedral was abandoned.
Tibidabo Church Barcelona, Spain
Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512
meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising
sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city
and the surrounding coastline.
There is an amusement park, a telecommunications tower (Torre de Collserola), and a Catholic church, the Temple de Sagrat Cor, at the top, all of which are visible from most of the city. Designed by Enric Sagnier, the church took 60 years to construct and is topped by a sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Josep Miret Llopart. The amusement park is the oldest in Barcelona and still has most of the original rides, some of which date to the turn of the 20th century. The park was featured in the Woody Allen film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
There is an amusement park, a telecommunications tower (Torre de Collserola), and a Catholic church, the Temple de Sagrat Cor, at the top, all of which are visible from most of the city. Designed by Enric Sagnier, the church took 60 years to construct and is topped by a sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Josep Miret Llopart. The amusement park is the oldest in Barcelona and still has most of the original rides, some of which date to the turn of the 20th century. The park was featured in the Woody Allen film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Reflection of Matsumoto Castle, Japan
Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan's premier historic castles. The
building is also known as the "Crow Castle" due to its black exterior.
It was the seat of the Matsumoto domain. It is located in the city of
Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by
road or rail.
The keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the late sixteenth century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan. Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain. Its complete defences would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats, and gatehouses.
The keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the late sixteenth century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan. Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain. Its complete defences would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats, and gatehouses.
Louis Vuitton at Selfridges, London
The Louis Vuitton brand and the famous LV monogram are among the world's
most valuable brands. According to a Millward Brown 2010 study, Louis
Vuitton is the world's 29th most valuable brand, right after Gillette
and before Wells Fargo. The brand itself is estimated to be worth over
USD $19 billion. For the sixth consecutive year, Louis Vuitton still at
number one of ten most powerful brand published by the Millward Brown
Optimor's 2011 BrandZ study with value of $24.3 billion. It was more
than double value from the second rank.
Louis Vuitton is one of the most counterfeited brands in the fashion world due to its image as a status symbol. Ironically, the signature Monogram Canvas was created to prevent counterfeiting. In 2004, Louis Vuitton fakes accounted for 18% of counterfeit accessories seized in the European Union.
Louis Vuitton is one of the most counterfeited brands in the fashion world due to its image as a status symbol. Ironically, the signature Monogram Canvas was created to prevent counterfeiting. In 2004, Louis Vuitton fakes accounted for 18% of counterfeit accessories seized in the European Union.
Flatiron Building Manhattan, NYC
The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is located at 175
Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, and is
considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper. Upon completion in 1902,
it was one of the tallest buildings in the city and one of only two
skyscrapers north of 14th Street – the other being the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company Tower, one block east. The building sits on a
triangular island-block formed by Fifth Avenue, Broadway and East 22nd
Street, with 23rd Street grazing the triangle's northern (uptown) peak.
As with numerous other wedge-shaped buildings, the name "Flatiron"
derives from its resemblance to a cast-iron clothes iron.
The building anchors the south (downtown) end of Madison Square and the north (uptown) end of the Ladies' Mile Historic District. The neighborhood around it is called the Flatiron District after its signature building, which has become an icon of New York City. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
The building anchors the south (downtown) end of Madison Square and the north (uptown) end of the Ladies' Mile Historic District. The neighborhood around it is called the Flatiron District after its signature building, which has become an icon of New York City. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
Duomo of Pisa, Italy
The Piazza dei Miracoli formally known as Piazza del Duomo is a wide
walled area located in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, recognized as an important
center of European medieval art and one of the finest architectural
complexes in the world. Considered a sacred area by the Catholic Church,
the square is dominated by four great sacred edifices: the Pisa
Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistry, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the
Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery). Partly paved and partly
grassed, the Piazza dei Miracoli is also the site of the Ospedale Nuovo
di Santo Spirito (New Hospital of the Holy Spirit), which houses the
Sinopias Museum and the Cathedral Museum.
The name Piazza dei Miracoli was created by the Italian writer and poet Gabriele d'Annunzio who, in his novel Forse che sì forse che no (1910), described the square as the "prato dei Miracoli" or the "meadow of miracles". The square is sometimes called the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). In 1987 the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The name Piazza dei Miracoli was created by the Italian writer and poet Gabriele d'Annunzio who, in his novel Forse che sì forse che no (1910), described the square as the "prato dei Miracoli" or the "meadow of miracles". The square is sometimes called the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). In 1987 the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Science World Vancouver, Canada
Science World at Telus World of Science, Vancouver is a science centre
run by a not-for-profit organization in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada. It is located at the end of False Creek, and features many
permanent interactive exhibits and displays, as well as areas with
varying topics throughout the years.
The building's former name, Science World, is still the name of the organization. The building's name change to the Telus World of Science became official on July 20, 2005 following a $9-million donation to the museum from Telus. The official name of the science centre was subsequently changed to "Telus World of Science", although it is still routinely referred to as "Science World" by the public. Prior to the building being handed over to Science World by the City, it was referred to as Expo Centre during Expo 86. When Science World is operating out of the dome, it is referred to as Science World at TELUS World of Science, and when it is out in the community it is simply Science World.
The building's former name, Science World, is still the name of the organization. The building's name change to the Telus World of Science became official on July 20, 2005 following a $9-million donation to the museum from Telus. The official name of the science centre was subsequently changed to "Telus World of Science", although it is still routinely referred to as "Science World" by the public. Prior to the building being handed over to Science World by the City, it was referred to as Expo Centre during Expo 86. When Science World is operating out of the dome, it is referred to as Science World at TELUS World of Science, and when it is out in the community it is simply Science World.
Lake Travis, Texas
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Lake Travis is a reservoir on the Colorado River in central Texas in the United States. The reservoir was formed in 1942 by the construction of Mansfield Dam on the western edge of Austin, Texas by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Lake Travis has the largest storage capacity of the seven reservoirs known as the Highland Lakes, and stretches 65 miles (105 km) upriver from western Travis County in a highly serpentine course into southern Burnet County to Max Starcke Dam, southwest of the town of Marble Falls. The Pedernales River, a major tributary of the Colorado River, flows into the lake from the southwest in western Travis County. The lake is used for flood control, water supply, electrical power generation and recreation. The other reservoirs on the Colorado River are Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake. Lake Travis is considered "full" (at maximum desired capacity) when the lake's water level is at 681 feet (208 m) above mean sea level (msl). Above 681 feet (208 m), flood control gates are opened under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The historic high level on the lake was 710.4 feet (216.5 m) above msl on December 25, 1991. The historic low was 614.2 feet (187.2 m) above msl on August 14, 1951. The extreme drought of 2008-2009 brought the lake to its fourth lowest level at 626.09 feet (190.83 m) above msl in November 2009. The second lowest level was 615.02 feet (187.46 m) above msl on November 8, 1963. Due to the drought beginning in 2011, levels have gone as low as 618 feet, making it the third lowest level ever. The LCRA makes reports of lake levels available on the internet. Read more |
Cape Flattery, Washington
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| Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United
States. It is in Clallam County, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula,
where the Strait of Juan de Fuca joins the Pacific Ocean. It is also
part of the Makah Reservation, and is the northern boundary of the
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Cape Flattery can be reached
from a short hike, most of which is boardwalked. The westernmost point
in the contiguous United States is at Cape Alava, south of Cape Flattery
in Olympic National Park. However, the westernmost tip of Cape Flattery
is almost exactly as far west as Cape Alava, the difference being
approximately 5 seconds of longitude, about 360 feet (110 m), at high
tide and somewhat more at low tide. The Cape Flattery Lighthouse is on Tatoosh Island, just off the cape. Makah Bay and Neah Bay are on either side of the cape. Neah Bay, Washington is the closest town to the cape. Read more |
Amazing View of Disneyland, California
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| Disneyland Park, originally Disneyland, is the first of two theme parks
built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, opened on July
17, 1955. It is the only theme park designed and built under the direct
supervision of Walt Disney. It was originally the only attraction on the
property, though it was slightly renamed to distinguish it from the
expanding complex in the 1990s. Walt Disney came up with the concept of Disneyland after visiting various amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930s and 1940s. He initially envisioned building a tourist attraction adjacent to his studios in Burbank to entertain fans who wished to visit; however, he soon realized that the proposed site was too small. After hiring a consultant to help him determine an appropriate site for his project, Walt bought a 160-acre (65 ha) site near Anaheim in 1953. Construction began in 1954 and the park was unveiled during a special televised press event on the ABC Television Network on July 17, 1955. Read more |
Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
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| Silver Falls State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon,
located near Silverton, about 20 miles (32 km) east-southeast of Salem.
It is the largest state park in Oregon with an area of more than 9,000
acres (36 km2), and it includes more than 24 miles (39 km) of walking
trails, 14 miles (23 km) of horse trails, and a 4-mile (6.4 km) bike
path. Its 8.7-mile (14.0 km) Canyon Trail/Trail of Ten Falls runs along
the banks of Silver Creek and by ten waterfalls, from which the park
received its name. Four of the ten falls have an amphitheater-like
surrounding that allows the trail to pass behind the flow of the falls.
The Silver Falls State Park Concession Building Area and the Silver
Creek Youth Camp-Silver Falls State Park are separately listed on the
U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The park's most visited waterfall is South Falls, a 177-foot (54 m) cascade. Remote Double Falls, however, is listed as the highest waterfall in the park, plunging 178 feet (54 m) in a small tributary side canyon deep within the Silver Creek Canyon. Read more |
Moonrise over a road in South Dakota, USA
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| South Dakota contains several sites that are administered by the
National Park Service. Two national parks have been established in South
Dakota, both located in the southwestern part of the state. Wind Cave
National Park, established in 1903 in the Black Hills, contains an
extensive cave network as well as a large herd of bison. Badlands
National Park was created in 1978. The park features an eroded, brightly
colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands. Mount Rushmore
National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. The
sculpture of four U.S. Presidents was carved into the mountainside by
sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Other areas managed by the National Park Service include Jewel Cave National Monument near Custer, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which features a decommissioned nuclear missile silo and a separate missile control area located several miles away, and the Missouri National Recreational River. The Crazy Horse Memorial is a large mountainside sculpture near Mt. Rushmore that is being constructed with private funds. Read more |
Moon Bridge Taipei, Taiwan
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| A moon bridge is a highly arched pedestrian bridge associated with
gardens in China and Japan. The moon bridge originated in China and was
later introduced to Japan. This type of bridge was originally designed to allow pedestrians to cross canals while allowing the passage of barges beneath. When constructed using the climbing ascent and descent this had the further advantage of not using space from the adjoining fields for approaches. In formal garden design a moon bridge is placed so that it is reflected in still water. The high arch and its reflection form a circle, symbolizing the moon. Read more |
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
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| The Mount Rushmore
National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount
Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States. Sculpted by
Danish-American Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, Mount
Rushmore features 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of four United
States presidents: George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson
(1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) and Abraham Lincoln
(1809–1865). The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres (5.17 km2) and is
5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level. The ongoing conservation of the site is overseen by the US National Park Service. Physical efforts to conserve the monument have included replacement of the sealant applied originally by Gutzon Borglum, which had proved ineffective at providing water resistance (components include linseed oil, granite dust and white lead). A modern silicone replacement was used, disguised with granite dust. Read more |
The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
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| The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate
strait, the mile-wide, three-mile-long channel between San Francisco Bay
and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San
Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to Marin
County, bridging both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across
the strait. The bridge is one of the most internationally recognized
symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been
declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society
of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world". It opened in 1937 and had until 1964 the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,280 m). Read more |
Canaima National Park, Venezuela
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| Canaima National Park is a 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) park in
south-eastern Venezuela that borders Brazil and Guyana. It is located in
Bolívar State, and roughly occupies the same area as the Gran Sabana
region. The park was established on 12 June 1962. It is the second largest park in the country, after Parima-Tapirapecó, and sixth biggest national park in the world. It is the size of Belgium or Maryland. About 65% of the park is occupied by plateaus of rock called tepuis, which are a kind of plateau of millions of years old, with vertical walls and almost flat tops. These constitute a unique biological environment and are also of great geological interest. Their sheer cliffs and waterfalls (including Angel Falls, which is the highest waterfall in the world, at 1,002 metres (3,287 ft)) create spectacular landscapes. Read more |
Robina Beach - Penang, Malaysia
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| Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island,
located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of
Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the
south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after
Perlis, and the eighth most populous. It is composed of two parts –
Penang Island, where the seat of government is, and Seberang Perai
(formerly Province Wellesley in English) on the Malay Peninsula. Highly
urbanised and industrialised Penang is one of the most developed and
economically important states in the country, as well as a thriving
tourist destination. The most popular beaches in Penang are located at Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, and Teluk Bahang, and these contiguous beaches are home to Penang's famed hotel and resort belt. More secluded Muka Head, which hosts a lighthouse and a marine research station, and Monkey Beach – both within the Penang National Park – offer more pristine water. Pollution which has been going on for years taints the beauty of the beaches and increasingly turns tourists away to places like Langkawi and Pangkor. Among the identified sources of pollution include inefficient sewage disposal and unchecked commercial activities. Read more |
Cenote diving - Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
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| The Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean
Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán
Channel. The peninsula lies east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a
northwestern geographic partition separating the region of Central
America from the rest of North America. The peninsula comprises the
Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; the northern part
of the nation of Belize; and Guatemala's northern El Petén Department. Due to the extreme karst nature of the whole peninsula, the northern half is devoid of rivers. Where lakes and swamps are present, the water is marshy and not palatable for drinking water. Due to its coastal situation, the whole of the peninsula is underlain by an extensive contiguous density stratified coastal aquifer, where a fresh water lens formed from meteoric water floats on top of intruding saline water from the coastal margins. The thousands of sinkholes known as cenotes throughout the region provide access to the groundwater system. The cenotes have long been relied on by ancient and contemporary Maya people. |
Killarney, Ireland
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| Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is
on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, which is part of Killarney
National Park. The town and its hinterland is home to St Mary's
Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross House and Abbey, the Lakes of
Killarney, MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Purple Mountain, Mangerton Mountain,
the Gap of Dunloe and Torc Waterfall. Owing to its natural heritage,
history and its location on the Ring of Kerry, Killarney is a popular
tourist destination. Killarney was bestowed the prestigious "Best Kept Town" award in 2007 in a cross-border competition jointly organised by the Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council. In 2011 it was named Ireland's tidiest town and the cleanest town in the country by Irish Business Against Litter. Read more |
Beautiful Dominican Republic
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| Tourism is fueling the Dominican Republic's economic growth. The country
is the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean. With the
construction of projects like Cap Cana, San Souci Port in Santo Domingo,
and the Moon Palace Resort in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic
expects increased tourism activity in the upcoming years. Ecotourism has
also been a topic increasingly important in the nation, with towns like
Jarabacoa and neighboring Constanza, and locations like the Pico
Duarte, Bahia de las Aguilas and others becoming more significant in
efforts to increase direct benefits from tourism. Most residents from
other countries are required to get a tourist card, depending on the
Country that he or she lives in. Read more |
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