Sunday, November 30, 2008
Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas
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Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Pikchu, "Old Peak"; pronounced ['mɑ.tʃu 'pik.tʃu]) is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,400 meters (7,875 ft) above sea level.[1] It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. The river is a partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu probably is the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
It was built around the year 1460, but was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Although known locally, it was said to have been forgotten for centuries when the site was brought to worldwide attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. It has recently come to light that the site may have been discovered and plundered several years previously, in 1867 by a German businessman, Augusto Berns.[2]
Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and it is considered a sacred place.[who?]
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century. Currently, there are concerns about the effect of tourism on the site as it reached 400,000 visitors in 2003.
Wikipedia
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Chichen Itza, Mexico
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Chichen Itza (pronounced /tʃiːˈtʃɛn iːˈtsɑː/;[1] from Yucatec Maya: Chi'ch'èen Ìitsha',[2] "At the mouth of the well of the Itza") is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Yucatán state, present-day Mexico.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.
The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site’s stewardship is maintained by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, INAH). The land under the monuments, however, is privately-owned by the Barbachano family.[3]
Wikipedia
Disneyland@Anaheim, California
"To all who come to this happy place - welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. Thank you."
—Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955 4:43pm
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—Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955 4:43pm
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Friday, November 28, 2008
St. Pauli Landungsbrücken (St. Pauli Landing Bridges)@Hamburg
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The St. Pauli Landungsbrücken (St. Pauli Landing Bridges), part of the Hamburg Harbour, are in the quarter St. Pauli of Hamburg, Germany, between the lower harbor and the Fischmarkt (Fish Market) directly on the Elbe River. The Landungsbrücken today are a major tourist attraction and a central transportation hub, with S-Bahn, U-Bahn and boat stations. There is an entrance to the Old Elbe tunnel directly at the western end of the Landungsbrücken. The eastern end of the building complex is marked by the Pegelturm (water level tower). Halfway up the tower, there is a water level indicator built into the wall, which gives the current condition of the tides.
from Wikipedia
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Stonehenge
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Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) west of Amesbury and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists had believed that the iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 BC, as described in the chronology below. However one recent theory has suggested that the first stones were not erected until 2400-2200 BC,[1] whilst another suggests that bluestones may have been erected at the site as early as 3000 BC (see phase 1 below). The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury henge monument, and it is also a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge itself is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.[2][3]
more in Wikipedia
The great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world. What visitors see today are the substantial remnants of the last in a sequence of such monuments erected between circa 3000BC and 1600BC.
There has always been intense debate over quite what purpose Stonehenge served. Certainly, it was the focal point in a landscape filled with prehistoric ceremonial structures, now a World Heritage Site.
Stonehenge@English Heritage
Stonehenge, England | Ancient Places TV (HD) with HD Movie can be view on-line or download.
Great British Heritage Pass
Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, Munich
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The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is a beer hall in the city center of Munich, Germany. The inn originally built in 1607 by Bavarian Duke Maximilian I. It was built as an extension of the original Hofbräu brewery, but for Weissbier (wheat beer). The general public was admitted only in 1828 by then king Ludwig I. The building was completely remodeled in 1897, when the brewery moved to the suburbs. In the bombing of WW II, everything but the ground floor ("Schwemme") was destroyed; it took until 1958 to be rebuilt.
Wikipedia
Hofbräuhaus München
Panoramic View at the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Diomede Islands - US vs Russia
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The Diomede Islands (Russian: острова Диомида , ostrová Diomída), also known in Russia as Gvozdev Islands (Russian: острова Гвоздёва, ostrová Gvozdjova), consist of two rocky, tuya-type islands: the U.S. island of Little Diomede (also known as Krusenstern Island – though this may also refer to other places – or by its native name Ignaluk) and the Russian island of Big Diomede (part of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug), which is also known as Imaqliq, Inaliq, Nunarbuk or Ratmanov Island. They are located in the middle of the Bering Strait between mainland Alaska, USA and Siberia, Russia, with the Chukchi Sea to the north and the Bering Sea to the south. 15 km to the southeast is Fairway Rock, which is usually not considered part of the Diomede Islands.
The islands are separated by an international border and the International Date Line which is approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) from each island. At the closest distance between Little Diomede and Big Diomede, the two islands are only about 4 km (2.4 mi) apart. The small habitation on Little Diomede Island is centered to the west side of the island at the village of Diomede. The Diomede Islands are often mentioned as likely intermediate stops for a bridge or tunnel (Bering Strait bridge) spanning the Bering Strait.
They are sometimes called Tomorrow Island (Big Diomede) and Yesterday Isle (Little Diomede) because the big island is 21 hours ahead of the small one (except when changing daylight saving time, done on different dates).
Wikipedia
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem - the oldest extant Islamic building in the world
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The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة, translit.: Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah, Hebrew: כיפת הסלע, translit.: Kipat Hasela, Turkish: Kubbetüs Sahra) is an Islamic shrine and a major landmark located on the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem. It was completed in 691, making it the oldest extant Islamic building in the world.[1]
Wikipedia
Hekla, Iceland's most active volcano
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Hekla is a stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland with a height of 1,491 metres (4,892 ft). Hekla is Iceland's most active volcano; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."
Hekla is part of a volcanic ridge, 40 kilometres (25 mi) long. However, the most active part of this ridge, a fissure about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long named Heklugjá, is considered to be the volcano Hekla proper. Hekla looks rather like an overturned boat, with its keel being in fact a series of craters, two of which are generally the most active.
The volcano's frequent large eruptions have covered much of Iceland with tephra and these layers can be used to date eruptions of Iceland's other volcanos. 10% of the tephra produced in Iceland in the last thousand years has come from Hekla, amounting to 5 km3. The volcano has produced one of the largest volumes of lava of any in the world in the last millennium, around 8 km3.
Wikipedia
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Church of the Savior on Blood, Saint Petersburg
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The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Храм Спаса на Крови) is one of the main sights of St. Petersburg, Russia. It is also variously called the Church on Spilt Blood and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Собор Воскресения Христова), its official name. The name refers to the blood of the assassinated Alexander II of Russia, who was mortally wounded on that site on March 13, 1881 (Julian date: March 1).
Wikipedia
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
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The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a secure seedbank located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen near the town of Longyearbyen in the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago.[1] The facility was established to preserve a wide variety of plant seeds from locations worldwide in an underground cavern. The Seed Vault holds duplicate samples, or "spare" copies, of seeds held in genebanks worldwide. The Seed Vault will provide insurance against the loss of seeds in genebanks, as well as a refuge for seeds in the case of large scale regional or global crises. The island of Spitsbergen is about 1,120 kilometres (700 mi) from the North Pole.
The Seed Vault is managed under terms spelled out in a tripartite agreement between the Norwegian government, the Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT) and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (previously named the Nordic Gene Bank, a cooperative effort of the Nordic countries under the Nordic Council of Ministers).
The GCDT has played a key role in the planning of the Seed Vault and is coordinating shipments of seed samples to the Vault in conjunction with the Nordic Genetic Resource Center. The Trust will provide most of the annual operating costs for the facility, and has set aside endowment funds to do so, while the Norwegian government will finance upkeep of the structure itself. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other donors, the GCDT is assisting selected genebanks in developing countries as well as the international agricultural research centers in packaging and shipping seeds to the Seed Vault. An International Advisory Council is being established to provide guidance and advice. It will include representatives from the FAO, the CGIAR, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources and other institutions.
Construction of the Seed Vault, which cost approximately 45 million Norwegian Kroner ($9 million),[2] was funded entirely by the Government of Norway.[2] Storage of seeds in the Seed Vault is free of charge. Operational costs will be paid by Norway and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.[2]. The primary funders of the Trust are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Switzerland and Sweden, though funding has been received from a wide variety of sources including four developing countries: Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and India.[3]
from Wikipedia
Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest
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Széchenyi lánchíd or Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Budapest, and was opened in 1849.
Its two ends are:
* Roosevelt Square (with the Gresham Palace and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), and
* Adam Clark Square (the Zero Kilometre Stone and the lower end of the Castle Hill Funicular, leading to Buda Castle).
Wikipedia
Monday, November 24, 2008
Red Square, Moscow
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Red Square (Russian: Кра́сная пло́щадь, Krásnaya plóshchad’) is the most famous city square in Moscow, and arguably one of the most famous in the world. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitay-gorod. As major streets of Moscow radiate from here in all directions, being promoted to major highways outside the city, the Red Square is often considered the central square of Moscow and of all Russia.
Wikipedia
Vatnajökull, Iceland
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Vatnajökull (English: Glacier of Rivers) (IPA: [ˈvahtnaˌjœːkʏtl ̥]) is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country. With a size of 8,100 km², it is the largest glacier in Europe in volume (3,100 km³) and the second largest (after Austfonna on Nordaustlandet, Svalbard) in area (not counting the still larger ice cap of Severny Island of Novaya Zemlya, Russia, which is located in the extreme northeast of Europe).
Wikipedia
Bryggen, Norway
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Bryggen (Norwegian for the Wharf), also known as Tyskebryggen (the German Wharf) is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen, Norway. Bryggen is on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites. The name has the same origin as the Flemish city of Brugge.
from Wikipedia
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Brygge_Norway_2005-08-18.jpg
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
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The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and State Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California. Since its completion, the span length has been surpassed by eight other bridges. It still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. In 2007, it was ranked fifth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
from Wikipedia
One All-Access Pass. One Crazy-Low Price.
The more you do, the more you save. Get unlimited access to San Francisco's best museums, tours, and attractions. Save up to 35% off regular admission prices plus get exclusive extras others miss out on.
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Neuschwanstein Castle
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Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein, lit. New Swan Stone palace; pronounced [nɔʏˈʃvaːnʃtaɪ̯n]) is a 19th-century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse. Although public photography of the interior is not permitted,[1] it is the most photographed building in Germany and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.[2]
from Wikipedia
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Mount Aso (阿蘇山)
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Mount Aso (阿蘇山, Aso-san?) is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Its caldera is 25 km across north to south and 18 km across east to west. The caldera has a circumference of around 120 km (75 miles), although sources vary on the exact distance.
Wikipedia
Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁, Gyeongbokgung)
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Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁, Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. It was the main and largest palace of the Joseon Dynasty and one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty.
from Wikipedia
Cape Point
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Cape Point is a promontory at the south-east corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and very scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town are close to the northern extremity of the same peninsula. The cape is located at [show location on an interactive map] 34°21′26″S 18°29′51″E / -34.35722, 18.4975, about 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) east and a little north of the Cape of Good Hope on the south-west corner.[1] Although these two rocky and beautiful capes are very well-known, neither cape is actually the southernmost point in Africa; that is Cape Agulhas, approximately 150 kilometres (90 mi) to the south-east.
Wikipedia of Cape point
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
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Burj Al Arab
Location: Burj Al Arab Is Located In Dubai, 100 Metres From The Souk Madinat Jumeirah And Five Kilometres From Palm Island. The City Centre Is 15 Kilometres Away.
Hotel Features: This Hotel Sits 321 Metres Above Sea Level On An Man-made Island Linked To The Dubai Mainland By Causeway. The Decor Throughout Is Lavish, In Bold Tones, And Amenities Include A Full-service Health Spa, Indoor Swimming Pool, And Hair Salon. Complimentary Wireless Internet Is Available Throughout, And Airport Transfers Via Limousine Or Helicopter Can Be Arranged.
Burj Al Arab Has A Selection Of Restaurants Including Pan-asian Cuisine, A Seafood Restaurant Reached Via Submarine, And A Cocktail Bar With Panoramic Views Of The Jumeirah Beach Shoreline.
This Hotel Has An Amphitheatre, Conference Rooms, And Meeting Rooms On The 27th Floor.
Guestrooms: The Air-conditioned Guestrooms Are Spread Over 27 Floors, And Are Decorated In Vibrant Tones. All Have Sea Views, Separate Living Areas, And Dining Tables. Amenities Include Laptops With Wireless Internet, Satellite Television With Pay Movies, Direct-dial Phones With Voicemail, Fax Machines, Minibars, Safes, Hair Dryers, And Jetted Tubs.
Hotels.com
Friday, November 21, 2008
San Alfonso del Mar, the biggest Swimming Pool in the World
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San Alfonso del Mar is a resort located in the central coast of Chile, frequently noted because of its 1,000-meter long, 19-acre outdoor pool, which holds a Guinness world record.[1] The resort's large pool utilizes a technology developed by the Chilean company Crystal Lagoons, which uses water pumped from the Pacific Ocean, that is then filtered and treated for supply to the pool.
source: Wikipedia
World biggest Swimming Pool
Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛)@Hong Kong
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Tian Tan Buddha (traditional Chinese: 天壇大佛; simplified Chinese: 天坛大佛; pinyin: Tiān Tán Dà Fó) is a large bronze statue of the Buddha, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. Also known as the Big Buddha, it is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. It is a major center of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and is also a popular tourist attraction.
Description
The statue is named Tian Tan Buddha because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representing gods or immortals. Like the Daibutsu in Kamakura, Japan, the Tian Tan Buddha is an image of Buddha Amitabha.
The Buddha is 34 meters tall, weighs 250 tonnes, and was the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha prior to 2007.[1] It reputedly can even be seen from as far away as Macau on a clear day. Visitors have to climb 268 steps in order to reach the Buddha, though the site also features a small winding road to the Buddha for vehicles to accommodate the handicapped.
The Tian Tan Buddha appears serene and dignified. His right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction. His left hand rests on his lap in a gesture of giving dhana. The Buddha faces north, which is unique among the great Buddha statues, as all others face south.
In addition, there are 3 floors beneath the Buddha statue: The Hall of Universe, The Hall of Benevolent Merit, and The Hall of Remembrance. One of the most renowned features inside is a relic of Sakyamuni, consisting of some of his alleged cremated remains. There is a huge carved bell inscribed with images of Buddhas in the show room. It was designed to ring every seven minutes, 108 times a day, symbolizing the release of 108 kinds of human vexations.
source: Wikipedia
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Piazza Navona, Rome
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Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. It follows the plan of an ancient Roman circus, the 1st century Stadium of Domitian,[1] where the Romans came to watch the agones ("games"): It was known as 'Circus Agonalis' (competition arena). It is believed that over time the name changed to 'in agone' to 'navone' and eventually to 'navona'.
Defined as a public space in the last years of 15th century, when the city market was transferred to it from the Campidoglio, the Piazza Navona is now the pride of Baroque Roman art history. It features sculptural and architectural creations by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers, 1651) stands in the center; by Francesco Borromini and Girolamo Rainaldi, who designed the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone; and by Pietro da Cortona, who painted the galleria in the Pamphilj palace.
The Piazza looking south
The market was again moved in 1869 to the Campo de' Fiori. The piazza long hosted theatrical shows and horse races. From 1652 until 1866, when the festival was suppressed, it was flooded on every August Saturday and Sunday for elaborate celebrations of the Pamphilj family.
The Piazza Navona contains two additional fountains, sculpted by Giacomo della Porta: the Fontana di Nettuno (1574), located at the northern area of the piazza; and the Fontana del Moro (1576), located at the southern end.
source: Wikipedia
Radcliffe Camera, Oxford
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The Radcliffe Camera (colloquially, "Rad Cam" or "Radders") is a building in Oxford, England, designed by James Gibbs in the English Palladian style and built in 1737–1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library. The building was funded by a £40,000 bequest from John Radcliffe, who died in 1714. Nicholas Hawksmoor originally proposed making the building round, although the final plans designed by Gibbs were quite different from those planned by Hawksmoor.
After the Radcliffe Science Library moved into another building, the Radcliffe Camera became home to additional reading rooms of the Bodleian Library. It now holds books from the English, history, and theology collections, mostly secondary sources found on undergraduate reading lists. There is space for around 600,000 books in rooms beneath Radcliffe Square.
Many students choose to order books up to Radcliffe Camera's reading rooms to enjoy the picturesque surroundings. Annoyingly for staff, it is also one of the harder Bodleian sites to deliver items to.[1]
The word camera translates from Latin as "room" or "chamber".
source: Wikipedia
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Naples, Florida
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2 Day Naples Trolley Tour
See the best of Naples on board the signature vintage Trolley and enjoy the fully narrated Naples tour covering over 100 points of interest. Guides combine humorous stories with celebrated facts for a fun-filled 2 day journey.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Osaka Castle (大坂城)
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Osaka Castle (大坂城・大阪城, Ōsaka-jō?) is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
Originally called Ozakajō, it is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square (1100 yards square). It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword-bearing attackers.
source: Wikipedia
Huanglong (黃龍)
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Huanglong (simplified Chinese: 黄龙; traditional Chinese: 黃龍; pinyin: Huánglóng) is a scenic and historic interest area in Songpan County in the northwest part of Sichuan, China. It is located in the southern part of the Minshan mountain range, 150 km north-northwest of the capital Chengdu. This area is known for its colorful pools formed by calcite deposits, especially in Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hot springs. Huanglong is also home to many endangered species including the Giant Panda and the Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Huanglong was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.
source: Wikipedia
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Great Buddha of Kamakura (鎌倉大仏)
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The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitābha Buddha in the Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.It is believed that the statue was originally cast in 1252, following an idea by the priest Joko, who also collected donations to build it. The sculptors were One-Goroemon and Tanji-Hisatomo.
The statue is approximately 13.35m tall and weighs approximately 93 tons. The statue is hollow, and visitors can view the interior for 20 Yen a person.
source: Wikipedia
Japan Travel Guide
Lonely Planet Guidebooks
London's Hyde Park
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One of London's finest historic landscapes covering 142 hectares (350 acres). There is something for everyone in Hyde Park. With over 4,000 trees, a lake, a meadow, horse rides and more it is easy to forget you're in the middle of London.
more Hyde Park
Gun Salutes
Royal Gun Salutes mark special royal occasions. On these days salutes are fired from locations in London and other authorised stations in the United Kingdom and the Union flag is hoisted on government buildings.
In London, salutes are fired in Hyde Park and at The Tower of London however, on State Visits, at the State Opening of Parliament and for The Queen's Birthday Parade, Green Park is used instead of Hyde Park.
The number of rounds fired in a Royal Gun Salute depends on the place and occasion. The basic salute is 21 rounds. In Hyde Park and Green Park an extra 20 rounds are added because they are a Royal Park.
Royal Gun Salutes in Hyde Park:
Salutes are fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery (41 Gun Royal Salute) in Hyde Park at 12.00 noon. They occur on the following Royal anniversaries, however gun salutes are not fired on Sundays, so if the date falls on a Sunday, the salute will take place the next day.
Royal Gun Salutes in The Green Park:
June - Official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen was born on 21 April, it has long been customary to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in the summer. Fired at 1100 hours. Times will vary.
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires a 41-Gun Salute in London's Hyde Park to mark the 60th birthday of The Prince of Wales, 14 November 2008.
Salzburg Cathedral/Salzburger Dom, Salzburg
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The Salzburg Cathedral (German: Salzburger Dom) is a 17th century baroque cathedral in the city of Salzburg, dedicated to Saint Rupert of Salzburg. It is the site of Mozart's baptism.
more in Wikipedia.
Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg's "Old Town" with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music, which features famous landmarks in Austria, but focuses mainly on Salzburg. Salzburg is also a student city, with three universities.
Main sights of Salzburg
Salzburg is a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times. In addition to Mozart's birthplace noted above, other notable places include:
Old Town
* The whole Old Town of Salzburg was nominated as a World Heritage Site in 1996.
* The baroque architecture including the many churches are world famous.
* The Salzburg Cathedral
* The fortress Hohensalzburg on a hill dominating the old town is one of the largest castles in Europe, with views over Salzburg.
* The Franziskanerchurch
* The St.Peter cemetery
* The Nonnberg Abbey a Benedictine monastery
* The "Residenz" Palace (the magnificent former Prince-Archbishop's residence)
* Mozart's Birthplace
* Mozart's Residence
* The University Church
* The Siegmundstor (or Neutor)
* The Getreidegasse
Outside the Inner Old Town
* Palace of Mirabell with its wide gardens full of flowers
* The palace of Leopoldskron is a rococo palace and a national historic monument in Leopoldskron-Moos, a southern district of the city of Salzburg.
* Hellbrunn with its parks and castles
* Tour companies operate tours of locations used in the film The Sound of Music.
Within the greater Salzburg area
* Anif Castle
* The Basilika Maria Plain on the Calvary Hill, a late Baroque church, on the northern edge of Salzburg.
* Salzburger Freilichtmuseum Großgmain, an open-air museum containing old farmhouses/farm buildings from all over the state assembled in historic setting.
* The Schloss Klessheim Palace (today a Casino) was formerly used by Adolf Hitler
* The Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat of which only the Eagle's Nest remains, was in nearby Berchtesgaden
* The Salzkammergut is an area of lakes in the Salzburg state, east of the city and further on into the provinces of Upper Austria and Styria.
* The Untersberg mountain is next to the city, straddling the German-Austrian border, and on a clear day provides panoramic views of the city and the Alps.
* Skiing is an attraction during winter. Salzburg itself has no skiing facilities, but it acts as a gateway to skiing areas to the south. During the winter months its airport receives charter flights from around Europe.
Salzburg@Wikipedia
The Sound of Music Tour - movie locations
This movies gives an impression about the locations where in the early sixties the Sound of Music was filmed, in the Austrian town of Salzburg and its surroundings.
Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg:
The Sound of Music movie still touches the chords of the people the world over. See the original film locations and relive the true story of the von Trapp family, filmed as the 'Sound of Music' in the Salzburg area. Enjoy the spectacular views of the scenic countryside as you drive from one location to the other. Also see the historical and architectural landmarks in the city and some of the beautiful lakes and mountains in the area.
60+ Austria tours available at Isango.com ₤13.40 onwards. Book online and save!
Friday, November 14, 2008
National Aquatics Center (國家游泳中心/水立方)
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Beijing2008 Olympics National Stadium and Aquatics Center
Official Beijing 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony DVD
This 2-volume set is your opportunity to once again witness the most memorable Opening Ceremony in Olympic history. The complete 4-hour extravaganza from beginning to end. A special index allows you to easily navigate throughout the entire ceremony. Officially Licensed by the USOC.
The Colosseum, Rome
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The Colosseum or Roman Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
more in Wikipedia
Ancient Rome is visible in 3-D as Google Earth puts it online
By Ariel David
Associated Press
Published: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 12:08 a.m. MST
ROME — Obviously, there were no satellites to snap pictures of Rome two millennia ago. But that hasn't stopped experts from giving Web surfers a bird's-eye view of the ancient city.
Google Earth has added to its software a 3-D simulation that painstakingly reconstructs nearly 7,000 buildings of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum, the Forum and the Circus Maximus, officials said Wednesday.
The program, which gives users access to maps and global satellite imagery, now hosts a new layer that allows surfers to see how Rome might have looked in A.D. 320, a bustling city of about 1 million people under Emperor Constantine.
Pop-up windows provide information on the monuments and visitors also can enter some of the most important sites, including the Senate and the Colosseum, to observe the architecture and marble decorations, Google Italia and the city of Rome said in a joint statement.
Google Earth's "Ancient Rome 3-D," which was unveiled Wednesday at a news conference in city hall, is based on a simulation created by an international team led by the University of Virginia and the University of California.
Using laser scans of today's ruined monuments and advice from archaeologists, experts worked for about a decade to reconstruct ancient Rome within its 13-mile-long (21-kilometer-long) walls, said Bernard Frischer, who heads Virginia's Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities.
from Deseret News | Ancient Rome is visible in 3-D as Google Earth puts it online
Ancient Rome 3D
Discover Ancient Rome in Google Earth
Download Google Earth - See Ancient Rome in 3D
Rome, the capital of Italy is known as the eternal city. Trace the city’s history as you visit the Colosseum, the churches, the basilicas, museums and the Vatican. See the beauty of the world famous Trevi Fountain and the work of the famous renaissance master Michelangelo in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli. Through the narrow streets of the historical centre of Rome drive from one tourist attraction to the other and marvel at the rich cultural heritage and history...
50+ tours to go around Rome. Get upto 25% off at Isango.com! Book now & save!
New York Times Square
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Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The Times Square area consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.
from Wikipedia
Latest Times Square ball to mark more than New Year's eve
YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) -- Next month, it'll be the famous New Year's Eve ball. Next year, it could be the Great Pumpkin.
A bigger, brighter Waterford crystal ball will usher in 2009 above Times Square, then remain in place all year to celebrate other holidays including Valentine's Day, the Fourth of July and Halloween, organizers said Monday.
from CNN
Read Madrid C.F.
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Real Madrid C.F. - Official Web Site
Always Zinedine Zidane
Zidane Best Video Ever!! EL MEJOR ZIDANE!!
Zinedine Zidane Official Website
Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid Framed Photo - Goal Celebration
Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid Framed 8x10 Photo - Goal Celebration,This famous 8x10 Photo has been double matted with acid free mats - white outside, black inside. Item is then framed in a high quality black wood molding. Photo is protected by high strength
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Museum of Modern Art, New York, US
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With so many unique attractions, world-famous museums, theaters, and skyscrapers there is always plenty to do in New York. However, sightseeing in New York City might not be the easiest or the cheapest experience.
This is why our team of real, life-long New Yorkers has created the New York Pass. If you want to discover the best of what this amazing city offers while still saving some time and money on your visit, the New York Pass is something you should be interested in.
How You Benefit from The New York Pass®
| • | Free entry to over 45 attractions – Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, New York Skyride, Madame Tussaud’s, Circle Line River Cruise, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Madison Square Garden Tour, NBC Studio Tours, New York Aquarium & many others |
| • | Free 140 page guidebook in English, German & Spanish, containing hours of operation, maps and directions to every tourist attraction, shop and restaurant included in New York Pass |
| • | Line skipping privileges – As a New York City Pass holder you are entitled to fast track entry to some of the New York City’s busiest attractions |
| • | Additional Package option available – You can use our Pass & Hop on – Hop off Bus Packages for the ultimate New York sightseeing experience. |
| • | Over $600 worth of entrance fees – that’s how much it would cost if you visited all the attractions that New York Pass grants entrance to - without using the New York Pass. That doesn’t even include the additional discounts you receive for having a NY Pass! |
| • | Many special offers and benefits – apart from entry to attractions you also get great offers on theatre tickets, entry to special exhibitions, audio tours & discounts on shopping in Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, and much more. |
| • | 100% Risk Free, Money Back Guarantee – New York Pass insurance gives you extra comfort in case your travel plans change, offering refund on non-used Passes. |
Tiffany Dome@Chicago Cultural Center
The restoration of the world’s largest Louis Comfort Tiffany art glass dome — located in Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street — has been completed with awe-inspiring results. An initiative of the City of Chicago, which owns the landmark Cultural Center, the project restored the dome to Tiffany’s original vision and allows it to be seen as it was in 1897, when the building opened as the first Chicago Public Library.
Approximately 38 feet in diameter, the Tiffany dome spans more than 1,000 square feet. It contains approximately 30,000 pieces of glass in 243 sections within an ornate cast iron frame. The body of the dome has a “fish scale” pattern. The center, called the oculus, shows the signs of the zodiac. The interior stained glass dome originally was protected by an exterior translucent glass dome, which allowed much-needed natural light into what was then the library’s general delivery room. The lower portion of the room is covered with white marble and glistening mosaics, also designed by Tiffany.
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Restoration of Cultural Center's Tiffany Dome Complete -- It's Dazzling!
City of Chicago - Cultural Center
BEST VALUE! 25 Chicago Attractions & Tours for 1 Low Price! Unlimited Admission to Top Chicago Attractions with the Go Chicago Card.
One All-Access Pass. One Crazy-Low Price.
The more you do, the more you save. Get unlimited access to Chicago's best museums, tours, and attractions. You'll save up to 40% off regular admission prices plus get exclusive extras others miss out on. You can even skip the line at some of the most popular attractions.
Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy
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The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri) is one of many bridges in Venice. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was designed by Antoni Contino (whose uncle Antonio da Ponte had designed the Rialto Bridge), and built between 1600 and 1603.
The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The bridge name, given by Lord Byron in the 19th century, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice out the window before being taken down to their cells. In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built, and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals[1].
A local legend says that lovers will be assured eternal love if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge. This legend played a key part in the 1979 film A Little Romance.
A little romance - movie trailer
from Wikipedia
Venice
Serenading gondaliers, picture-perfect ski runs, elegant centres of high fashion, grand architecture, renaissance cities are just some of the attractions which entice visitors for there is so much to experience in Venice and the other cities in Northern Italy. Narrow streets and meandering canals characterise Venice - the ‘city of love’. What better way to experience this romantic city of Venice than a gondola ride on the Grand Canal.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
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Australia Travel Guide
How the hell do you get around this magnificent, monster country? Do you saddle up the caravan and take to the highways? This guide will show you how to do it all and love every minute of it.
More Lonely Planet Australia Guidebooks
London Heathrow Terminal 5 - The largest free-standing structure in the UK
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London Heathrow Terminal 5 is an airport terminal at London Heathrow Airport, serving the British capital city of London. After opening in 2008, the main building in the complex became the largest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom. Terminal 5 is currently used as a global hub exclusively by British Airways.
from Wikipedia
In Celebration of London Heathrow's New Terminal 5, Fly Round-Trip to Europe from $406 on British Airways! > Expires 11/13/08
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