Kiritimati, the first inhabited place on Earth to experience the New Year each year.

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Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands and part of the Republic of Kiribati.

Kiritimati is the first inhabited place on Earth to experience the New Year each year. Despite being 1,530 miles (2,460 km) east of the 180 meridian, a 1995 realignment of the International Dateline by the Republic of Kiribati 'moved' Kiritimati to west of the dateline.

from Wikipedia

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I guess Kiritimati should be classified as a country in Australia.

K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth

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K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth (after Mount Everest). With a peak elevation of 8,611 metres (28,251 ft), K2 is part of the Karakoram segment of the Himalayan range, and is located in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, on the border[1] between Pakistan's northern territories,[2] and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China.[3] K2 is known as the Savage Mountain due to the difficulty of ascent and the fact that for every four people who reach the summit, one dies trying. Among the Eight-thousanders, K2 has the second-highest climbing mortality rate after Annapurna.

in Wikipedia

Bicester Village

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Bicester Village Shopping Centre is an outlet centre in Bicester in the English county of Oxfordshire, for several high-end brands, including Ralph Lauren, Charles Tyrwhitt and Aquascutum, as well as housing a small number of restaurants and cafés. The centre's stores generally stock end-of-line ranges at discounted prices.

The shopping centre houses approximately 100 stores, encompassing a wide range of product categories.

The shopping centre is located just off the main roundabout which brings the A41 into Bicester, and is next to a large Tesco store and public house.

Bicester Village is served by two railway stations: Bicester North and Bicester Town.

MERRY CHRISTMAS@Hong Kong.2008

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from Mays Vision

Englischer Garten, Munich

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The Englischer Garten or "English Garden" is a large urban public park in the centre of Munich, Germany, stretching from the city centre to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814), later Count Rumford (Reichsgraf von Rumford) and extended and improved by his successors, Reinhard von Werneck (1757-1842) and Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell (1750-1823), who had advised on the project from the beginning.

At the mouth of the artificial stream that runs through the Englischer Garten, there is a standing wave that is produced by the water pumping mechanism. Surfers attempt to surf on this wave for as long as they can, in spite of the signs stating the unenforced law that surfing is forbidden.

Wikipedia

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Surfing in Munich

In the "Englischer Garten" you can go surfing on an artificial wave... It's forbidden but lots of surfers do it to stay sharp...

Central Park, New York City

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Central Park is a large public, urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually. Most of the areas immediately adjacent to the park are known for impressive buildings and valuable real estate. Central Park has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963.

The park is maintained by the Central Park Conservancy and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Calvert Vaux. While much of the park looks natural, it is in fact almost entirely landscaped. It contains several natural-looking lakes and ponds, extensive walking tracks, two ice-skating rinks, the Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden, a wildlife sanctuary, a large area of natural woods, a reservoir with an encircling running track, and the outdoor Delacorte Theater which hosts the "Shakespeare in the Park" summer festivals.

The park also serves as an oasis for migrating birds.

Wikipedia

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Vintage 8mm Home Movies - New York, Central Park - May 1952

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The Woolworth Building, New York

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The Woolworth Building, at 57 stories, is one of the oldest—and one of the most famous—skyscrapers in New York City. More than 95 years after its construction, it is still one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States as well as one of the twenty tallest buildings in New York City. The building is a National Historic Landmark, having been listed in 1966.[1][2][3]

Wikipedia

Mount Raung, Indonesia

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Raung is one of Java's, (Indonesia) most active volcanoes. it is located in East Java and has a two km wide caldera surrounded by a grayish rim. The difference in color of the rim and the flanks of the volcanoes is caused by the rim’s lack of vegetation compared with the healthy and extensive vegetation on the flanks. Raung, standing almost 3332 meters above sea level, is the tallest volcano of this cluster. Although the valleys between the major volcanoes boast fertile, ash-enriched soil for agriculture, available land is very limited. Raung contains centers constructed along a NE-SW line, with Gunung Suket and Gunung Gadung stratovolcanoes being located to the NE and west, respectively.

Wikipedia

CCTV Headquarters, Beijing

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The CCTV Headquarters is a skyscraper that is currently under construction in Beijing. The building will be the new headquarters of China Central Television. Groundbreaking took place on September 22, 2004. The building will be completed in December 2008. Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren of OMA are the architects for the building, while Arup provides the complex engineering design. The building will stand at 234 metres (768 ft) tall and will have 51 floors.[1]

The main building is not a traditional tower, but a continuous loop of five horizontal and vertical sections covering 4,100,000 square feet (381,000 m2) of floor space, creating an irregular grid on the building’s facade with an open center. The construction of the building is considered to be a structural challenge, especially because it is in a seismic zone. Because of its radical shape, it has acquired the nickname dà kùchā (大裤叉)[2], translated into English as "Big Underpants"[3] or "Big Shorts".[4]

A second building, the Television Cultural Centre, includes a hotel, a visitor's centre, a large public theatre, and exhibition spaces. It is visible from the main intersection of the new Beijing Central Business District through the window of the main CCTV headquarters building. A media park forms a landscape of public entertainment, outdoor filming areas, and production studios as an extension of the central green axis of the CBD.[5] The Mandarin Oriental Hotel will be part of the complex.[citation needed]

The building was built in two sections that were joined to complete the loop on December 26, 2007. In order not to lock in structural differentials this connection was planned to be completed at the coldest time of night when the steel in the two towers cooled to the same temperature. .[6]

Wikipwdia

Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社), Hiroshima, Japan

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Itsukushima Shrine (Japanese: 厳島神社, Itsukushima Jinja) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as national treasures.

The first shrine buildings were probably erected in the 6th century, but the present shrine dates from the 12th century[1]

The current shrine has been in its present state since 1168 when funds were provided by the warlord Taira no Kiyomori. The shrine's construction, consisting of pier-like structures built over the bay, is due to the holy status that the island once commanded. Commoners were historically not allowed to set foot on the island, and had to approach by boat, entering through the gate that appears to float. Beside the shrine is a noh stage.

The dramatic gate (torii) of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions[citation needed], and the view of the gate in front of the island's Mount Misen is classified as one of the Three Views of Japan (along with the sand bar Amanohashidate, and Matsushima Bay). The gate has existed since 1168, though the current gate dates back to 1875. The gate, built of camphor wood, is about 16 metres high and was built in a four-legged style to provide additional stability.

The gate only appears to be floating at high tide; when the tide is low, the gate is surrounded by mud and can be accessed by foot from the island. It is common practice for visitors to place coins in the cracks of the legs of the gate and make a wish. Gathering shellfish near the gate is also popular at low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the gate.

Retaining the purity of the shrine is so important that since 1878, no deaths or births were permitted at the shrine. To this day, burials on the island are still forbidden.

Itsukushima Shrine@Wikipedia

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The famous "floating" torii at Itsukushima Shrine, a Ryoubu-style torii.
A torii (鳥居, torii?) is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entry to a Shinto shrine, although it can be found at Buddhist temples as well.

The basic structure of a torii is two columns called that are topped with a horizontal rail called the kasagi[1]. Slightly below the top rail is a second horizontal rail called the nuki. Torii are traditionally made from wood and are frequently painted vermilion. When unbarked logs are used for the torii it is called a kuroki, or "black wood" torii[1]. Since the Kamakura period of early Japan, torii have been erected from stone[1]. In recent times, makers have started to use both steel and stainless steel[citation needed]. However, the material a torii is made of is not restricted in any way, so metal, concrete, and even plastics are acceptable torii materials[2].

One type of torii gate is the Shimmei-style. In a Shimmei-style torii the kasagi bar is a round log that juts out over the edges of the two supporting columns while the nuki bar simply connects the them[1]. One example of a Shimmei-style torii is the torii that is located outside of Emperor Shōwa's gravesite. Another type of torii is the Ise-style, where the nuki is the same as the the Shimmei but the kasagi is not round, but pentagonal-shaped[1]. The most popular, and modern, style of torii is the Myojin-style. Myojin-style torii are built with curved kasagi rails that sit on top of a secondary upper bar called the shimaki[1]. There is also a vertical beam called the gakuzuka which connects the shimaki to the nuki. The gakazuka is often the location where a shrine will hang a tablet with its name. The forth type of torii is the Ryoubu-style, which is also known as yotsuashi, or the "four-legged style"[1]. This type of torii is similar to the Myojin-style except it has four supporting posts that surround the two columns. The "floating torii" at the Itsukushima Shrine is a good example of a Ryoubu-style torii.

Torii mark the transition from the sacred (the shrine) to the profane (the normal world) (see Sacred-profane dichotomy). Inari shrines typically have many torii. A person who has been successful in business often donates a torii in gratitude. The Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto has thousands of such torii.

Torii@Wikipedia

The Madeleine church

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L'église de la Madeleine (more formally, L'église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine; less formally, just La Madeleine), Madeleine Church in English, is a church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army.

The Temple of Heaven (天壇), Beijing

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The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven (traditional Chinese: 天壇; simplified Chinese: 天坛; pinyin: Tiāntán; Manchu: Abkai mukdehun) is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in southeastern urban Beijing, in Xuanwu District. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism.

Wikipedia

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Green is a code of spring. Now if you want to enjoy a warm spring, choose the green sleeveless Cheongsam. It is made of green silk brocade with big blooming peony patterns. In Chinese culture, peony is the queen of flowers, so it is the symbol of wealth and high position. Only the woman of noble family is entitled to be in Cheongsam with peony patters. V-neck collar decorated with two hand-made frog buttons is different from the traditional mandarin collar. Frog button is a kind of traditional handicraft and it needs a lot of labor. Both sides are made with slits toward the thigh and the length of the Cheongsam is to ankle. An invisible zipper is on the right side, so it is easy for you to wear. Be creative with accessories. (handbag, bracelet, etc) On a sunny afternoon, having a cup of tea in the front porch or the backyard in your house, you will spend a pleasant time with your family.


GoodOrient.com

Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world and is more than a mile long.

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The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) is a waterfall situated in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are, by some measures, the most enormous waterfall in the world, as well as being among the most unusual in form, and having arguably the most diverse and easily seen wildlife of any major waterfall site.

Wikipedia

Blarney Castle, Ireland

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Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland. It is near the River Martin. The castle originally dates from before AD 1200. It was destroyed in 1446, but subsequently rebuilt by Cormac MacCarthy, the King of Munster. It is currently a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and the battlements. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. Photographs are taken of the "magic moment". There are many legends as to the origin of the stone, but some say that it was the Lia Fáil—a magical stone upon which Irish kings were crowned.

Surrounding the castle are beautiful and quite extensive gardens. There are paths touring the grounds with signs pointing out the various attractions such as several natural rock formations which have been given fanciful names, such as Druid's Circle, Witch's Cave and the Wishing Steps. Blarney House, a Scottish baronial-style mansion, was built on the grounds in 1874. It is also open to the public.

Wikipedia

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Blarney Castle Hotel

Frequent buses run all day from Cork city center to the airport. Buses run approximately every hour between Cork City bus station and Blarney. A taxi from the airport to the hotel will cost approximately 25 EUR.
From Cork International Airport:
Approximate distance to the hotel is 14 kilometers.

From the airport follow signs for Cork on the N25.
Take the ring road around Cork and follow N20 north.
Exit R617 on the left and follow signs for Blarney Village.
The hotel is located on the Village Green.

Area Attractions
Blarney Castle (home to the Blarney Stone) - 100 meters
Blarney Woollen Mills - 100 meters
Cork City - 9.0 kilometers

Expert Tip: Blarney Castle Hotel Was Built In 1837 Adjacent To The Blarney Castle, Home Of The Famed Blarney Stone. The Stone Is Also Known As The Stone Of Eloquence, For Those To Kiss The Stone Are Rumored To Be Blessed With The "Gift Of Gab." Extensive Gardens And Natural Rock Formations Surround The Castle.

Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia

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Mount Kinabalu (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu) is a prominent mountain in Southeast Asia. It is located in Kinabalu National Park (a World Heritage Site) in the east Malaysian state of Sabah, which is on the island of Borneo in the tropics.

In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established its summit (known as Low’s Peak) height at 4,095 metres (13,435 ft) above sea level, which is some 6 metres (20 ft) less than the previously thought and hitherto published figure of 4,101 metres (13,455 ft).[1] The mountain is the fourth tallest in Southeast Asia behind Hkakabo Razi of Myanmar (5881 m), Puncak Jaya (4884 m) and Puncak Trikora (4750 m) of Papua, Indonesia,[1] and is therefore also the tallest in Malaysia and on the island of Borneo, which Malaysia shares with Indonesia and Brunei. Mount Kinabalu is also the 20th highest peak in the world in terms of prominence.

The mountain and its surroundings feature a huge variety of flora, and is one of the world’s most important[citation needed] biological sites.

The main peak of the mountain (Low's Peak) can be climbed easily by a person with a good physical condition, and requires no mountaineering equipment. Other peaks along the massif, however, require rock climbing skills.

Wikipedia

Fiorano Circuit - Ferrari private track in Maranello

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Fiorano Circuit is the private track owned by Ferrari for development and testing purposes. It is located near the Italian town of Maranello.

Built in 1972, it's 8.4 metres (27.6 ft) wide and 3,021 metres (1.9 mi) long. Average F1 lap speed is over 160 km/h (99 mph) and top speed is 290 km/h (180 mph). Because it's a testing track, it has many different kinds of turns and corners, with corner diameters between 13 metres (42.7 ft) and 0.3 metres (1.0 ft). All in all it has a lot of similarities with most European Grand Prix circuits.

It's equipped with telemetry and a large steering pad for tyre testing.

When Scuderia Ferrari are testing the F1 car at the track it's common to see Tifosi watching the test from the roadside, which is the closest point at which the track is viewable to the public.

It's also used to allow Ferrari customers to test drive new cars.

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is named after this track.

from Wikipedia


FERRARI F2008 FIORANO

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow

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The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Russian: Хра́м Христа́ Спаси́теля) is the tallest Eastern Orthodox Church in the world (The Temple of Saint Sava being the the largest). It is situated in Moscow, on the bank of the Moskva River, a few blocks west of the Kremlin.

Wikipedia

Mayon Volcano, Philippines

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Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, in the Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.
Renowned as the "Perfect Cone" because of its almost perfectly conical shape, Mayon is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Legazpi City.
Mayon is a continuing nominee as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.[1]

Wikipedia

Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Brazil

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Autódromo José Carlos Pace or Interlagos is the venue of the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, located in a suburb of the city of São Paulo, named after José Carlos Pace, a Brazilian Formula One driver, who had died prior to its naming. It is still widely known by its former name, Interlagos.

Wikipedia

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

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Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, officially Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria) is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne, under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is renowned as a monument of Christianity, of Gothic architecture and of the faith and perseverance of the people of the city in which it stands. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The cathedral is a World Heritage Site, being one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany, and Cologne's most famous landmark, described by UNESCO as an "exceptional work of human creative genius".[1] Cologne Cathedral is one of the world's largest churches, being the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. For four years, 1880-84, it was the tallest structure in the world, until the completion of the Washington Monument. It has the second-tallest church spires, only surpassed by the single spire of Ulm Cathedral, completed ten years later in 1890. Because of its enormous twin spires, it also presents the largest façade of any church in the world.

more: Wikipedia

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

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

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Mexico: Rich with reminders of ancient civilisations, Mexico is a modern and vibrant nation. Cathedrals and temples contrast with futuristic buildings and modern beach resorts. Feasts and festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm, and the marketplaces in villages and towns are lively and colourful. Mexico has an extraordinary charm that will keep you coming back for more.

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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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

Timberland@Maps

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MartinTimberland Community Website

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.

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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

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

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]

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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

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.

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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.

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source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Brygge_Norway_2005-08-18.jpg

Hollywood Sign, L.A.

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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.

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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]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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

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

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.

Oriental pearl - Hong Kong

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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