Thursday, April 18, 2013

uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa


uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa


The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep-sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of the site. The site’s diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants. 
This spectacular natural site also contains many caves and rock-shelters with the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara, made by the San people over a period of 4,000 years. The rock paintings are outstanding in quality and diversity of subject and in their depiction of animals and human beings. They represent the spiritual life of the now extinct San people.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Cliffs of Moher County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher County Clare, Ireland


The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's top Visitor attractions and are a designated UNESCO Geo Park. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O'Brien's Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort “Mothar” which was demolished during the Napoleonic wars to make room for a signal tower.  
The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland. The area was designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for Birds under the EU Birds Directive in 1986 and as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988. Included within the designated site are the cliffs, the cliff-top maritime grassland and heath, and a 200 metre zone of open water, directly in front of the cliffs to protect part of the birds' feeding area. The designation covers 200 hectares and highlights the area's importance for wildlife.

Borobudur Temple Java, Indonesia

Borobudur Temple Java,  Indonesia


Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the temple's design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region. It also depicts the gupta style from India and shows influence of Buddhism as well as Hinduism.  
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path around the monument and ascends to the top through three levels symbolic of Buddhist cosmology. (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Here are beautiful pictures of Canada

Here are beautiful pictures of Canada

Beautiful View of Canada

Beautiful View of Canada

Here are several beautiful pictures of Canada, the northern neighbor of the U.S. It’s the second largest country in the world after Russia. And in this huge country there are so many beautiful places.

Russell Falls at Mount Field National Park Tasmania, Australia

Russell Falls at Mount Field National Park 

Tasmania, Australia


Mount Field National Park is distinguished by its wide range of popular short, medium and longer walks. There are two main sections to the park: the Russell Falls (pictured above) area near the Visitor Centre and the area around and above Lake Dobson, 16 kilometres (10 miles) away along a winding gravel road. The grove of tall, palm-like pandani plants on the shores of the lake has a Tolkein charm. Higher still, the Tarn Shelf takes you to the edge of precipices overlooking glimmering pools on the rim of the mountain and expansive lakes in the valley below.

Houseboats of Dal Lake, the "Floating Palaces"India

Houseboats of Dal Lake, the "Floating Palaces" Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India


Houseboats and the Dal Lake are widely associated with Srinigar and are nicknamed "floating palaces". Built according to British customs, they are generally made from local cedar-wood and measure 24 to 38 m (79 to 125 ft) in length and 3 to 6 m (10 to 20 ft) in width. Many of them have lavishly furnished rooms with verandas and a terrace to serve as a sun-deck or to serve evening cocktails.  Each houseboat has an exclusive shikara for ferrying guests to the shore.
 A shikara is small paddled taxi boat, made of wood with a canopy and a spade shaped bottom. It is the cultural symbol of Kashmir and is used not only for ferrying visitors but is also used for the vending of fruits, vegetables and flowers and for the fishing and harvesting of aquatic vegetation. The shikara is also used as transport to sightseeing locations in the valley, notably a cruise along the Jhelum River, offering scenic views of the Pir Panjal mountains and passing through the famous seven bridges and the backwaters en route..

Monday, April 15, 2013

Aswan, the ancient cities of Swentet an Elephantine Aswan, Egypt

Aswan, the ancient cities of Swentet an Elephantine Aswan, Egypt



Egypt's sunniest city with its distinctively African atmosphere is an ancient frontier town located about 81 miles south of Luxor. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the Nile, the pace of life there is slow and relaxing. Days can be spent strolling up and down the broad Corniche watching the sailboats etch the sky with their tall masts or sitting in floating restaurants listening to Nubian music and eating freshly caught fish.
In Aswan the Nile is at its most beautiful, flowing through amber desert and granite rocks, round emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. Explore the souk, full of the scent and color of spices, perfumes, scarves and baskets. View the spectacular sunsets while having tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel (named for the Nile's first waterfall located there). Aswan has been a favorite winter resort since the beginning of the nineteenth century and it's still a perfect place to get away from it all.

Chilojo Cliffs at Gonarezhou National Park Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Chilojo Cliffs at Gonarezhou National Park
Masvingo, Zimbabwe


One of most spectacular features of Gonarezhou National Park, the cliffs pictured above rise 170 m (558 ft) from the south bank of the Runde River, 31 km (19 mi) from the Chipinda Pools. The cliffs consist of coarse sandstone and conglomerates arranged in a succession of horizontal beds. The cliffs are two-fold, with the lower and upper almost vertical sections separated from each other by a sloping terrace up to 500 m (1640 ft) wide. This terrace is scored by gullies which cut through the lower cliff to the Runde River bed, giving access to the water for elephants and other animals.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Dar al-Hajar, the Rock Palace Sana'a, Yemen

Dar al-Hajar, the Rock Palace Sana'a, Yemen


Perched atop a rock pinnacle in the famous Wadi Dhahr Valley, some 15 km away from the capital city of Sana, Yemen, is Dar al-Hajar, better known as the Imam's Rock Palace. It is an iconic symbol of Yemen found on everything from postcards and magazines to water bottles. It is exemplary of Yemeni architecture and seems to grow out of the rocks on which it is constructed to stand alone in an oasis of green and quiet.

Millennium Bridge

Millennium Bridge

          Millennium Bridge
The is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Thames and yields a spectacular view..

The Famous Portobello Road Market

           The Famous Portobello Road Market

The Portobello Road Market is located in the Notting Hill neighborhood and is lined with vendors selling everything from snacks to antiques.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Hunyad Castle | Transylvania, Romania

Hunyad Castle | Transylvania, Romania



Corvin Castle, also known as Corvins' Castle, Hunyad Castle or Hunedoara Castle (Romanian: Castelul Huniazilor or Castelul Corvinilor, Hungarian: Vajdahunyad vára), is a Gothic-Renaissance castle in Hunedoara (Transylvania), Romania. 
Corvin Castle was built by King Charles I of Hungary, after his visit in Temesvár (Timişoara), Kingdom of Hungary (now Romania), in 1307. The King decided to set up residence there. The building, probably built by Italian builders, was finished in 1315 and in 1316 the King was already established in the new castle, where he lived almost eight years. The last document signed by him in Timisoara dated June 15, 1323. In 1409, the castle was given to John Hunyadi's father, Voyk, by Sigismund, king of Hungary, as severance. The castle was restored between 1446 and 1453 by his son John Hunyadi. It was built mainly in Gothic style, but has Renaissance architectural elements. It features tall and strong defense towers, an interior yard and a drawbridge. Built over the site of an older fortification and on a rock above the small river Zlaşti, the castle is a large and imposing building with tall and diversely colored roofs, towers and myriad windows and balconies adorned with stone carvings. The current castle is the result of a fanciful restoration campaign undertaken after a disastrous fire and many decades of total neglect. It has been noted that modern "architects projected to it their own wistful interpretations of how a great Gothic castle should look".

The world's best cities to live No 1

The world's best city No 1

10. Auckland, New Zealand (95.7)

The world's 10 best cities to live in, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit global “liveability” study, which looks at how “tolerable” it is to live in a particular place given its crime levels, threat of conflict, quality of medical care, levels of censorship, temperature, schools and transport links. 10. Auckland, New Zealand, which scores an overall rating of 95.7 out of 10

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

MALDIVES

MALDIVES


Maldives is a collection of 1192 islands covering about 90000km2 located to the south west of Sri Lanka in Indian Ocean but only 200 islands are inhabited by people. It is the smallest of countries found in Asia and country situated at the lowest point. Due to this reason, Maldives is on top of the list of million cities that are greatly threatened by rising of sea level by global warming. Maldives capital is Male and is world's number one dry fish supplier. About 80% of total land area is coral...

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The thermae romanum of Aquae Sulis Bath,United Kingdom

The thermae romanum of Aquae Sulis 
Bath,United Kingdom



This well-preserved Roman site for public bathing is actually below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century.  The Baths are a major tourist attraction and receive more than one million visitors a year. Visitors can see the baths and museum but may not enter the water. An audio guide is available in several languages.

Varanasi on the Ganges Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Varanasi on the Ganges Varanasi, Uttar  
Pradesh, India

People have referred to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning" and "the oldest living city on earth." The city's culture is closely associated with the Ganges and it has been a cultural center of North India for several thousand years. It has more history than most of the major world religions. The Benares Gharana, a form of Hindustani classical music, developed in Varanasi.  Scholarly books like the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidasand have been written there. Many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived in Varanasi. And Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath located nearby.

Monday, April 8, 2013

The Lakes of Mount Kelimutu, Indonesia (Southeast Asia)

The Lakes of Mount Kelimutu, Indonesia (Southeast Asia)          



Kelimutu ([kəliˈmutu]) is a volcano, close to the small town of Moni about 50 km to the east of Ende, Indonesia in central Flores Island of Indonesia.  The volcano contains three striking summit crater lakes of varying colors.
 Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red respectively.
 The lake colors vary on a periodic basis. Subaqueous fumaroles are the probable cause of active upwelling that occurs at the two eastern lakes.  The lakes have been a source of minor phreatic eruptions in historical time. 
The summit of the compound 1639-m-high Kelimutu volcano is elongated two km in a WNW-ESE direction; the older cones of Kelido and Kelibara are located respectively three km to the north and two km to the south. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination.  Kelimutu is also of interest to geologists because the three lakes are different colors yet are at the crest of the same volcano.
According to the local officer at Kelimutu National Park, the colour changes as a result of chemical reactions resulting from the minerals contained in the lake perhaps triggered by volcano gas activity. Kawah Putih lake in West Java, south of Bandung, is another crater lake in Indonesia with some similarities to the lakes at Kelimutu.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Istria Croatia, East Europe

Istria Croatia, East Europe




Think Tuscany, but with a Habsburg past. The shady, rolling hills of Istria—Croatia’s northernmost peninsula—are becoming widely known for their truffles, Malvazija white wines, olive oil stancijas (estates), and crumbling hill towns. Cyclists can spin their spokes over some 2,000 miles of extensively maintained bike trails. Along the coast, sunny ocean views and impromptu opportunities for swimming and snorkeling abound.  The romantic town of Rovinj (above), a former Venetian vassal state, rises from the Adriatic like an estranged island of Venice. Pine-shaded Adriatic coves entice with a refreshing plunge. Evenings are capped off with Champagne cocktails at the Valentino Bar, a breezy boîte perched directly on the water and illuminated in vivid cerulean by underwater lights—not a bad spot to nurture your own inner Casanova.

Chefchaouen, the blue city of Morocco (North Africa)


Chefchaouen, the blue city of Morocco   (North Africa)



Situated in the heart of Morocco's Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a tourist’s delight with affordable accommodations and, above all, a picturesque town set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rif Mountains filled with white-washed homes with distinctive, powder-blue accents (pictured above). Chefchaouen was painted blue by Jewish refugees who lived there during the 1930's. The beauty of Chefchaouen's mountainous surroundings are enhanced by the contrast of the brightly painted medina (old town). It is this beauty and the relaxed atmosphere of the town that makes Chefchaouen very attractive to visitors.

Stonehenge Wiltshire,Nice Rainbow

Stonehenge  Wiltshire, Rainbow England

Stonehenge is surely Britain's greatest national icon, symbolizing mystery, power and endurance. Its original purpose is unclear to us, but some have speculated that it was a temple made for the worship of ancient earth deities. It has been called an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar.
The stones we see today represent Stonehenge in ruin. Many of the original stones have fallen or been removed by previous generations for home construction or road repair. There has been serious damage to some of the smaller bluestones resulting from close visitor contact (prohibited since 1978) and the prehistoric carvings on the larger sarsen stones show signs of significant wear.
Construction of the Henge In its day, the construction of Stonehenge was an impressive engineering feat, requiring commitment, time and vast amounts of manual labor. In its first phase, Stonehenge was a large earthwork; a bank and ditch arrangement called a henge, constructed approximately 5,000 years ago.

Al Khazneh seen from the Siq | Petra, Jordan (West Asia)

Al Khazneh seen from the Siq  |  Petra, Jordan   (West Asia)

This is Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled there more than 2000 years ago. For much of its history, Petra was an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.  Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 km (0.6 mi) in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 m (262 ft) high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh ("The Treasury").

Friday, April 5, 2013

Jin Mao Tower, "Golden Prosperity Building" Shanghai, China

Jin Mao Tower, "Golden Prosperity   Building" Shanghai, China



The second tallest building in mainland China is located in the center of Lujiazui Finance and Trade Districts in Pudong, right next to the tallest building in China. The 88-story tower was completed in 1999. It is 421 m (1380 ft) tall and covers an area of 2.3 hectares (5.68 acres). The architect, Adrian D. Smith, ingeniously combined the elements of traditional Chinese culture with the newest architectural styles of the time making it one of the most unique and interesting buildings in the country.

Natural pools at Isalo National Park (Southern Africa) from Amazing Places on Earth


Natural pools at Isalo National Park  (Southern Africa)  from Amazing Places on Earth

Isalo National Park is in the Ihorombe Region of Madagascar. The park is known for its wide variety of terrain, including sandstone formations, deep canyons, palm-lined oases (pictured above) and grassland. A local guide is required for visitors entering the park, and guides and porters can be hired in the nearby town of Ranohira. Treks can last from several hours to a week or longer.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Most Beautiful Places...Krakow | Lesser Poland, Poland

Krakow  |  Lesser Poland, Poland 

                    

Kraków (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkrakuf] ( listen)) also Cracow, or Krakow (English /ˈkrækaʊ/), is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła) in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century.  Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic hubs. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1569; the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569 to 1596; the Grand Duchy of Kraków from 1846 to 1918; and Kraków Voivodeship from the 14th century to 1999. It is now the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

Karlovy Vary  | Bohemia, Czech Republic (East Europe)

                   


Karlovy Vary (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkarlovɪ ˈvarɪ] ( listen); German: Karlsbad; English: Carlsbad) is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately 130 km (81 mi) west of Prague (Praha). It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370. It is historically famous for its hot springs (13 main springs, about 300 smaller springs, and the warm-water Teplá River).

In the 19th century, it became a popular tourist destination, especially for international celebrities visiting for spa treatment. The city is also known for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the popular Czech liqueur Karlovarská Becherovka. The glass manufacturer Moser Glass is located in Karlovy Vary. The city has also given its name to the famous delicacy known as "Carlsbad plums". These plums (usually Quetsch) are candied in hot syrup, then halved and stuffed into dried damsons; this gives them a very intense flavour.

The city has been used as the location for a number of film-shoots, including the 2006 films Last Holiday and box-office hit Casino Royale, both of which used the city's Grandhotel Pupp in different guises.

Darjeeling Himalayan F

Darjeeling Himalayan F


Pinnewala Elephant


Lake Pukaki


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Hotel La Montana Magica and Crooked Forest

 The Crooked Forest

The Crooked Forest  
 
The Crooked Forest is located right outside of Nowe Czarnowo, West Pomerania, Poland. The grove contains approximately 400 pine trees with bent trunks. They were planted sometime in 1939, but why or who made them crooked is unknown.

Hotel La Montana Magica

Hotel La Montaña Mágica 
 
Magic Mountain hotel is exactly what you think it is. It's a hotel shaped like a mountain that spews water from the top. It's located in Huilo Huilo, a private Natural Reserve in the Los Rios region of Chile.

Beautiful Place Cinque Terre, Italy

Wisteria Tunnel

Wisteria Tunnel 
Wisteria Tunnel is located at the Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu, Japan. Flowering trees hang overhead and the different colored rows speckle the garden.

 Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre, Italy 
The Cinque Terre is part of the coast in the Liguria region of Italy. The terraces built on the rugged landscape are a popular tourist attraction.

Amazing pictures of Dubai


Amazing pictures of Dubai skyscrapers by Sebastian Opitz

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Amazing pictures of Dubai skyscrapers by Sebastian Opitz

Amazing pictures of Dubai skyscrapers by Sebastian Opitz