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Friday, October 30, 2009

Italy

-Tourism in Italy-

The origin of the term Italia, from Latin :
Italia, is uncertain. According to one of the more common explanations, the term was borrowed through Greek from the Oscan Víteliú, meaning "land of young cattle" (cf. Lat vitulus "calf", Umb vitlo "calf"). The bull was a symbol of the southern Italian tribes and was often depicted goring the Roman wolf as a defiant symbol of free Italy during the Samnite Wars.


Milan Italy

Milan is divided into 9 distinct zones that radiate out from the Historical Center (Zona 1) to the periphery. They are identified numerically by the local council, but also have names, and each zone includes many different neighborhoods and quarters. Although every area is not listed here, each plays its own special role in the history of Milan; from the importantissimo historical center to the modern "dormitory quarters" of San Siro.


Genoa Italy
GENOA ( Genova in Italian) is "the most winding, incoherent of cities, the most entangled topographical ravel in the world." So said Henry James, and the city is still marvellously eclectic, full of pace and rough-edged style. Sprawled behind the huge port – Italy's largest and an increasingly popular stopoff for international cruise liners – is a dense and fascinating warren of medieval alleyways, a district which has more zest than all the coastal resorts put together.


Verona Italy

With its wealth of Roman sites and streets of pink-hued medieval buildings, the easy-going city of VERONA has more in the way of sights than any other place in the Veneto except Venice itself. Unlike Venice, though, it's not a city overwhelmed by the tourist industry, important though that is to the local economy. Verona is the largest city of the mainland Veneto, its economic success largely due to its position at the crossing of the major routes from Germany and Austria to central Italy and from the west to Venice and Trieste.


Milan Italy
Milan is divided into 9 distinct zones that radiate out from the Historical Center (Zona 1) to the periphery. They are identified numerically by the local council, but also have names, and each zone includes many different neighborhoods and quarters. Although every area is not listed here, each plays its own special role in the history of Milan; from the importantissimo historical center to the modern "dormitory quarters" of San Siro.


Naples, Italy
Naples is the kind of city that is laden with visitors' preconceptions, and it rarely disappoints: it is filthy, it is very large and overbearing, it is crime-infested, and it is most definitely like nowhere else in Italy – something the inhabitants will be keener than anyone to tell you. In all these things lies the city's charm. Perhaps the feeling that you're somewhere unique makes it possible to endure the noise and harassment, perhaps it's the feeling that in less than three hours you've travelled from an ordinary part of Europe to somewhere akin to an Arab bazaar.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Taj Mahal


The mausoleum of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture , a style that combines elements from Persian, Indian, and Islamic In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim arts in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage." architectural styles.

While the white domed marble
mausoleum is its most familiar co
mponent, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

Taj Mahal mosque or masjid


The Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza)—gateway to the Taj Mahal

Arches in the Taj Mahal Mosque interior

The Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land. An area of roughly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and leveled at 50 meters above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle. According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometer tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks, from which it was piped to the complex.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Sipadan Island

-Welcome to Sipadan Island-


The Sipadan diving legend has passed through the world's dive community to the extent that all divers with an interest in visiting the best sites in the world, have a resort stay at this small island near the top of their wish list.

Pulau Sipadan Island was at the top of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine Gold List for 'The Top Dive Destination in the World'. In fact the island shared its top spot with 2 other destinations known for the amazing diversity of their marine life - the Galapagos Islands and Truk in Micronesia.

The list of attractions is quite staggering and all the more exceptional as it involves plenty of big fish encounters - barracudas, large schools of trevally and marauding bumphead parrotfish. This is one of the big fish capitals of the world.


The Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort provides a host of facilities for you the diver, non-divers and your family. See a real life Finding Nemo saga unfold beneath your feet!, land on the beach for a game of volleyball, or simply relax in the resort watching satellite TV.

Resort facilities include: restaurant and bar - pool table - board games - darts - table tennis - beach volleyball - sea canoes - international telephone and facsimile - internet access including personal laptop connectivity - baby sitting - sun deck - gift shop

Sipadan Kapalai Resort

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Thailand


BANGKOK

The headlong pace and flawed modernity of BANGKOK (called "Krung Thep" in Thai) match few people's visions of the capital of exotic Siam. Spiked with scores of highrise buildings of concrete and glass, it's a vast flatness which holds a population of at least nine million, and feels even bigger. But under the shadow of the skyscrapers you'll find a heady mix of frenetic markets and hushed golden temples, of glossy cutting-edge clubs and early-morning almsgiving ceremonies. Most budget travellers head for the Banglamphu district, which is just a short walk from the dazzling Grand Palace and Wat Po and the very worthwhile National Museum. For livelier scenes, explore the dark alleys of Chinatown's bazaars or head for the water: the great Chao Phraya River is the backbone of a network of canals and a useful way of crossing the city.


CHIANG MAI

Despite recent and rapid economic progress, CHIANG MAI – Thailand's second city – manages to preserve a little of the atmosphere of an overgrown village. The old quarter, set within a two-kilometre-square moat, has retained many of its traditional wooden houses, and inviting guesthouses, good markets, cookery, massage and meditation courses and plenty of sights make it a hugely appealing place to many travellers. Plus, of course, Chiang Mai is the main centre for hilltribe trekking.

Wat Benchana -bo-bitr

Benchana-bo-bitr, popularly called the Marble Temple, is one of the loveliest wats in Bangkok. It was erected in about 1988 by king Rama V(Chulalongkorn), the snow-white marble being shipped to Thailand from Tuscany in Italy. Thais also refer to the wat as "The wat of the Fifth king", Rama V crowend soon after his 20th birthday having spent part of 1873 as a"bikkhu" (monk) in the old monastery south of the temple.

China


Yangtze River Cruise

Yangtze River Cruises offer you a good chance to relax. At the same time you may experience Chinese culture first hand by discovering the stunning Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, ancient Shennong Stream, and two world famous construction sites - Three Gorges Dam Project and Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project.Originating from Tangula Mountain Range in Qinghai Province, the Yangtze River is the largest and the longest river in China and the third longest in the world. Discover the amazing Yangtze River with us; you can enjoy the terror of the Ghost City of Fengdu, the spectacle of the Three Gorges, the fun of drifting on Shennong Stream and the wonder of the Three Gorges Dam. You will not miss the culture and history of Yangtze River while cruising as well.

Potala Palace

Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, Tibet. Destroyed by lightning and war, Potala Palace had been rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. Since then, Potala Palace has become the seat of Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet. The thirteenth Dalai Lama extended it to the present size, 117 meters (384 ft) in height and 360 meters (1,180 ft) in width, covering an area of more than 130, 000 s
q meters (about 32 acres). Mainly comprised by the White Palace (administerial building) and the Red Palace (religious building), Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks.



The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of th
e world, was enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared.

India



Enjoy a tour of Cochin seeing the tourist attractions of this city also known as "The Queen of the Arabian Sea.' Visit the Jewish Synagogue, which is over 400 years old and is decorated with Belgian chandeliers and hand painted Chinese tiles. Other attractions of Cochin are the St Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets in Cochin harbor. In the evening enjoy a moonlit boat cruise across the waters of Cochin and see a spectacular firework display on nearby islands.



The Golden Triangle Tour is one of the most sought after North India tour packages that take you to the interesting Indian cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Delhi the capital city of India invites you to come an explore the historical wonders as well as the contemporary tourist attractions that include places like museums, shopping malls, amusement parks and a lot more. Among the contemporary tourist places of interest in Delhi, the Bahai temple is an important place of worship and an important tourist destination. Though the Golden Triangle North Tour includes visits to only three cities of India, there is plenty to do and see in these cities.



This is one of the most exciting parts of the Backwater and Beach Delight Tour. Located around 180 kms from Cochin, Alleppey is known for its scenic beauty. The pleasant journey takes around 5 hours. Check in at the local house boat (Kettuvallam). The house boat will take you through a wonderful cruise trip by the winding rivers, lakes, meanders and backwaters. Spend the next 24 hours at the floating villa. Get to experience the lovely backwaters and the idyllic surroundings to the fullest. Make a stop by the traditional local villages. See the great view of the sunset by the backwaters. Overnight stay at the houseboat.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

England


A journey through Englan
d is a journey through history - from the ancient megaliths of Stonehenge to the space-age domes of the Eden Project in Cornwall . It's also a trip to the 21st-century: London is gearing up for the 2012 Olympics while cities like Manchester,Leeds and Newcastle revel in their heritage and confidently face the future, with industrial buildings revitalized as waterfront galleries or trendy apartments, flanked by tempting bars, shops, restaurants and some of the finest music venues in the world.



Visit our mediaeval cathedral city set amid the beautiful Wiltshire countryside. Discover over 5,000 years of history – a World Heritage Site and a wealth of museums, gardens and historic houses. The Information Centre is centrally located behind the Guildhall just off the Market Embracing the latest technology, The 08 Place TIC features interactive displays, internet access, a booking office and regularly plays host to exhibitions and presentations. Situated at the heart of the city on Whitechapel, it showcases the Capital of Culture experience.


At the heart of London’s West End, the busiest shopping district in Europe and home to many of London’s world class theaters, this Visitor Center is the ideal starting point for exploring the myriad of attractions this 2000 year old city has to offer.