world travel

Dubai Hotels

2012-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:00

Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotel
Dubai Hotel

Dubai shopping malls

2012-01-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls
Dubai shopping malls

Egyptian pictures

2011-11-29T00:40:00.000-08:00

egyptian pictures
egyptian pictures
egyptian pictures
egyptian pictures
egyptian pictures

Single Woman's Churchyard (England)

2011-11-18T23:57:00.000-08:00

The Cross Bones Graveyard is an unusual cemetery located in the United Kingdom. It is a post-medieval disused burial ground in London, England. Originally, this graveyard was established as an unconsecrated graveyard for ‘single women,' a euphemism for prostitutes and was known as the ‘Single Woman's Churchyard'. It had become a pauper's cemetery in 1769. It is believed that more than 15,000 people have been buried there.

Dubai Towers

2011-10-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

Dubai Towers
Dubai Towers
Dubai Towers

Dubai Towers
Dubai Towers

World’s most famous beachside city Miami

2011-09-13T01:20:00.003-07:00

No.1 Miami, USA

Body of water the city borders: Atlantic Ocean
Population: 5,590,000
Average temperature in the winter: 68°F
Average temperature in the summer: 82°F
Arguably the world’s most famous beachside city, Miami is where the world’s jet-set come to top up their tans, fill up on cocktails and dance until the early hours with the rich and famous. Aside from being a tourism hub for its beaches, Miami’s beachside location also enables it to reap valuable trade for the rich city, with Miami Port being one of the busiest in the United States. Welcoming both cargo and cruise ships, the port contributes more than $16-billion each year to the state of Florida from international trade, providing countless jobs and ensuring that the city looks as glamorous as it does in the movies.

Best beach

Just 90 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from Cuba, South Beach is Miami’s most iconic stretch of sand, and is bordered by Ocean Drive’s row of art deco restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels. The beach is so flashy it’s even got its own workout equipment built right into the sand -- just in case beachgoers have one too many cheesy quesadillas at lunch.

World’s beachside cities, Dubai

2011-09-13T01:20:00.002-07:00

No.2 Dubai, UAE

Body of water the city borders: Arabian Gulf
Population: 2,261,995
Average temperature in the winter: 75°F
Average temperature in the summer: 94°F

Built from the ground up to be one of the world’s busiest beachside cities, Dubai is known for its daring architecture, gaudy style and sweltering heat. Erected in the desert, the beaches are as spotless and as pristine as you’d expect. Dubai’s beachside location doesn’t only enable it to attract D&G-clad sun-worshippers; with a strategic location that sits on the crossroads between East and West, the port forms a connection between Europe and the Far East that was previously non-existent.

Best beach

Dubai relies heavily on its beautiful beaches for tourism, with celebrities from around the globe counting beaches, such as Jumeirah Beach, among their favorite hangouts.

Clifton Beach is one of Cape Town

2011-09-13T01:20:00.000-07:00

No.5 Cape Town, South Africa

Body of water the city borders: Indian/Atlantic Oceans
Population: Around 3,500,000
Average temperature in winter: 53°F
Average temperature in summer: 68°F

A city where sickening wealth rubs its Prada-clad shoulders with heartbreaking poverty, Cape Town has risen up the tourism ranks in the past decade to become a go-to place for expat residents looking for a better life in the sun. Fusing European elegance with the exotic nature of the African continent, Cape Town has it all: Five-star hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, chic nightclubs, designer shops, and beaches better than the ones on Baywatch. Hugged by the warm waters of both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans in front and sheltered by the mountainous landscape behind, the sheltered beaches that lie before the city are some of the best in the world for getting your tan on.

Best beach

Clifton Beach is one of Cape Town’s most glamorous waterfronts, with flashy yachts moored in the shimmering water and rock-hard bodies flaunting themselves in the surf, while Big Bay and Little Bay are best for water sports like windsurfing.

Barceloneta Spain Beach

2011-09-13T01:18:00.005-07:00

No.3 Barcelona, Spain

Body of water the city borders: Mediterranean Sea
Population: Around 1,605,602
Average temperature in winter: 50°F
Average temperature in summer: 75°F

While outsiders may see Barcelona as a cultural destination, the Spanish see the city as a fabulous beach resort, flocking to the Catalonian capital in droves as soon as summer hits. A heady mix of architecture, shopping and nightlife, Barcelona sits on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea and boasts over 2.5 miles of stunning white-sand beaches. Barcelona’s beachside position doesn’t just enable it to benefit from shade-wearing tourists; the city was chosen as the host for the 1992 Olympics, which saw billions driven into the restoration of its once-shabby seafront. What’s more, Port Vell, situated at the end of the famous Ramblas, grants the city access to cruise liners and cargo ships, meaning it’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to valuable trade and cruise tourism.

Best beach

The city’s signature strip of sand has to be Barceloneta Beach, one of many that attracts up to 7,000,000 sun-worshippers every year.

Copacabana Beach Brazil

2011-09-13T01:18:00.004-07:00

No.4 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Body of water the city borders: South Atlantic Ocean
Population: 6,093,472
Average temperature in winter: 72°F
Average temperature in summer: 84°F

Cities don’t come more beach-orientated than Rio de Janeiro. Home of the world-famous Carnival, the laid-back citizens of Rio love nothing more than donning their Havaiana flip-flops and heading to Copacabana Beach.

Best beach

Stretching 2.5 miles from Princesa Isabel Avenue to Posto Seis, the iconic Copacabana Beach is where Rio’s tanned beauties lounge by day and party by night, all under the watchful eye of Christ the Redeemer, standing tall on Corcovado mountain. The beach isn’t only good for Brazil’s beach bunnies either: there are historic military forts standing at either end for culture vultures, and a Portuguese wave-patterned promenade lined with hotels, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs for the party crowd. Oozing an atmosphere of casual-beach chic, Rio’s famous sands also plays host to world-famous New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Los Angeles county Santa Monica beach

2011-09-13T01:18:00.003-07:00

No.6 Los Angeles, USA

Body of water the city borders: Pacific Ocean
Population: About 3,800,000
Average temperature in the winter: 58°F
Average temperature in the summer: 73°F

Dubbed ”The City of Angels,” Los Angeles is the world’s capital for popular culture and entertainment. With everyone who’s anyone living and working in the sprawling Californian metropolis, Los Angeles is also recognized for its stunning array of beaches, thanks in large part to their many appearances on television and in movies.

Best beach

Though technically part of Los Angeles county, Santa Monica is by far the most renowned beach in the L.A. area, with iconic TV show Baywatch having filmed here during its run. The quintessential urban beach community, Santa Monica borders the Pacific Ocean and offers the allure of a coastal retreat with the sophistication of city-style amenities. Indeed, with Disneyland, Universal Studios, Beverly Hills, and Malibu close by, Santa Monica is very much part of the city. Whether you’re sprawled on its fine white sands

England, Brighton beach

2011-09-13T01:18:00.002-07:00

No.7 Brighton, UK

Body of water the city borders: English Channel
Population: Around 155,919
Average temperature in winter: 41°F
Average temperature in summer: 64°F

Positioned in the South of England, Brighton is steeped in history and was where the mods and rockers of the ‘60s used to come to battle it out for supremacy on the pier that once sat in the English Channel. Recently declared a “city,” Brighton has become more than just a weekend retreat for Londoners.

Now a developing hub of business and commerce (thanks, in large part, to its geographical position next to the sea), Brighton has seen the rise of a posh city-within-a-city-style marina and a booming boating industry. There are also plans for the construction of the i360, a London Eye-style monument to be erected in place of the burnt-down pier. Set to attract thousands of visitors a year, the towering 490-foot observation mast will mark Brighton as a must-see destination across the world, completely reinventing the city.

Best beach

Aside from the hundreds of pubs and clubs, the beach is Brighton’s biggest draw, with red-and-white striped deck chairs dotting its stony shorefront. In the summer, you can’t actually see the beach for all the people!

Bondi Beach in Australia

2011-09-13T01:18:00.001-07:00

No.8 Sydney, Australia

Body of water the city borders: Pacific Ocean
Population: 4,284,379
Average temperature in the winter: 54°F
Average temperature in the summer: 73°F

Although many people still think that Sydney is the capital of Australia, it isn’t -- that would be Canberra. Sydney is, however, no less important to Australia’s success as a travel destination; in fact, more people seem to visit it than the country’s actual capital, which doesn’t seem fair. Nevertheless, with showstopping architecture, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge (incidentally, both by the water), a vibrant nightlife scene, and more natural beauty than in the rest of the world’s cities put together, it’s not hard to see why Sydney is the beating heart of modern-day Australia (as well as one of the world's top 10 beach cities). As the country’s biggest metropolis, there’s much to see and do, but one of the biggest draws is undoubtedly the beaches that lie just behind the clutter of the city’s glass-fronted buildings.

Best beach

A magnet for those who love the combination of beach and city life, Bondi Beach is the most photographed stretch of sand in Australia (and Australia’s one hell of a big country!). Famed for its excellent surfing conditions, Bondi is long, well-kept and full of gorgeous people taking to their boards and riding the waves.

Our top 10 beach cities

2011-09-13T01:18:00.000-07:00

No.10 Venice, Italy

Body of water the city borders: Adriatic Sea
Population: Around 271,251
Average temperature in the winter: 40°F
Average temperature in the summer: 73°F

Built on water, Venice was destined to rank as one of our top 10 beach cities. Its beaches are often overlooked, however, given the meandering canals, gondola rides and stunning architecture that take up most of visitors’ precious time. When they get past those attractions, they’ll find that the romantic Italian city is actually home to some of the most hush-hush beaches in Europe, where nature and history collide.

Best beach

Venice Lido is one of the world’s best-kept secrets, and is only 10 minutes away from the throngs of tourists that congregate around St. Mark’s Square. An 11-mile island that stretches between the open sea and a lagoon, the sands of Venice Lido play host to some of the most stylish Italians off the catwalk. Excelsior and Des Bains are Lido’s best private beaches (belonging to hotels), but there are two public beaches to be found on either end of the white sandbar if you’re too cheap to check in.

Mumbai’s most charismatic beach

2011-09-13T01:17:00.000-07:00

No.9 Mumbai, India

Body of water the city borders: Arabian Sea
Population: Around 13,662,885
Average temperature in the winter: 75°F
Average temperature in the summer: 85°F

Mumbai is the financial, commercial, industrial, and celluloid capital of India, and it’s where Bollywood dreams are made. Built from the ground up on its colonial foundations, Mumbai is one part glitz, with flashy skyscrapers and designer stores, and one part poverty, with slums and seedy neighborhoods. Located next to the Arabian Sea, another one of Mumbai’s points of interest is, of course, the beach. Juhu Beach, which sits just outside of the city center, is lined with Mumbai’s best hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, and it's where the business bunch like to come and play. Mumbai’s deep-water port is also an essential component of the beachside city, managing over half of India’s maritime cargo.

Best beach

Fringed by Marina Drive on the western side of the city, Chowpatty Beach is Mumbai’s most charismatic beach. There are donkey rides, stalls selling bhelpuri (a savory snack favored in the region) and a huge man-powered Ferris wheel to be ridden. When the sun sets behind the Arabian Sea, Chowpatty Beach turns into a carnivalesque scene with astrology readings, plays, monkey shows, and yoga demonstrations happening right on the sand.

World China Great wall

2011-08-11T03:04:00.000-07:00

Great wall of china
great wall
china wall large
china great wall
World China Great wall

Norway

2011-08-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

Fjords in Norway

Norway scenery

Norway usual landscape

Norway country

2011-08-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

Norway is an excellent vacation destination for eco-friendly travelers for this very reason. Its gorgeous landscapes and environmentally focused vacation and activity options makes Norway an ecotourism favorite. Perhaps what people most commonly think of when they think about Norway ecotourism are the Fjords.

Norway’s fjords are long and narrow inlets carved throughout its western valleys. The gorgeous scenery alongside the thousands of fjords in Norway include untouched nature, green hillsides, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, extensive wildlife and lakes. As perfect as the fjords are for quiet kayaking or relaxing boat tours they are equally as perfect for some of the greatest adventure tours in Scandinavia. As such, tourists and green travelers flock to Norway each summer for summer skiing, river rafting and cruises within the inlets of the Norwegian countryside. Because of how famous the beauty within Norway’s fjords has become, the country has taken an active role in preserving it for future generations. It has done so well in fact, that the World Heritage Convention ranked Norway’s “West Fjords” as one of the best preserved sites within its list of 830 other ecotourism destinations around the world. Norwegians it seems are adamant about conserving the beauty of their countryside and managing its natural resources correctly. For ecotourism efforts in this regard and the cultural sensitivity to traditional farms and cultures near and around its many Fjords

Bryggen, Bergen another of Norway’s ecotourism destinations is also high on the World Heritage Conventions list of well-preserved eco-destinations. Bryggen is a row of medieval timber houses known for their beauty and how well they blend in within the fjords nearby and the Norwegian hillside. Although less popular than the variety of activity offered by the fjords, it is yet another example of how Norway has remained close to green travel ideals.

Additionally Norway’s major cities offer a variety of green options for visitors. Bike tours, and inexpensive bike rentals are popular in Oslo with an enormous number of parks, museums, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, pubs, organic food fairs and historical sites accessible through bikes and pedestrian paths. City efforts to reduce emissions and make green travel easier for visitors and residents makes Norway a premier green city.

The Beauty of the natural world

2011-07-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

Each sees the beauty of the natural world in their own way. Some love the sight, sound and feel of the sea, whilst others are drawn to wild-flower meadows or deep, tangled forests. Although it was a hard choice, I have selected my top 5 beautiful countries, each from a different continent.

New Zealand

With so many beautiful images to pick from and such a range of landscapes, I had trouble finding one that really does New Zealand justice. However you can almost taste the freshness of the air and smell the scent of flowers in this lush mountainous scene – stunning.

Croatia

The Croatian coastline and national parks are what make this special country one of the most beautiful places to see in Europe. With hidden pools and bays, striking snowy mountains and perfect beaches, it is a feast for the eyes and senses.

Mozambique

Mozambique is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches and offers some of the most stunning seascapes in the world. For those with sea running in their veins, the miles of unspoilt beach make Mozambique a dream destination.

Chile

The unspoilt beauty of Chile speaks for itself in this photograph, with volcanoes, desert and lake all contributing to its unique feel, although this scene does not reflect the country’s other offerings of rich forests and fjords, isles and inlets.

Canada

On the border between Canada and America is the Niagara falls, one of the powerful waterfalls in the world. It is simply impossible to be taken aback by its beauty and you can almost hear its roar from the photo.

Canadian universities

2011-07-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Canadian universities are becoming the most popular choice among the foreign students seeking higher education. Easier visa process and further employment opportunities are proving to be the center of attraction for these students. However, the most important factor behind the popularity of these universities is the quality education they provide at affordable costs. Deserving students can also avail of some helpful scholarships that will cover up their education as well as supporting expenses.

Canadian universities conduct various courses and curriculum in English and French languages that makes it easy for the foreign students to understand. All these factors are making Canadian universities a desirable destination and the number of foreign students seeking admissions to these universities is crossing over 100,000 every year. Icing on the cake is the safety and security Canada provides. This country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Here is a glimpse of what Canadian university has to offer:

• Top class education
Adherence to strict guidelines has ensured that the standard of academics taught at Canadian universities is maintained year after year. Canada does not have any formal national accreditation system or federal ministry of education. The county or province that accommodates the particular university is responsible to provide and maintain the standard of education at all levels.

• Variety of educational programs
Canadian universities offer variety of disciplines that includes arts, fine arts, commerce, science, medicine, engineering, aeronautics and astronomy. Interested students can choose from over 10,000 professional degree programs and certificates, as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by numerous Canadian universities. All these courses are recognized all over the world by other renowned universities, B-schools and professional institutes. Various degrees by Canadian universities are considered equivalent to those from other recognized universities from commonwealth nations and US.

• Enrolment options
There are varieties of enrollment options for courses conducted by universities in Canada. Students can enroll for part-time or full-time programs as per their feasibility. To facilitate easy learning, other modes like distance learning, continuing education, co-operative education and student exchange programs are also on the offer.

• Programs for students
‘Study’ is not the only thing on the Canadian universities’ minds. These academic institutes par excellence offer some of the services and resources that include financial assistance, study abroad options, assistance for accommodation and medical aid. All this help is offered to ensure that students can wholeheartedly concentrate on their studies.

Not only this, Canadian universities provide the right ambience to inculcate creativity, innovativeness and decision making abilities. These qualities make the students passing out from these universities very desirable by some of the best employers worldwide

Canadian universities in world

2011-07-09T23:22:00.000-07:00

Oversea Study (Agent Business)

The top-ranking technology, beautiful environment, advanced ideas and the outstanding schools will help the students realize the most understanding career.

Studying in Canada

There are more than 150,000 international students who go to Canada every year to study, and more than 9000 are from China. In addition, many more come to Canada to learn English or French. International students bring a rich culture to Canada. Your knowledge and skills are welcome in Canadian schools.

Canadian universities are among the best in the world

Tuition fees for international students in Canada, and the cost of living, are among the lowest in the world

Eligible students can gain valuable Canadian work experience through off campus employment

Canada is a multicultural country. Regardless of your ethnic origin, you will feel at home in Canada

According to the United Nations, Canada offers one of the highest standards for quality of life in the world

City of London is the capital of England

2011-06-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

The cosmopolitan city of London is the capital of England and its very name suggests history and grandeur. Commonly known as “the city”, it is the premier city in Europe in terms of size, population and per-capita wealth. Having the meandering river Thames at its heart; it divides it in north and south London. Having the central area the most eye catching having the most important sights, theatres and restaurants are within the London underground train Circle Line on the northern bank of the River Thames.

A city where besides English, around 200 different languages are spoken within its confines, and all major religions are represented. At times, London can seem more like a country than a city.

Citizen Eye has its eye on London. As a citizen journalist, you can report news, publish photographs and videos about things happening in London. If you want to become part of this global citizen journalism platform, you can get yourself registered!

New york city

2011-05-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

New York is the most populous city in the United States^[6] and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.^[7]^[8]^[9] New York City exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, culture, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. As the home of the United Nations Headquarters,^[10] it is also an important center for international affairs. The city is often referred to as New York City or the City of New York,^[11] to distinguish it from the state of New York, of which it is a part.^[12]

Located on a large natural harbor on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, New York City consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.^[13] With a 2010 United States Census population of 8,175,133^[4] distributed over a land area of just 305 square miles (790 km²),^[14]^[15]^[16] New York is the most densely populated major city in the United States.^[17] As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.^[18] The New York City Metropolitan Area's population is the United States' largest, estimated at 18.9 million people distributed over 6,720 square miles (17,400 km²)

and is also part of the most populous combined statistical area in the United States, containing 22.2 million people as of 2009 Census estimates.^[19]

New York traces its roots to its 1624 founding as a trading post by Dutch colonists and was named New Amsterdam in 1626.^[20] The city and its surrounds came under English control in 1664^[21]^[22] and were renamed New York after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, the Duke of York.^[23]^[24] New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790.^[25] It has been the country's largest city since 1790.^[26] The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America by ship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Many districts and landmarks in New York City have become well known to outsiders. Times Square, iconified as "The Crossroads of the World",^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30] is the brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway theater district,^[31] one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections,^[32] and a major center of the world's entertainment industry.^[33] The city hosts many world renowned bridges, skyscrapers, and parks. New York City's financial district, anchored by Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, functions as the financial capital of the world.

World trade center 9 11

2011-03-16T23:50:00.000-07:00

Nearly 3,000 victims and the 19 hijackers died in the attacks. According to the New York State Health Department, 836 responders, including firefighters and police personnel, have died as of June 2009. Among the 2,752 victims who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center were 343 firefighters and 60 police officers from New York City and the Port Authority. people were killed in the attacks on the Pentagon. overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 70 countries. addition, there was at least one secondary death—one person was ruled by a medical examiner to have died from lung disease due to exposure to dust from the collapse of the World Trade Center.

The hijackers crashed a third airliner into The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. to target either the Capitol Building or the White House. There were no survivors from any of the flights.

Nearly 3,000 victims and the 19 hijackers died in the attacks. According to the New York State Health Department, 836 responders, including firefighters and police personnel, have died as of June 2009. Among the 2,752 victims who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center were 343 firefighters and 60 police officers from New York City and the Port Authority. 184 people were killed in the attacks on the Pentagon. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 70 countries. In addition, there was at least one secondary death—one person was ruled by a medical examiner to have died from lung disease due to exposure to dust from the collapse of the World Trade Center.

eiffel tower pictures

2011-02-15T23:55:00.000-08:00

pictures of eiffel tower
eiffel tower pictures
eiffel tower pictures
eiffel tower pictures
eiffel tower pictures

Cyprus

2011-01-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Property in Cyprus was affected positively when in May 2004 Cyprus gained full membership of the EU, a momentous event for the country and also a great boost to its economy, which is expected to go from strength to strength – good news for property investors.

There’s something of a buzz surrounding Cyprus at the moment. Many of us know it as a sunny, cheap and super-friendly holiday spot, but recently a variety of factors have converged on the Mediterranean’s third-largest island and caused many speculators to urge overseas homebuyers to catch the Cypriot property gravy train before its too late.

Firstly, it was only fairly recently that Cyprus joined the EU (2004) – a move that will only increase its accessibility as somewhere to pick up an overseas place in the sun.

Then there’s the euro issue. The International Monetary Fund has stated the Cyprus is well on track to join the single European currently as scheduled, at the beginning of 2008. Joining the euro should have a knock-on effect for the Cypriot economy, reducing interest rates, increasing the demand for property and consequently boosting house prices.

Finally, Cyprus has until 2008 before it has to meet the EU requirements to charge 15 per cent VAT on building land. When it comes into effect, this new tax alone is expected to cause a five per cent rise in house prices.

Predictions vary as to the scale of Cyprus’s mini property boom. Some expert believe prices could rise by as much as 50 per cent by 2008, while others claim the property market in Cyprus has been slowing in recent years, and predict closer to a five per cent annual return on any investments here. One thing’s for sure though, Cyprus is hugely popular among Britons. An estimated 60 per cent of all people who buy on the island are in fact from the UK. Presumably they just can’t get enough of the 300-plus days of sunshine each year.

A final point to mention is that all of the above applies to the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish-held zone is not part of the EU and house prices here are far lower. However, recent property disputes have shown you must check legalities with a fine toothcomb to make sure the land and property will rightfully be yours, before committing to a purchase in this region.

Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa

2011-01-02T03:20:00.000-08:00

Going to Ixtapa is always and exciting vacation trip because of the hotel called Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa. My family would always request to stay in Dorado Pacifico every time we have our vacation in Ixtapa.

The Island itself is already a paradise. It comes with a nice clear and crystal blue water. Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa enhances the Island’s beauty making it convenient for you to stay in the virgin Island of Ixtapa.

The hotel comes with full amenities. Their staffs are great and very warm, the hotel rooms all have beautiful ocean view that you would definitely love. All their rooms have spacious shower rooms. The swimming pool of the hotel is a grand luxurious pool that your family, especially your kids would enjoy. However, the best part of the deal is all of these things comes in a very affordable price!

Chicago city at night

2010-11-25T21:48:00.001-08:00

Chicago Nightlife & Entertainment:Chicago city at night

From its earliest frontier days, Chicago has had some of the best nightlife in the US. "Sweet Home Chicago", birthplace of Muddy Waters' urban blues, as well as R&B's Chess Records, is still going strong, inspiring the energetic dance beat of 1980s house music as well as the groundbreaking jazz of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Nightclubs aplenty are all over town, especially along Halsted Street, Lincoln Avenue and Clark Street on the North Side. Uptown, at the intersection of North Broadway and Lawrence, is a bit down-at-the-heel, but has half a dozen good venues. The best gay clubs congregate in the Lincoln Park area. Highbrow pursuits are also well provided for: Chicago's classical music, dance and theater are world-class.

Chicago city at night
Chicago city at night

For what's-on information, Chicagoans pick up the excellent free newspaper The Reader (copies comes out Thursday afternoon and are usually all gone by Saturday). The weekly New City and the gay and lesbian Windy City Times are good sources as well. Full listings also appear in the Friday issues of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, and Chicago magazine has useful arts and restaurant listings. The Gramaphone Ltd record store at 2663 N Clark St (tel 773/472-3683) is the best place for details of one-shot dance nights.

Chicago city at night

Chicago city at night

Chicago city at night

2010-11-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Chicago Nightlife & Entertainment:Chicago city at night

Chicago city at night

Chicago city at night

Japanese economy for a long time

2010-11-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

’ve been fighting the urge to write a giant missive about the Japanese economy for a long time, but it’s finally come to a head. There are many reasons I don’t write pieces like this:

1) They take a long time, and I’m a busy guy running a company
2) I can’t bother responding to critics (see #1)
3) Internal CScout disagreements about economics
4) Bright and cheery is good for business!
5) I don’t want to have a heart attack

It’s been well-documented that the Old Grey Lady is…well…old, grey, and behind the times, and shows no sign of being willing to retire to the nursing home anytime soon. The NYT is constantly on the case, discovering things in Japan that everyone has known about for years: QR Codes, internet cafes, and even complete bullshit like Japanese people dressing like vending machines.

I’ve never met Martin Fackler (though I have had the pleasure of drunkenly arguing economics with NYT reporter (and LSE grad) Hiroko Tabuchi) and I’m sure he’s very intelligent and amiable. However, his latest piece on Japan entitled Japan Goes from Dynamic to Disheartened is a perfect representation of everything that’s wrong with reporting on Japan, economics, and general consumer trends all wrapped into one. More annoying is getting the story emailed to me by twenty different people just to show how fucked Japan is and, thus, how screwed I am.

It is undeniable that Japanese consumer culture has changed quite a bit since the good old days of bubble and boom, but I would argue that it’s a GOOD thing this is finally happening. Japan might just be on the way to the correction it’s needed for twenty years.

Being more interested in the philosophies underpinning political and economic thought (rather than “politics” and “economics”), my most difficult goal is in defining terms. After all, without defining our terms it’s useless to even begin such discussions without them devolving into nonsensical Ham Sandwich Fallacy (of four terms) squabbles:

Major premise: Nothing is better than eternal happiness.
Minor premise: A ham sandwich is better than nothing.
Conclusion: A ham sandwich is better than eternal happiness.

This may be a simplified example, but without defining the meaning of “nothing”, we can argue all day using the same vocabulary, but never truly understanding one another.

In the case of discussing Japan’s economic situation, we first need to define the meanings of “inflation” and “deflation”. Contrary to what you may have heard, neither term means rising or falling prices, but rather an expansion or contraction of the monetary supply which may or may not lead to price fluctuations. After all, computers and mobile phones have continually gotten cheaper over the last decade, but one would hardly attribute that to deflation. Lower prices, such as those Japan is experiencing, can be a consequence of deflation, but not always!

Back in the days when people carried gold coins for money, inflation was achieved through literal debasement of the currency. People would shake the coins in a bag, or shave off bits and pieces around the edges, in order to get tiny pieces of gold to turn into new coins. Thus, the ridged edges of coins were created to combat this (these days it’s just ornamental). This meant that the value of each coin became less, and prices would go up as a result. These days, in the same manner, central banks around the world create new money, but instead of shaving the coins they just add a couple of decimal points to a spreadsheet somewhere.

With all of the complaining about deflation and prices that are “too low”, I have to wonder, “Who are they too low for?”. God forbid that the rest of us living with budgets and expenses get to spend a little less on our beef bowls.

Yes, Japanese consumers are saving more, but they’ve always been good savers. In fact, it’s a testament to the will of the Japanese people that they still save at all since they haven’t earned anything in interest for years! Rather than bemoaning the newfound frugality of Japanese youth, we should be celebrating it. Savings are a GOOD thing, just as having a currency that’s worth something is ultimately beneficial to an economy. An economy, I might add, that has to import nearly 50% of its food. Why on earth would we want a devalued yen? Sure, Sony can sell more televisions and cars to Americans who can’t afford them anyway, but the rest of us have to eat. Falling prices allow for falling wages as well, thus keeping companies profitable and the rest of the economy employed.

fast route to Japan

2010-11-12T23:25:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the most direct route from Europe to Japan and other important Asian destinations is via Helsinki? Finnair flies to three destinations in Japan, 11 destinations across Asia, and more than 40 European cities- adding up to more than 400 routes. In addition to fast and diverse connections, Finnair offers a modern, environmentally sound fleet and excellent service. Visit viahelsinki.com to compare travel times and distances, download our top tips for Japan (pdf), or book your flights at finnair.com.

A must-see destination

Enjoyable and easy to get around, Japan is a destination that you simply must experience. Thanks to the current euro exchange rate, it is also surprisingly inexpensive. Head for the land of the rising sun and samurais - to feast on sushi and sashimi, bathe in mineral springs, find designer bargains and sing in neon-lit karaoke clubs. On your journey, you will discover a unique blend of ancient cultural traditions and ultramodern lifestyle.

In Japan, each season offers something unique, from cherry blossoms in the spring to the crisp air of the autumn.

VISITING IN THE JAPANESE HOME

2010-11-12T22:41:00.000-08:00

The Japanese will expect that you will be from another culture, but keeping these tips in mind will help the visit go more smoothly. The host family will want to "spoil" you, basically. They will want to have thought of your every need. If they realize you need something not already provided by them, they will be disappointed. Its best to graciously make do with what is provided and be thankful. If anything inconveniences your host, be apologetic. Before entering the house, you will leave your shoes where the others have left them outside the door. Then you will wear slippers provided or just your socks. Before entering a room with tatami mats on the floor(likely to be the main, multi-purpose room), its important to remove your slippers so as not to damage the mats.
For more information, see:
Customs in the Home.

A room at a Ryokan, a Japanese inn. Notice the tatami mats on the floor.

Golden Pavillion

Things to see and do

Unlike most cities, Tokyo is not a city littered with interesting or ancient architecture. Having been almost completely rebuilt after the heavy damage sustained during the Second World War the skyline is dominated by modern hi-rise skyscrapers. While in the suburbs some tradition clings on by its fingertips, certainly central Tokyo can be described as nothing short of a modern metropolis. Most visitors spend a lot of there time in the Ginza shopping district which contains boutiques, shops and galleries of all kinds. Its fashionable status does make Ginza somewhat expensive so unless you want to blow your whole trip's budget in one day it is best to take it easy here. Some of Japans finest museums and galleries are located around the Ueno-Koen park including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Science Museum.

After experiencing the new Japan in Tokyo there is no better place to discover a taste of old Japan than Kyoto. The city boasts literally hundreds of temples, shrines and gardens and was even the nations capital for over a thousand years. Although even here, modern buildings have started to encroach on the tiled roves and pebbled gardens of the temples there is still plenty left to see. There are a number of suberb temples including the Kinkaku-ji temple and the Sanjunsangen temple which houses 1001 statues of Kannon the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Also worth a look is the Imperial Palace in central Kyoto and the Himeji-jo Castle located just outside the city itself.

Those with a penchant for modern history often visit Nagasaki, the city decimated by the second nuclear bomb dropped on Japan during Worl War Two. The city has now been rebuilt as a prosperous example of Japanese urban life but its grisly past is recorded in the A-bomb museum situated at Urakami, the centre of the explosion. Also of interest in the city is the Fukusai-ji Zen Temple, Glover Garden and the Hypocentre Park which has a monument to mark the exact centre of the blast which decimated Nagaski.

Travel

When travelling in the mainland of Japan, it is dubious if the distances warrant air travel, however when travelling throughout the Islands it does become a viable possibility. Several airlines offer domestic flights throughout Japan and its islands including Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines and Japan Air Systems. Tickets can be bought from hotel operators, or at the airports from both airline counters and automatic ticketing machines in the larger airports.

Japan Railways Group is the rail operator throughout Japan. The service is one of the best in the world with some of the most hi-tech trains in existence. Many travellers will be familiar with the famous "bullet trains" which reach speeds in excess of 300km/h, which serve the busiest lines on the Japanese network with some routes offering as many as six trains per hour. Other lines run limited express, express or local services, generally each type of train ryokanries a different supplement with a further supplement being charged for travel in the first class "green" ryokans, seats on which must usually be reserved in advance. Tickets can be bought from stations, most commonly from automated vending machines. For some short distance, local trains, this is the only way to obtain a ticket.

A "Japan Rail Pass" is available, which is usually purchased through Japan Airlines or a hotel operator which is only available to foreign hotel ists. This pass allows unlimited travel on Japan Rail trains, buses and ferries. Passes start from £150 for a 7 day pass and are without a doubt one of the most economical ways to get around in Japan.

Bus travel is highly developed in Japan, but in most cities has been superseded by the underground metro system for local travel, similarly the rail network has mostly replaced the inter-city bus network. Services do still exist in appreciable numbers but the fare system are confusing and almost always highly automated so for most travellers it is wisest to just stick to the train.

Taxis are plentiful but they can be veery expensive, especially at night but if you are travelling in a group and can share the cost they could be a good transport option.

Accommodation

hostel, guesthouses in Japan are sub-divided between Western and Japanese style hostel, guesthouses. While the Western style hostel, guesthouses are much the same as those found in Western Europe the Japanese style ones are a unique experience. On arrival guests are given kimonos and rooms are decked out in traditional Japanese style complete with paper sliding doors and Japanese bathtubs. These Japanese style hostel, guesthouses are known as "ryokan and the Japan Ryokan Association can be contacted for more information. For general information on all kinds of hostel, guesthouses the Japan hostel, guesthouse Association can provide further information.

There are over 400 youth hostels in Japan which are regulated by Japan Youth Hostels Inc. In general guests must be a member of the International Youth Hostel Association although guest passes can be obtained from Japan Youth Hostels Inc's headquarters in Tokyo or from some hotel operators.

Mount Uhud pictures

2010-11-02T04:56:00.001-07:00

My local neighbourhood. New buildings being built. Most people live in apartment buildings. You can see Mount Uhud in the background.

Long view shot of Uhud. The archers mountain is on the right and where the shuhuda (martyrs) are buried is on the left.

Archers mountain.

Archers mountain on the right hand side.

Closeup of the archers mountain.

People at the bottom of the archers mountain infront of Shuhuda Uhud. Behind the blue signs and the wall is the graves of the martyrs of the Battle of Uhud including Hamza radi allahu anhu.

A mosque next to Uhud.

Shuhuda Uhud.

This is a photo from the top of the archers mountain. The graves are inside those walls that you can see in the middle.

I took this photo from the top of the archers mountain of Medina so you can get a general view of it

Another photo from the top of the archers mountain. If you look in the distance on the left hand side, you can see the minarets of the Prophet’s mosque. I was really surprised how close the Battle of Uhud happened.

An obligatory shot of a mountain since I love them so much!

Sunset in Medina

Nabataean capital in Petra, Jordan

2010-11-02T04:56:00.000-07:00

Tombs were carved from the top down.
(Note the started tomb on the right.
Would have been the largest in this area.)

tombs were often similar

but each with an inscription
(warnings not to desecrate)

and often intricate designs over the entrance

some secreted in a ravine
(like in Petra)

a famous one in a large standing rock

or inside a curve in the rock

Philippine

2010-10-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

philippine
philippine sun tattoo

philippines
Philippine Map.
Flag of the Philippines
Philippine

World Biggest Super Tanker

2010-09-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

World Biggest Super Tanker

India, UAE to conclude agreement on security cooperation soon

2010-09-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to expedite the conclusion of their proposed agreements on security cooperation, transfer of sentenced persons and mutual assistance on customs matters.

This was decided at the India-UAE political consultations held on September 19 in Abu Dhabi, a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said here today.

The Indian delegation to the talks was led by Ms Vijayalatha Reddy, Secretary (East) in the MEA while the UAE side was led by Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The release said the high-level consultations reviewed the current state of bilateral relations between the two countries. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the friendly relations based on historic links and agreed to intensify high-level bilateral exchanges to consolidate the ties.

In this context, the need for early convening of the Ministerial-level India-UAE Joint Commission meeting was underscored.

The two sides also expressed satisfaction at the growth of trade and economic links, particularly that they had become the largest trading partners for each other. The discussions focused on UAE investments in the aviation, ports, telecommunications and oil and gas sectors.

The Indian delegation proposed that the India-UAE Trade Policy Forum set up by the two countries to facilitate bilateral trade should be more active. It called for more investment from the UAE in India, especially in the infrastructure sector.

According to the release, the two sides also exchanged views on major regional and global issues, including the Middle East peace process, reform of the United Nations and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. They noted that they had similarlity of perceptions and agreed to have regular consultations.

The two sides acknowledged the positive role of the Indian community in the development of India-UAE relations. The Indian side thanked the UAE for looking after the welfare of the Indian community, the release added.

Sankore Mosque "TIMBUKTU" - Amazing Photos

2010-09-05T03:37:00.000-07:00

Timbuktu (Timbuctoo) (Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu; French: Tombouctou) is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African nation of Mali. It was made prosperous by the tenth mansa of the Mali Empire, Mansa Musa. It is home to Sankore University and other madrasas, and was an intellectual and spiritual capital and centre for the propagation of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its three great mosques, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahya, recall Timbuktu's golden age. Although continuously restored, these monuments are today under threat from desertification.

Populated by Songhay, Tuareg, Fulani, and Mandé people, Timbuktu is about 15 km north of the Niger River. It is also at the intersection of an east–west and a north–south Trans-Saharan trade route across the Sahara to Araouane. It was important historically (and still is today) as an entrepot for rock-salt originally from Taghaza, now from Taoudenni.

Its geographical setting made it a natural meeting point for nearby west African populations and nomadic Berber and Arab peoples from the north. Its long history as a trading outpost that linked west Africa with Berber, Arab, and Jewish traders throughout north Africa, and thereby indirectly with traders from Europe, has given it a fabled status, and in the West it was for long a metaphor for exotic, distant lands: "from here to Timbuktu."

Unique airports in the world

2010-09-05T02:59:00.000-07:00

unique airports

unique airports

unique airports

unique airports

unique airports

unique airports

unique airports

unique airports

Barnes & Noble largest book retailer in the United States

2010-08-30T04:31:00.000-07:00

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered in lower Fifth Avenue in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton Booksellers stores in malls until they announced the liquidation of the chain.

The company is known for large, upscale retail outlets, many of which contain a café serving Starbucks Coffee, and for competitive discounting of bestsellers. Most stores also sell magazines, newspapers, DVDs, graphic novels, gifts, games, and music. Video games and related items were sold in the company's GameStop retail outlets until October 2004, when the division was spun off into an independent company.

As of October 2009, the company operates 777 stores in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in addition to 636 college bookstores, which serves nearly 4 million students and 250,000 faculty members across the country.

On Aug 3, 2010, the company announced that its board was considering a sale of the company, possibly to an investor group led by its chairman, Leonard Riggio.

Masco

2010-08-30T02:44:00.000-07:00

masco
masco city
masco city pictures
masco

Beautiful Places in USA on Your Desktop

2010-08-17T09:16:00.001-07:00

Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Gateway Arch, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Golden Gate Bridge From Baker Beach, San Francisco, California, USA

Lady Liberty, USA

Moon Over Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, USA

Scout Sculpture, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Seattle Space Needle, Washington

Amazing Places

2010-08-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Malaga city

2010-08-11T23:51:00.000-07:00

malaga city
malaga
malaga city
malaga
malaga

Istanbul (Greek

2010-08-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

Istanbul (Greek: Konstantinoupolis, historically Byzantium and later Constantinople) is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. The city covers 25 districts of the Istanbul province. It is located at 41° N 29° E, on the Bosphorus strait, and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul (Constantinople) served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330-395), the Byzantine Empire (395-1204 and 1261-1453), the Latin Empire (1204-1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The "Historic Areas of Istanbul" were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

belgium antwerp Origin of the name

2010-07-28T03:16:00.000-07:00

History

Origin of the name

According to folklore, and as celebrated by the statue in front of the town hall, the city got its name from a legend involving a mythical giant called Antigoon who lived near the river Scheldt. He exacted a toll from those crossing the river, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river Scheldt. Eventually, the giant was slain by a young hero named Brabo, who cut off the giant's own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen—akin to Old English hand and wearpan (= to throw), that has changed to today's warp

In favour of this folk etymology is the fact that hand-cutting was indeed practised in Europe, the right hand of a man who died without issue being cut off and sent to the feudal lord as proof of main-morte. However, John Lothrop Motley argues that Antwerp's name derives from an 't werf (on the wharf). Aan 't werp (at the warp) is also possible. This 'warp' (thrown ground) would be a man made hill, just high enough to remain dry at high tide, whereupon a farm would be built. Another word for werp is pol (hence polders).

The most prevailing theory is that the name originated in the Gallo-Roman period and comes from the Latin antverpia. Antverpia would come from Ante (before) Verpia (deposition, sedimentation), indicating land that forms by deposition in the inside curve of a river. Note that the river Scheldt, before a transition period between 600 to 750, followed a different track. This must have coincided roughly with the current ringway south of the city, situating the city within a former curve of the river.

Histroy of the hong kong ocean park

2010-07-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Ocean Park Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港海洋公園), commonly known as Ocean Park, is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. Founded in 1977 by the then Governor of Hong Kong Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park has now grown to about 35 attractions and rides. The park has won several awards, including The World's Seventh Most Popular Amusement Park and 33rd Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the World by Forbes.

In fiscal year 2007/2008, Ocean Park received 5.03 million visitors awarding it the position of the world's number 15 theme park by annual attendance ahead of rival Hong Kong Disneyland's 4.5 million visitors. Covering an area of 870,000 square metres of land, the park is separated by a large mountain into two areas, The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland) respectively. The areas can be reached by a 1.5 km long cable car system, a shuttle bus, or the Ocean Express (train). As the Headland comprises several hills, visitors can also opt to take the world's second longest outdoor escalator.

The theme park currently has 19 rides, including two rollercoasters, but also houses 11 animal exhibits, such as a Giant panda habitat, a jelly fish and Chinese sturgeon aquarium, as well as a four-story aquarium displaying more than 2,000 fish.

Besides being an amusement park, Ocean Park Hong Kong also operates observatories, well developed laboratories, an education department and a Whales and Dolphins Fund.

Ocean Park Hong Kong was the first institution in the world to have success in artificial insemination of bottlenose dolphins, and developed numerous new breeds of goldfish.

In September 2007, Ocean Park Hong Kong increased its ticket prices by 12% and 14% to take advantage of the Golden Week Holidays.

In July 2009, Ocean Park Hong Kong announced that they would increase their ticket prices by 20% and 25% to pay a loan.

History

Opened on 10 January 1977 by the then Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park was constructed with HK$150 million funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club on land was provided free by the Hong Kong Government. Between 1982 and 1984, The Hong Kong Jockey Club allocated a further HK$240 million into developing facilities at Tai Shue Wan and thrill rides at the Summit.

Ocean Park ceased to be a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club on 1 July 1987, becoming its own statutory body, with a Government-appointed Board. The Hong Kong Jockey Club established a HK$200 million trust to ensure the Park’s continued development. At present, Ocean Park is managed by the Ocean Park Corporation, a financially-independent, not-for-profit organisation.

most beautiful par in the world pics

2010-07-24T23:59:00.000-07:00

ocean park
ocean park
ocean park
ocean park
ocean park
ocean park
ocean park

ocean park of the world

2010-07-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

ocean park
ocean park
ocean park
ocean park
ocean park

Belgium traveling country

2010-07-17T00:13:00.000-07:00

belgium

belgium
belgium

belgium
belgium
belgium
belgium
belgium
belgium
belgium

Travel to poland

2010-07-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

The Commonwealth collapsed in 1795, and Poland's territory was partitioned among the Kingdom of Prussia, the Russian Empire, and Austria. Poland regained its independence as the Second Polish Republic in 1918, after World War I, but two decades later it was occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union at the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Poland lost over six million citizens in the war and emerged several years later as the People's Republic of Poland under Soviet influence.

During the Revolutions of 1989, communist rule was overthrown, and soon after Poland became what is constitutionally known as the "Third Polish Republic". Poland is a unitary state, made up of sixteen Voivodeships (Polish: Województwo), Poland is a member of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Poland officially the Republic of Poland

2010-07-15T01:24:00.000-07:00

Poland officially the Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska), is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometres (120,726 sq mi), it the 69th largest country in the world and the 9th largest in Europe. Poland has a population of over 38 million people, which makes it the 34th most populous country in the world and the sixth most populous member of the European Union.

The establishment of a Polish state is often identified with the adoption of Christianity by its ruler Mieszko I in 966, when the state covered territory similar to that of present-day Poland. The Kingdom of Poland was formed in 1025, and in 1569 it cemented a long association with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by signing the Union of Lublin, forming the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

holland wind turbine images

2010-07-12T04:21:00.000-07:00

holland wind turbine
holland wind turbine
holland wind turbine
holland wind turbine
holland wind turbine

Galapagos Islands In Ecuador pics

2010-07-05T00:39:00.000-07:00

Galapagos Islands is are magnificentand the beautiful island. The Galápagos islands and its surrounding waters are part of a province, a national park, and a biological marine reserve. The Islands are underwater volcanic formations which surface as an isolated paradise of flora and fauna. Where else can you coexist with penguins, sea lions, iguanas and hundreds of other exotic species.

Beauty Bay in Canada

2010-07-05T00:38:00.000-07:00

Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada
Canada

Beauty Bay in Canada

The Bay of Fundy is a bay located on the Atlantic coast of North America. Home to the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy is a 270 km (170 mile) long ocean bay that stretches between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Canada's east coast.ach day 100 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy during one tide cycle more than the combined flow of the world’s freshwater rivers. So, this place is a beautiful and interested travel destination.

Africa

2010-06-29T03:56:00.000-07:00

map of africa
map of africa
africa
africa
africa
africa
africa
africa

New york

2010-06-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

new york
times square new york city
gta iv new york city
new york
new york

Amazing Castles from Around the World

2010-06-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

1. Château de BeynacChâteau de Beynac is a French castle, located in Beynac-et-Cazenac. Built in the Middle Ages, it sits on a cliff overlooking the Dordogne River.

2. Bodiam Castle Bodiam Castle sits next to Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dallyngrigge as defense against French invasion.

3. Schloss MoritzburgSchloss Moritzburg is in Moritzburg, Germany. Originally built as a hunting place for Duke Moritz of Saxony, this castle was continually amended and remodeled.

4. Torre De BelémIt was constructed in the 16th century in Lisbon, Portugal. Since then, it has become the honor of the city, representing Portuguese strength.

5. Taj MahalTaj Mahal in Agra, India, was created in the honor of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is known for its beauty, spirit, and “jewel” of the Muslim art.

6. Kumamoto CastleIt is in Kumamoto, Japan is open for tours and sightseeing. While mostly built with concrete, it has a number of wooden buildings within, which were burnt during previous battles but continually remained intact until today.

7. Castelo de Santo ÂngeloIt was built in Rome by the Emperor Hadrian. It was originally created as a tomb but was mostly used as a defense fortress. From its top place, a wonderful view of Rome is presented.

8. Château de ChaumontChâteau de Chaumont in France was constructed by Eudes II, Count of Blois, in the 10th century. It was originally built as defense from enemies, but was burnt entirely in 1465 by the word of Louis XI. Charles I d’Amboise began rebuilding the castle that same year, but after some break, it was finally finished at 1510 by his son, Charles II d’Amboise de Chaumont.

9.Bamburgh CastleBamburgh Castle is a wonderous beauty in Northumberland, England.

10. Château de ChenonceauChâteau de Chenonceau in France, was was designed by Philibert Delorme and built in the 11th century.

11. Eilean DonanEilean Donan is in Scotland, close to the village of Dornie. It is named after St. Donan, a celtic saint of the Dark Ages.

America famouse places pictures

2010-06-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
Latin America
north america

Hong Kong photos

2010-06-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Hong Kong and Poverty

Hong Kong is a complex city with an extremely long history. Hong Kong has been handed around, and had many changes happen to it that are still in effect today, and is still ever changing. Many people have inhabited Hong Kong for along time all the way since stone tools were first being used. Hong Kong has had a lot of wars with other countries and handed around from territory to territory also. This complex history, and different rulers shaping Hong Kong, has slowly led it to be a thriving city to having a large percentage of their people in poverty. Real issues are happening in Hong Kong with their people in poverty, which needs to be dealt with very soon. Hong Kong is becoming filled with many people who live in poor households. Poverty is important because it makes so many people's lives extremely miserable and depressing. Many people have to endure every day barely getting enough money to live now, and other side effects are happening because of it. This city is going to be in serious trouble.

History of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has been inhabited for over 6,000 years, and was part of the mainland China during the Qin Dynasty. Later, when opium was being imported to China in far too great amounts from Britain, the opium wars began. China wanted to stop opium from being imported into their country, while the British wanted to continue selling to get people addicted. This earned them lots of money. The opium wars started around 1829, and Britain won the war. They then continued importing and selling opium to China. Hong Kong was the main trading post of the western world and China, so it was a real convenient place for the British to import their opium. The British, after winning the war, took control over Hong Kong and leased out two other islands of Hong Kong for 99 years in 1898. While the British were in control over Hong Kong, the city was now taking a very positive turn under better rule. Hong Kong was a free port, and was used by the British. Many people had good education and jobs, which lead Hong Kong to be a very wealthy city, with some glitches, but pretty fair rules. During World War II, the Japanese invaded Hong Kong, and seized control of it. When this happened, the economy of Hong Kong plummeted straight down, and became extremely bad. Hong Kong became very corrupt, and many famines occurred along with extreme amounts of money being lost due to the war. The many people that had fled away from the communists in China to Hong Kong were greatly affected because there was now such a large population. Many people fell into extreme poverty during this time. After World War Two was over, Hong Kong got handed back over to the British in 1945. The UK then restored Hong Kong quickly to what it used to be with many immigrants coming now to Hong Kong from the main part of China, for many different reasons. Then Hong Kong was back on its feet again. Hong Kong became very industrialized, and had many trades and affairs with different countries. Hong Kong was at this point kind of getting out of the way for the British and the United Kingdom to be dealing with. They had other problems, and their lease on the other two islands was coming close to running out. When the lease finally did run out, the British gave back the main part of Hong Kong, along with the other two parts they had leased out 99 years ago, under certain agreements on July 1, 1997. The agreement was that China would get back Hong Kong, as long as for fifty years it was a free part of their country, with their own laws, rules, and regulations. After this hand over, many people in Hong Kong revolted against this. They did not believe that the communists in China would keep their word, and fled to other countries. This is the main cause of the modern poverty in Hong Kong. China left Hong Kong alone for the main part, but is slowly trying to edge in and apply their own rules to the city. With Hong Kong being all on its own without the United Kingdom to help it, it is struggling to keep up. Especially with many of their people fleeing, the smaller population and no help is making it a very poor country with many people in extreme poverty. This is one of the main reasons that Hong Kong has many inhabitants with low incomes and bad jobs.

Hong Kong's Geography

Hong Kong is a small island that is part of China in the South-China Sea. It has over 260 other smaller islands that are parts of it also. Part of Hong Kong is connected to the main part of China, and many are small islands. For the most part, Hong Kong is very hilly and has its highest point reach to 3,140 feet. Hong Kong is hilly because it does have a few volcanic structures, which have not erupted since 1874, with little damage being done. Some of the new territories in Hong Kong are flatter, and much less hilly. Hong Kong is trying to slowly become greener with a more earth-friendly environment. Forty percent of the overall land in Hong Kong is part of a country park or other recreational park, which is trying to help the environment. About 7% of the land in Hong Kong is farm land, and helps the city survive. Much of the land in Hong Kong is nice, but some of the areas also have lots of poor people. In some of the city parts there are more poor people, and in some other small islands where everyone is on their own with no help. That is what the land in Hong Kong is like.

Hong Kong picture

2010-06-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong, China nightline.

Yep, you heard that right: former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will travel to Hong Kong for her first commercial speaking engagement, a keynote address at the CLSA Investors’ Forum September 23. Given that foreign policy was a soft spot for Palin during the 2008 campaign, this will give her a chance to boost her foreign policy cred (and she’ll be able to see Taiwan from her hotel room).

It could also boost her business cred, while she’s at it, depending on what her speech focuses on…”Our keynote speakers are notable luminaries who often address topics that go beyond traditional finance such as geopolitics,” a CLSA spokeswoman said in a statement. Past luminaries include Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Alan Greenspan.

America famouse places

2010-05-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
America famouse places
Latin America
north america

China in the Springtime

2010-05-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Filed in archive A World Away by Greg Cruey on April 29, 2009

My friend Sara Naumann has a good set of resources available on China in the Springtime. According to Sara, "It's a great time to visit China. Bring your rain gear and enjoy mild temperatures and fewer tourist crowds."

Sara has a long list of things to do and places to go this time of year in China. It's a good time to hike the Great Wall. Hangzhou's lakes and gardens are beautiful this time of year. Most of the major cities have pleasant enough whether that you can tour the back streets and dine outside.

My favorite suggestion: Watch the rice grow in Guilin...

Search of a Cool Summer: Kunming, China pictures

2010-05-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

During the 52 days between June 20th and August 10th it was never warmer than 80F degrees in Kunming in 2002. The temperature didn't reach 75 degrees on 24 of those days. Temperatures at night fell below 65 degrees on all but eight nights. About half of those days saw rain.

Kunming is no stranger to tourism. Almost a million foreign visitors a year come to the city. Another two million Chinese citizens vacation in the city each year. And with good reason. The city's history stretches over two millenniums. During the 19th Century it was a gateway for trade between China on the one hand and the French and British colonial powers in Burma and Vietnam on the other.

Kunming is something of a garden city. The city's botanical garden is worth at least a day.

Orchids, azaleas, camellias and much more fill the garden. The botanical garden includes over 4000 species of tropical and subtropical flora.

Adding to the scenic feel of Kunming, the city sets on the edge of Dianchi Lake. The lake is about 220 square miles, making it one of China's largest inland bodies of water. Sailing on the lake is popular, especially on nights when the moon is out. A large forest reserve borders the lake and can be seen from the city.

Not far outside the city on the shore of Dianchi Lake is the Yunnan Ethnic Village. The "village" is a large ethnic theme park with displays on each of Yunnan's 26 tribal minorities. Some of the most colorful and enchanting cultures in the world are on display in the Village.

A common day trip from Kunming is the Stone Forest. This collection of interesting natural rock formations is a little over 50 miles from the city. Daily organized tours make the Stone Forest easy to visit. A shorter trip is Mingfeng Mountain. Mingfeng is a mixture of scenic beauty, gardens, and historical sites - including the Golden Temple. The temple is home to China's largest bronze-domed hall.

South America

2010-05-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

Are you confused to choose a place for your vacation? Do you want to explore the different side of the world? If you are feeling so, then plan your trip to South America. This place offers wide range of vacation spots, which give you a pleasing vacation.

The vacation spots in South America are very different and you have a world full of places to explore in S.A. You will never run out of places while exploring South America.

You can travel around and see different places such as the forest, beaches, mountains etc. South America has several world wonders in the country’s heritage. You can explore the country through different means, air, water and land.

Traveling freaks from all over the world come to South America in all possible seasons. There is no particular limitation for the travelers to visit the country.

Deyaar tower pictures

2010-05-26T01:10:00.000-07:00

deyaar tower
deyaar tower
deyaar tower
deyaar tower
deyaar tower
deyaar tower
deyaar tower

Executive Heights pictures

2010-05-26T01:01:00.001-07:00

Executive Heights
Executive Heights
Executive Heights
Executive Heights
Executive Heights
Executive Heights

Executive Heights

Emirates Crown 45th-tallest building in the world.

2010-05-26T01:01:00.000-07:00

Emirates Crown is a 63-floor residential tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tower has a structural height of 296 m (971 ft). Construction of the Emirates Crown began in 2005, and was completed in 2008. Upon completion, it stood as the 6th-tallest building in Dubai, and 45th-tallest building in the world.

Emirates Crown
Emirates Crown
Emirates Crown
Emirates Crown
Emirates Crown
Emirates Crown

Norway pictures

2010-05-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Norway
Norway lofoten
Norway
cheap calling to Norway
Norway

Diffrent Beautifull Places

2010-05-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Capitol Reef, National Park, Utah

Arches National Park, Utah

The Colorado river, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Monnickendam, The Netherlands

Ein Ovdat, Israel

Thousand Islands, Canada and US

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Pisa, Italy

Arches National Park, Utah

Karlsbad (Karlo-Vivary), Czech Republique

Niagra falls, USA, Canada

Acoma ("Sky City"), New Mexico

"Treasure Island", Las Vegas, Nevada

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Nara, Japan

Kyoto, Japan

Heidelberg, Germany

Naeroy Valley, Norway

Jerusalem

Half Dome, Yosemite Valey, California

Pinnackles National Park, California

Ovdat, Israel

Great Malvern train station, UK

Sacre Cuer, Paris, France

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Great Malvern, UK

Gaudi's Casa Batllo, Barcelona, Spain

Gaudi's Casa Mila, Barcelona, Spain

William Wallace memorial, Stirling, Scotland

The "Diving board" at Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, CA

Haifa, Israel, where I begun...

Norway beautiful places

2010-05-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Norway

Norway Pavillion Reviews

The area of Norway resembles a Norwegian town square with its cobble stone courtyard and a replica of a 14th century fortress found in Oslo. A stave church mimics 13th Century medieval craftsmanship.

For kids, there's nothing better than being able to work off some energy at the Viking ship playground.

Maelstrom Attraction/Ride

Maelstrom Reviews

Norway's attraction is Maelstrom. It does have Fast Pass but unless you're visiting during a peak time, there's rarely more than a 10 minute wait.

Maelstrom uses a 16 passenger Viking-style boat that takes you through a 10th century Viking village and a mythical forest where you'll encounter trolls who cast a curse on the boats. From here, the boat starts going backwards before it reaches a waterfall and again changes course. (If you look up at the building, you'll see where the boats stop and head forward.)

Next you pass a grand fjord and continue on through a storm by a North Sea oil rig. You exit in a quaint Norwegian village setting. This is a holding area which opens onto a theater where a film about Norway is shown. (You'll find that most guests make a mad dash straight through to the exit.) It's not that the short movie is awful, it's just not something you need to see again and again.

As with most of Disney's attractions, you exit through a store. Most everyone likes to put on set of Viking horns and pose for a pix by the giant troll found in the shop.

Be warned, the Geir fragrances sold here are addictive and are hard to find unless you have a Nordstrom's near where you live.

Dining

At Akershus, there's 'Princess Storybook Dining' for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. If you forgot your tiara, there's a limited variety of Disney Princess merchandise for sale nearby.

Be sure you make a dining reservation and be prepared to wait. It's rare to walk past this venue and not see a lot of little princesses (and princes) waiting to be seated.

Outdoors, under shade, the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe (menu) serves open-faced sandwiches and pastries such as the specialty Kringles (candied pretzels) and the delicious Lefses (thin potato bread rolled with a cinnamon, sugar & butter filling). Specialty coffees are available.

Shopping

Store Photos

The Puffin’s Roost: Curios and Collectibles is the main shop located in the Norway pavilion. You will find a large selection of books on trolls, Vikings, Scandinavian cuisine, Norwegian Proverbs, and Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales. If tasting some of the local snacks is more your style, check out the chocolate, Swedish preserves and Nordic sweets. This shop offers an extensive collection of sterling silver jewelry, including, OpRo Designs, Hilde Fostveit, and Hasla. The Norwegian scents sold here for men and women are Geir: The Power of Norway and Laila: The essence of Norway. They offer Norwegian trolls in all shapes and sizes, Konge Tinn Royal pewter, Linie Aquavit, and Tommeliten Knives. The clothing for men, women, and children are made by Dale of Norway and Helly Hansen.

To say “hello” in Norway, say “god dag” (goo-DAHG).

NORWAY VACATION PLACE

2010-05-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Norway consists of the western and northern section of the Scandinavian peninsula, as well as the arctic island archipelago Svalbard plus Jan Mayen. To the east of Norway lies Sweden, Finland and Russia. To the west, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. To the north is the Barents Sea, to the south, the North Sea.

The Vikings
From 800-1050 AD, the Norsemen entered the European arena in a serious way. They came suddenly and intensely and frightened the daylights out of established society, which certainly was used to war, but not to the surprise tactics employed by the Vikings. The Vikings were not just warriors and seafarers. They were also peaceful farmers and merchants. They came from what today are Denmark, Sweden and Norway. In Oslo, there are wonderful opportunities to become familiar with the Vikings and their age, especially their sea-worthy sailing vessels. Several of these beautiful long ships can be seen at the Viking ship museum and in the theme park Vikingland it is possible to get a good impression of how life may have been in a Viking village of that time. (Source: The Norwegian Ministry of State)

Landscape of Norway
Nature "Furrowed and weather-worn", says Norway's national anthem. Indeed, if it weren't for the Gulf Stream, no one but polar bears would thrive this far north. Thanks to the Gulf Stream and the Midnight Sun, it is possible to live in this otherwise uninhabitable land.

world highest buildings

2010-05-15T01:35:00.002-07:00

Marina Crown pictures

2010-05-15T01:35:00.001-07:00

Marina Crown
Marina Crown
Marina Crown
Marina Crown
Marina Crown
Marina Crown
Marina Crown
Marina Crown

Dubai Marina Tower

2010-05-15T01:35:00.000-07:00

The Marina Crown is a 52-floor tower in the Dubai Marina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tower has a total structural height of 207 m (679 ft). Construction of Marina Crown was completed in 2006. The 54 floors of the building also benefits from squash court, swimming pool, gymnasium and underground parking for residents.
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower
Marina Tower

dubai adax park buildings pictures

2010-05-15T01:23:00.001-07:00

adax park building
adax park building
adax park building
adax park building
adax park building
adax park building
adax park building
adax park building

Grosvenor Square building history

2010-05-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

Grosvenor Square (pronounced /ˈɡroʊvnər/) is a large garden square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London, England. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Dukes of Westminster, and takes its name from their surname, "Grosvenor".
history:
Sir Richard Grosvenor obtained a licence to develop Grosvenor Square and the surrounding streets in 1710, and development is believed to have commenced in around 1721. Grosvenor Square was one of the three or four most fashionable residential addresses in London from its construction until the Second World War, with numerous leading members of the aristocracy in residence.

The early houses were generally of five or seven bays, with basement, three main stories and an attic. Some attempt was made to produce impressive groupings of houses, and Colen Campbell produced a design for a palatial east side to the square featuring thirty Corinthian columns but this was not carried out and in the end most of the houses were built to individual designs. There were mews behind all four sides.

Many of the houses were rebuilt later in the 18th century or during the 19th century, generally acquiring an extra storey when this happened. Number 26 was rebuilt in 1773-74 for the 11th Earl of Derby by Robert Adam, and is regarded as one of the architect's finest works and as a seminal example of how grandeur of effect and sophisticated planning might be achieved on a confined site. It was demolished and rebuilt again in the 1860s. Nearly all of the older houses were demolished during the 20th century and replaced with blocks of flats in a neo-Georgian style, hotels and embassies.

The central garden, which was originally reserved for the use of the occupants of the houses as was standard in a London square, is now a public park managed by The Royal Parks. Access to the western side of the square is severely restricted by the very obvious security measures around the U.S. Embassy. At the western end of the garden there is a small memorial dedicated to the British victims of the September 11 attacks. The memorial includes an elliptical granite block engraved with the names of the victims and the poem For Katrina's Sun-Dial, by Henry van Dyke.

American presence:

Grosvenor Square has been the traditional home of the official American presence in London since John Adams established the first American mission to the Court of St. James's in 1785. Adams lived, from 1785 to 1788, in the house which still stands on the corner of Brook and Duke Streets.

In the 1920s, four of the Bentley Boys - Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin, Glen Kidston and Bernard Rubin - took adjacent flats in the fashionable south-east corner of the square, where their day-long parties became something of social legend. So common was the sight of their large, green sports cars parked ad hoc outside their flats, that for many years London cab drivers referred to the spot as "Bentley Corner".

During the Second World War, Dwight D. Eisenhower established a military headquarters at 20 Grosvenor Square, and during this time the square was nicknamed "Eisenhower Platz". Until 2009, the United States Navy continued to use this building as its headquarters for United States Naval Forces Europe. A statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt, sculpted by Sir William Reid Dick, stands in the square, as does a later statue of Eisenhower, sculpted by Robert Lee Dean.

The former American Embassy of 1938–1960 on the square was purchased by the Canadian government and renamed Macdonald House, and is part of the Canadian High Commission in London.

In 1960, a new United States Embassy was built on the western side of Grosvenor Square. A large and architecturally significant modern design by Eero Saarinen; at the time it was, however, a controversial insertion into a mainly Georgian and neo-Georgian district of London. Since 2001, a series of anti-terrorist devices have been installed around the embassy, and the road running along the front of the embassy has been closed completely to traffic. In 2006, the Grosvenor Square Safety Group residents association took out advertisements in The Washington Post and The Times, accusing the Metropolitan Police and local governments of a "moral failure" for not closing two other roads adjacent to the embassy.

In 2008, the United States chose a site for a new embassy in the Nine Elms area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, south of the River Thames. Construction of the new Embassy of the United States in London is expected to begin in 2012 or 2013, with relocation completed by 2016 or 2017. The Grosvenor square property has reportedly been purchased by the Qatari Diar investment group. In October, 2009, English Heritage granted Grade II listed status to the building. The listing means that the new owners will not be allowed to change the facade, which includes the 35-foot-wingspread gilded-aluminum eagle that hovers above the main entrance.

When the embassy moves to its new location, the United States government presence on Grosvenor Square, after two hundred thirty years, will come to an end.

Grosvenor SquareGrosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor SquareGrosvenor Square

Usa famous place pictures

2010-05-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Usa famous place
Usa famous place
Usa famous place
Usa famous place
Usa famous place

Malaysia style asia

2010-05-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

I will travel to Malaysia. It is in south of Asia. It is a beautiful place. People there speak Malay language. I decided to travel there, so I booked ticket at second class ( business ). I will spend there only three days at the Rotana Hotel. I will travel there with my brother at mid- year holidays. The weather there is always sunny and sometimes cloudy. In summer it is hot but in winter its cold. The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur. We will make tours a round Malaysia in two days by bus. I will call my friends using Malaysian phone services. There are a lot of shops there. There are many parks and zoos. , that is very good for walking. The water surrounds that country from three sides so Malaysia has a lot of beautiful coasts. The cost of this trip will include ticket : 4100 , transportation (bus) : 1850 , hotel : 10000 , food : 1000 , shopping : 3400 , tours :5000 , total : 24,950

U.S.A famous place

2010-05-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

I planned a trip to the United States of America (US or USA) where I’ll visit some famous places there like the Statue of liberty and the White House. I’m planning to stay there for three days only.I went to the World Wide Web and searched for information about the United States. I found that it lies in central North America between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.Emirates airline has a variety of different type of tickets, where each has its own advantages. There are three kinds, Economy class, business class and first class. I’m going to the U.S. with business class. The ticket will cost me about 2,000 DHS.

Iran pictures

2010-05-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

Despite frequent warnings by the experts, one of the most unique Parthian sites in Iran-proper known as the Kuh-e Khajeh (Parthian Ushida) remains in danger of total destruction, and the cultural authorities have not take any action to ensure its protection.

Speaking with the Persian service of ISNA on Wednesday, Rasul Haj-Mousavi, the director of Sistan’ Cultural Heritage Base (SCHB) said: “the daily destruction of the unique Parthian site has become very serious. [Saving] the site should become a matter of concern for Iran Cultural Heritage and Organisation (ICHTO), and [its protection] should be considered as a national programme.”

Haj-Mousavi said the two main difficulties that SCHB is facing are, “ICHTO would not follow the SCHB’s recommendation, when comes to prioritising the sites in the province for allocating the necessary budget, and also the lack of manpower. SCHB is a very large archaeological base, with no manpower.”

He recommended the protection of Khuh-e Khwajeh should become the priority and called for allocation of the whole of next years budget to save the site.

He added “a strong team of experts needed to conduct necessary work including surveying, cataloguing and damage-studies, which should lead to a restoration.”

As a sign of protest, Haj-Mosavi has submitted his resignation to ICHTO a few months ago, which was turned down. He submits his resignation for the second time.

In June 2006, Mohammadali Ebrahimi, the director of Sistan and Baluchestan province’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department asserted that the area badly needs vegetation to neutralize the destructive impacts of the strong winds, which occur for four months of the year with speeds reaching 120 km per hour. Despite his warnings in August 2006 one of the eastern walls of the palace has collapsed.

While the Iranian heritage sites are in desperate need of funding in order to be rescued from total destruction, the Islamic Republic is spending billions of dollars of the Iranian assets every year in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. In June 2008, Iran Focus revealed that the regime spends $2.5B every year on activities in Iraq, in which a fraction of the money that is being spent for futile aims could be used to save thousands of heritage sites like Kuh-e Khajeh.

Historical Background (by Khodayar Bahrami):

Mount Khwajeh, also spelled Kuh-e Khajeh, Kuh-i Khaja, is a flat-topped black basalt mountain located 30 km southwest of the town of Zabol and is located on an island in the middle of Hamun lake, in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

The trapezoid-shaped basalt lava, situated 609 meters from the sea level, with a diameter ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 kilometers covering an area of 40,000 square meters, is the only natural height left behind the Sistan area. It is here we can find a citadel with palaces, fire temple, a pilgrimage centre and graveyard. Also there are number of small temples (possibly Mithraist or Anahit), known to the locals as the “Kouchakchal Ganjeh”.

The Kuh-e Khwajeh historical complex is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Iran and the biggest model of unbaked mud brick architecture remaining in Sistan region, which dates back to the Parthian dynasty (248 BCE-224 CE).

The ancient site was identified by A. Stein, E. Herzfeld, and was investigated in part by G. Gullini in a short expedition conducted in the 1960. According to his findings the palace and the fire temple were already in existence in the Parthian period. The ruins on the southern slope, dates back to 1st century BCE and it is still known as Kuk-u Kohzadh.

Stein also discovered a Buddhist monastery at Mth. Khajeh in 1916. Roman Ghirshman pointed out that the art of Mth. Khajeh predates Gandhara art which disproves the widely accepted notion that Buddhism spread from Nepal or Eastern India, and it claimed that Mth. Khajeh was Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Gotama.

Stein’s work clearly shows that Buddhism was born in Iran but was later nurtured in modern India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

However, Khwajeh Mountain Complex is greatly respected by followers of the three faiths of Zoroastrian, Christianity and Islam and considered as a holy place. The mountain has been named after the mausoleum of “Khwajeh Mehdi”, one of the sympathizers of Alavi rulers, which is situated on this mountain, often referred under its Islamic name Kuh-i Ushida.

The oldest and by far the most important structure of the site is an ancient fortress found on the eastern slope, referred to under various connotations such as Rostam’s castle, the Kāferūn castle, Kohan-Dež, etc.

Unique murals decorated the walls of the fortress, few of which have survived. Recently, a complete documentation of the site was carried out. In addition, partial restoration and fortification of the castle were conducted on its walls and arches.

Egypt country

2010-05-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

Travelling Egypt must be a planned affair undertaken through a tour group. This is because Egypt is not a place you can enjoy on your own, especially for the first time. Further, you need to prepare yourself mentally for this destination. Some of the factors are mentioned below:

Change in the scenario : If you are resident of a country that is large in size and small in population, then be ready for an overwhelming change with Egypt, which is small in area and large in population. You will come across extremely crowded places lots of people and lots of cars.

Dress Behavior : Since it is a country different from others, the people possess a conservative attitude towards everything. Behavior such as kissing and hugging in the public, wearing revealing clothes, etc, is not seen as appropriate behavior and sometimes people may even retaliate. If you respect their culture and understand their traditions, the people will also welcome you with an open heart.

Water issues : Water is a problem in Egypt, therefore, people who are not used to it must only drink bottled water. One must avoid salads (washed in water) and Ice (frozen water). Some tourists prefer to clean even their teeth with the bottled water, but it is not necessary, as the water does not reach inside your body. Things like tea and coffee are safe as the water in them is boiled.

Hygiene : The toilet conditions in this place are not so well. You will even find toilets without water connections and toilet paper. For a piece of paper, you will find an attendant offering it to you for some money. Whether you accept it or not, he will expect the money anyways. This is because the wages of such attendants are meager and they depend on such tips for money. It is always recommended to finish your activities in the hotel itself and just in case the need arises, carry a lot of wet wipes with you wherever you go. It is necessary for cleaning your hands often and keeping yourself clean from the dusty environment of Egypt.

Tip Culture : Baksheesh is the term used for tip in Egypt. It will be asked for almost anything. Even if a small boy simply converses with you, he will ask for baksheesh. Therefore, it is always recommended not to be moved by such appeals of the people or otherwise you will lose all your money within hours. You can give your tour guide some tip as he deserves, and also to the driver. An idea to avoid giving tips is to buy lots of cheap pens and give to the children who ask for Baksheesh. They scamper off happily after taking the pen! Nevertheless, beware, as the boys will come back with more friends to get more pens.

Female Tourists : The female tourists must take special care in their conduct, as the locals in Egypt are not so emancipated and not aware about the tolerant behavior in other countries. There are cases where women are teased even by little boys even when they are wearing completely covered clothing. It is recommended to the women to remain in their tour group and avoid roaming alone. However, Egyptian government is very protective of its visitors because Tourism is the lifeblood of Egypt. Therefore, never hesitate to reach the nearest tourist police if the need arises.

Shopping : The seller follows the potential buyer most of the time. Do not be scared, be firm yet polite, and say “La Shukran” and keep walking if you do not want to buy. Regardless of this, Egypt is good place for shopping. You will find a variety of items to buy on cheap prices.

Map of Egypt

2010-05-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

Egypt is one of the cradles of civilization in the Middle East. Traces of early man were found in Egypt dating back as early as 700,000 years ago. Egypt and ancient Canaan to the north probably served as the bridges by which successive waves of humans: homo erectus, homo habilis, homo neanderthalensis and homo sapiens, evidently migrated out of Africa and into Mesopotamia and Europe. Ancient Egyptians used a phonetic-pictograph writing called hieroglyphics by the Ancient Greeks. This system evolved from portrayal of pictures of objects to using stylized representation of objects to represent sound combinations and compose words, to a phonetic alphabet much like our own. Ancient Egypt boasted considerable achievements in art, medicine, astronomy and literature, and was the hub of civilization in much of the Near East and North Africa.

The unique history of ancient Egypt and visible monuments to that history helped Egyptians preserve a distinct national consciousness, and to remain a separate entity during the years of Arab, Mameluke and Ottoman conquest.

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2010-05-08T03:48:00.003-07:00

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Dubai Metro network in the United Arab Emirates city

2010-05-08T03:48:00.002-07:00

The Dubai Metro (in Arabic: مترو دبي) is a driverless, fully automated metro network in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. The Red Line is partly operational, the Green Line is still under construction, and further lines are planned. These first two lines run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere. All trains and stations are air conditioned with platform edge doors to make this possible.

The first section of the Red Line, covering 10 stations, was ceremonially inaugurated at 9:09:09 PM on September 9, 2009, by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, with the line opening to the public at 6 AM on September 10.^[4] The Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula.^[5] More than 110,000 people, which is nearly 10 per cent of Dubai’s population, used the Metro in its first two days of operation. The Dubai Metro carried 10 million passengers from launch on 9 September 2009 to 9 February 2010 with 11 stations operational on the Red Line.

Construction

Once the 20 km Green line opens, the Dubai Metro will overtake the title of longest automated metro network from the Vancouver Skytrain, surpassing it by 3 km.

Planning of the Dubai Metro began under the directive of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who expected other projects to attract 15 million visitors to Dubai by 2010. The combination of a rapidly-growing population (expected to reach 3 million by 2017) and severe traffic congestion necessitated the building of an urban rail system to provide additional public transportation capacity, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development.

In May 2005 a AED 12.45 billion/US$ 3.4 billion design and build contract was awarded to the Dubai Rail Link (DURL) consortium made up of Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation and Turkish firm Yapı Merkezi. The first phase (worth AED 15.5 billion/US$ 4.2 billion) covers 35 kilometres (22 mi) of the proposed network, including the Red Line between Al Rashidiya and the Jebel Ali Free Zone set for completion by September 2009 and the Green Line from Al Qusais 2 to Al Jaddaf 1. This is to be completed by June 2010. A second phase contract was subsequently signed in July 2006 and includes extensions to the initial routes. The Red Line partially opened at 9 minutes and 9 seconds past 9 PM on September 9, 2009 (9/9/9 9:9:9), inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. The construction cost of the Dubai Metro project has shot up by about 80 per cent from the original AED 15.5 billion/US$ 4.2 billion to AED 28 billion/US$ 7.6 billion. The authorities said the cost of the project did not overshoot. They attributed the increase in expenditure to the major changes in the scope and design of the project. The authorities also expect to generate AED 18 billion/US$ 4.9 billion in income over the next 10 years. But they speculate that the Metro would not be a profit-making enterprise since the fares would be subsidised.

Construction delays

Work officially commenced on the construction of the metro on March 21, 2006.

In February 2009, a top RTA Rail Agency official said the $ 4.2 billion Dubai Metro project would be completed on schedule despite global crisis.

However only 10 out of 29 metro stations of the red line opened on 9 september 2009.

Construction of the 18 stations on the red line and another 18 on the green line restarted on February 7, 2010, according to contractors, after a settlement was reached with a Japanese-led consortium over disputed payments of about $ 2 billion-$ 3 billion and there is optimism that the whole red line may be able to open in the second quarter of 2010. Construction of all 29 metro stations on the red line was declared complete on April 28, 2010 by the acting chief of the RTA Rail Agency.

Seven more stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line opened on April 30, 2010. Ten new trains were pressed into service, giving a total of 22 trains in service when the stations opened. The seven stations are, Emirates Station, Airport Terminal 1 Station, Dubai Internet City (TECOM) Station, Al Karama Station, Emirates Towers Station, Marina Station and Ibn Battuta Station. In addition to this, a further 3 stations will be opened on May 15, 2010, namely: Al Quoz Station, GGICO Station and World Trade Station, whilst the remaining stations on the Red Line will be opened in phases in the second half of 2010. The RTA announced that work on all 18 stations on the 23-km long Green Line that runs around the Dubai Creek through Deira and Bur Dubai will be completed in August 2011. On March 2010 the Dubai Metro chief resigned due to the construction delays.

Under construction

Green Line: 20 kilometres (12 mi) line with 22 stations from Festival City, through the city centre, Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 and the Airport Free Zone. This line was proposed to open in March 2010, however the Dubai RTA confirmed at the end of August 2009 that the Green Line will not open until June 2010, completing the first phase of the Dubai Metro.

The line was originally slated at 17km was increased by 7km to 23.9km. The line will be further extended by 11km from Al Jaddaf to International City under the Green Line extension project

List of stations

Dubai Metro is composed of at-grade (G) elevated Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (T1, T2 and T3, respectively) underground stations (U) and underground transfer station types (UT). Type 1 is the regular at-grade concourse station, Type 2 is a regular elevated concourse station, and Type 3 is an elevated special track station with an extra track to hold a non operational train. Underground transfer stations will be accommodating both the Red and Green lines for easy transfers.

Besides these differences, there are four themes used in the interiors of the stations: earth, water, fire and air. Earth stations have a tan-brown colour effects; water has blue-white colour effects; fire has orange-red colour effects; and the air has green colour effects.

Red Line:
- Rashidiya Station (Depot)
- Emirates Airlines Station
- Airport Terminal 3 Station - For all Emirates Flights
- Airport Terminal 1 Station - For all Non-Emirates Flights
- Al Garhoud Station (GGICO station)
- Deira City Centre Station
- Al Rigga Station
- Union Station (Interchange, connecting with Green Line)
- Khalid bin Al Waleed Station (Interchange, connecting with Green Line)
- Al Karama Station
- Al Jafiliya Station
- World Trade Centre Station
- Emirates Towers Station
- Financial Centre Station
- Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall Station
- Business Bay Station
- Al Quoz Station
- First Gulf Bank Station
- Mall of the Emirates Station
- Sharaf DG Station
- Dubai Internet City Station — interchange to Palm Jumeirah Monorail
- Nakheel Station
- Dubai Marina Station
- Jumeirah Lake Towers Station
- Nakheel Harbor and Towers Station
- Ibn Battuta Station
- Energy Station
- Jebel Ali Industrial Station
- Jebel Ali / Jafza Station

Main Depot for the trains will be at Rashidiya just before the Rashidiya Station, while an auxiliary depot is located at Jebel Ali Port.

Green Line:
- Al Qusais 2 Station (T3)
- Al Qusais 1 Station (T2)
- Dubai Airport Free Zone Station (T2)
- Al Nahda Station (T2)
- Stadium Station (T2)
- Al Quiadah Station (T2)
- Abu Hail Station (T2)
- Abu Baker Al Siddique Station (T2)
- Salah Al Din Station (U)
- Union Station (UT, connecting to Red Line)
- Baniyas Square Station (U)
- Palm Deira Station (U)
- Al Ras Station (U)
- Al Ghubaiba Station (U)
- Saeediya Station (U)
- Khalid Bin Al Waleed Station (UT, connecting to Red Line)
- Oud Metha Station (T2)
- Health Care City Station (T2)
- Al Jedaf 1 Station (T2)
- Creek Station (T2)

The train depot is located at Al Qusais just before the Al Qusais 2 Station.

Dubai Metro
Dubai Metro
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Dubai Metro map

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world shopping malls picture gallery

2010-05-08T03:48:00.001-07:00

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Dubai Shopping Mall pictures

2010-05-08T03:48:00.000-07:00

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2010-05-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

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2010-05-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

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2010-05-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

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Masdar Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates

2010-04-30T21:03:00.003-07:00

Masdar (Arabic: مصدر‎, maṣdar, literally the source) is a project in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Its core is a planned city, which is being built by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, with the majority of seed capital provided by the government of Abu Dhabi.^[1]^[2] Designed by the British architectural firm Foster + Partners, the city will rely entirely on solar energy and other renewable energy sources, with a sustainable, zero-carbon, zero-waste ecology. The city is being constructed 17 kilometres (11 mi) east-south-east of the city of Abu Dhabi, beside Abu Dhabi International Airport.

It will host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).^[3]^[4]

Design and intent

The project is headed by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC). Initiated in 2006, the project is projected to cost US$22 billion and take some eight years to build, with the first phase scheduled to be complete and habitable in 2009.^[6]^[7]^[8] The city is planned to cover 6 square kilometres (2.3 sq mi) and will be home to 45,000 to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses, primarily commercial and manufacturing facilities specialising in environmentally-friendly products, and more than 60,000 workers are expected to commute to the city daily.^[7]^[9]^[10] It will also be the location of a university, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), which will be assisted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).^[11]^[12] Automobiles will be banned within the city; travel will be accomplished via public mass transit and personal rapid transit systems, with existing road and railways connecting to other locations outside the city.^[9]^[13] The absence of motor vehicles coupled with Masdar's perimeter wall, designed to keep out the hot desert winds, allows for narrow and shaded streets that help funnel cooler breezes across the city.

Masdar City will be the latest of a small number of highly planned, specialized, research and technology-intensive municipalities that incorporate a living environment, similar to Novosibirsk, Russia or Tsukuba Science City, Japan.

Partners in the project through its Clean Tech Fund are Consensus Business Group, Credit Suisse and Siemens Venture Capital. Construction of the first phase of the project is being managed by CH2M HILL. Infrastructure construction for the city will be handled by the Al Jaber Group and design of the central Masdar headquarters building has been awarded to Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.

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2010-04-30T21:03:00.002-07:00

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Abu dhabi new building pictures

2010-04-30T21:03:00.001-07:00

Abu Dhabi (Arabic: أبو ظبي‎ Abū ẓabī, literally Father of gazelle) is the capital of, and the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast. The city proper, making up an area of 67,340 km² (26,000 sq mi), had an estimated population of 860,000 in 2008.

Abu Dhabi houses important offices of the federal government, and is the seat for the United Arab Emirates Government and the home for the Emirati Royal Family. Abu Dhabi has grown to be a cosmopolitan metropolis. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed Abu Dhabi to a larger and advanced metropolis. Today the city is the country's center of political, industrial activities, and a major cultural, and commercial centre due to its position as the capital. Abu Dhabi alone generated 56.7% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates in 2008. Abu Dhabi is home to important financial institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the corporate headquarters of many companies and numerous multinational corporations. One of the world's largest producers of oil, Abu Dhabi has actively attempted to diversify its economy in recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Abu Dhabi is the third most expensive city in the region, and 26th most expensive city in the world.^[7] Fortune stated in 2007 that Abu Dhabi was the richest city in the world.

History

Parts of Abu Dhabi were settled in the 3rd millennium BC and its early history fits the nomadic herding and fishing pattern typical of the broader region. Modern Abu Dhabi traces its origins to the rise of an important tribal confederation, the Bani Yas, in the late 18^th century, which also subsequently assumed control of the town of Dubai. In the 19^th century the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches parted ways.

Into the mid-20th century, the economy of Abu Dhabi continued to be sustained mainly by camel herding and the growing of dates and vegetables at the inland oases of Al-Ain and Liwa, and fishing and pearl diving off the coast of Abu Dhabi town, which was occupied mainly during the summer months. At that time most dwellings in Abu Dhabi town were constructed from palm fronds (barasti), with the wealthier families occupying mud huts. The growth of the cultured pearl industry in the first half of the 20th century created hardship for residents of Abu Dhabi as pearls represented the largest export and main source of cash earnings.

In 1939, Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan granted petroleum concessions, and oil was first found in 1958. At first, oil money had a marginal impact. A few lowrise concrete buildings were erected, and the first paved road was completed in 1961, but Sheikh Shakbut, uncertain whether the new oil royalties would last, took a cautious approach, preferring to save the revenue rather than investing it in development. His brother, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, saw that oil wealth had the potential to transform Abu Dhabi. The ruling Al Nahyan family decided that Sheikh Zayed should replace his brother as ruler and carry out his vision of developing the country. On 6 August 1966, with the assistance of the British, Sheikh Zayed became the new ruler.^[10]

With the announcement by the UK in 1968 that it would withdraw from the Persian Gulf area by 1971, Sheikh Zayed became the main driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates.

After the Emirates gained independence in 1971, oil wealth continued to flow to the area and traditional mud-brick huts were rapidly replaced with banks, boutiques and modern highrises.

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Ajman United Arab Emirates pictures

2010-04-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Ajmān (or Ujman; Arabic: عجمان‎ ‘ajmān) is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With an area of just 260 square kilometres, Ajman is the smallest emirate by area. Its seat of government is Ajmān, which is bordered on its north, south, and east by Sharjah.^[1]

Located along the Arab Gulf, Ajman also controls Masfut and Manama, two small, inland enclaves that are primarily agricultural. Approximately 95% of the population of the emirate resides in the city of Ajman. The population was only 36,100 in 1980 but grew considerably in recent years, due to an influx of people from the neighbouring emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, and other countries. Ajman is ruled by Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of the Al Nuaimi tribe. The Crown Prince of the Emirate is Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. Ajmān has experienced massive development and a construction boom in recent years.^[2]

On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Rashid ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of Ajmān's neighbors, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state (albeit of the lowest class: 3 guns).

History

On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Rashid ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi joined the United Arab Emirates.

Its rulers were:

17.. – 17.. Sheikh Rashid ibn Hamid Al Nuaimi
17.. – 1816 Sheikh Humayd ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi
1816 – 1838 Sheikh Rashid II ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi (d. 1838)
1838 – 1841 Sheikh Humayd II ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi (1st time) (d. 1873)
1841 – 1848 Sheikh `Abd al–`Aziz I ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi (d. 1848)
1848 – 1873 Sheikh Humayd II ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi (2nd time)
1873 – April 1891 Sheikh Rashid III ibn Humaid Al Nuaimi (d. 1891)
April 1891 – 8 July 1900 Sheikh Humaid III ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi (d. 1900)
8 July 1900 – February 1910 Sheikh `Abd al–`Aziz II ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi (b. 18.. – d. 1910)
February 1910 – January 1928 Sheikh Humayd IV ibn `Abd al–`Aziz Al Nuaimi
January 1928 – 6 September 1981 Sheikh Rashid IV ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi (b. 1904 – d. 1981)
6 September 1981 – 20.. Sheikh Humayd ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi (b. 1931)

Higher Education in Ajman

The Gulf Medical University (GMU), previously a college, became a university in July 2008 after an order issued by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This is the only institution with its own teaching hospital. Its Hospital Group is the largest healthcare provider in the UAE.^[3]

Ajman development boom

After the success of freehold property in Dubai, Ajman was the second emirate to offer freehold property.^[4] Ajman is currently the only emirate in the UAE offering investors of any nationality fully transparent true 100% freehold ownership on real estate, which in turn has attracted a huge number of investors (local and international) to this emirate. This in turn has prompted the Ajman government to initiate a number of development projects.

New Ajman is the name given to the area being developed outside of the current Ajman city, located by the Emirates Road. New Ajman will consist of many new developments and projects envisioned by Chief of Municipality Sheikh Rashid Al Nuaimi. One of the first developments of New Ajman is called "The Emirates City", a brand new city located directly on the Emirates Road to be built from scratch and consisting of more than 100 mid- and high-rise buildings. A number of shopping malls, hotels and residential villas are also planned to eventually extend all the way to the 'Al Zoura' area, where beachside developments are planned.^[5]

The construction of Ajman International Airport began in the second half of 2008 in the Al Manama area of the Ajman. Airport operations are scheduled to begin by 2011, and the airport is expected to host about two million passengers per year.^[6] ^[7] ^[8] ^[9] ^[10] ^[11] ^[12] ^[13]

[edit] List of planned developments

Following is a list of planned freehold developments in Ajman, although some real estate projects may be delayed or cancelled, due to the financial crisis of 2007–2010.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19] That has also caused property prices to fall considerably throughout the United Arab Emirates, including in Ajman.^[20]

Ajman Green City
Ajman One
Ajman Marina
Ajman Pearl
Ajman Uptown
Al Ameera Village
Al Humaid City
Al Ittihad Village
Al Zorah
Amber Islands^[21]
Aqua City
Awali City
Emirates City
Emirates Lake Towers
Escape Equestrian Community
Eye of Ajman (Ain Ajman)
Marmooka City
Park View

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lincoln memorial American memorial National Mall in Washington

2010-04-30T09:58:00.001-07:00

The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and was dedicated on May 30, 1922. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue (Abraham Lincoln, 1920) was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior murals was Jules Guerin. It is one of several monuments built to honor an American president.

The building is in the form of a Greek Doric temple and contains a large seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and inscriptions of two well-known speeches by Lincoln. The memorial has been the site of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on August 28, 1963 during the rally at the end of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Like other monuments on the National Mall – including the nearby Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and National World War II Memorial – the memorial is administered by the National Park Service under its National Mall and Memorial Parks group. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since October 15, 1966. It is open to the public 24 hours a day. In 2007, it was ranked seventh on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

The Lincoln Memorial, designed after the temples of ancient Greece, is significant as America's foremost memorial to her 16th president, as a totally original example of neoclassical architecture, and as the formal terminus to the extended National Mall in accordance with the McMillan Plan for the monumental core of Washington.

Abraham Lincoln has long stood in the minds of the American people as a symbol of honesty, integrity, and humanity. Although a national monument to him was not raised until the 20th century, demands for a fitting memorial had been voiced since the time of his death. In 1867, Congress heeded these demands and passed the first of many bills incorporating a commission to erect a monument to Lincoln. An American, Clarke Mills, was chosen to design the structure. His plans reflected the bombastic nationalistic spirit of the age. His design called for a 70-foot (21 m) structure adorned with six equestrian and 31 pedestrian statues of colossal proportions, crowned by a 12-foot (3.7 m) statue of Lincoln. However, subscriptions for the project were insufficient and its future collapsed.

The matter lay dormant until the turn of the century, when, under the leadership of Senator Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois, six separate bills were introduced to Congress for the incorporation of a new memorial commission. The first five bills, proposed in the years 1901, 1902, and 1908, met with defeat; however, the final bill (Senate Bill 9449), introduced on December 13, 1910, passed. The Lincoln Memorial Commission had its first meeting the following year and President William H. Taft was chosen as president. Progress continued at a steady pace and by 1913 Congress had approved of the Commission's choice of design and location. However, this approval was far from unanimous. Many thought that architect Henry Bacon's Greek temple design was far too ostentatious for a man of Lincoln's humble character. Instead they proposed a simple log cabin shrine. The site too did not go unopposed. The recently reclaimed land in West Potomac Park was seen by many to be either too swampy or too inaccessible. Other sites, such as Union Station, were put forth. The Commission stood firm in its recommendation though, feeling that the Potomac Park location, situation on the Washington Monument-Capitol axis, overlooking the Potomac River and surrounded by open land, was an ideal site. Furthermore, the Potomac Park site had already been designated in the McMillan Plan of 1901 to be the location of a future monument comparable to that of the Washington Monument.

President Warren G. Harding speaks at the dedication of the Memorial in 1922

With Congressional approval and a $300,000 allocation, the project got underway. On February 12, 1914, an inauspicious dedication ceremony was conducted and following month the actual construction began. Work progressed steadily according to schedule. However a few changes did have to be made. The statue of Lincoln, originally designed to be 10 feet (3.0 m) tall, was later enlarged to 19 feet (5.8 m) to prevent it from being dwarfed by its huge chamber. As late as 1920, the decision was made to substitute an open portal for the bronze and glass grille which was to have guarded the entrance. Despite these changes, the Memorial was finished on schedule. In a May Day celebration in 1922, Commission president William H. Taft dedicated the Memorial and presented it to President Warren G. Harding, who accepted it for the American people.

The Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966lincoln memorial world tour
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Lincoln Park Zoo neighborhood in Chicago

2010-04-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Park Zoo is a free zoo located in Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. The zoo was founded in 1868, when the Lincoln Park Commissioners were given a gift of a pair of swans. In 1874, the swans were joined by a bear cub, the first animal purchased for the zoo. The bear became quite adept at escaping from its home and could frequently be found roaming Lincoln Park at night.^{[citation needed]} The first bison ever born in captivity was born in Lincoln Park. Marlin Perkins, who later gained fame as the host of the television program Wild Kingdom, was director of the zoo from 1944 until 1962. Now, Lincoln Park Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals. The zoo includes polar bears, penguins, gorillas, reptiles, monkeys, and other species totalling nearly 1,250 animals. Also located in Lincoln Park Zoo is a burr oak tree which dates to 1830, three years before the city was founded. Lincoln Park Zoo is one of four zoos in the Chicago area, the others being the large Brookfield Zoo, and the minor Phillips Park Zoo, and Cosley Zoo. Lincoln Park Zoo is the only one within the Chicago city limits.

Two sections of Lincoln Park Zoo have been set aside for children. The first is the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo. The Children's Zoo contains an indoor structure for children to play in. People used to be able to pet animals at the Children's Zoo, but in recent years, due to health concerns, Lincoln Park Zoo has stopped this at the Children's Zoo. Also, baby animals who are rejected by their parents are no longer kept in the Children's Zoo because the zoo has found that it is harder to reintroduce them into their habitats once they grow up if they are kept away from their own species. The second area of the zoo for children in the Farm-in-the-Zoo, presented by John Deere. This small farm contains pigs, cows, horses and other animals which can be found on farms. Children can feed and pet the animals. In addition, the cows are milked in public for children to see. Regenstein Center for African Apes is home to Keo, the oldest male chimpanzee in a North American zoo.

Near the southern end of Lincoln Park Zoo, one can rent a paddle boat for a spin around the Lincoln Park Lagoon. The Lagoon is surrounded by trees and offers a relaxing time (and, of course, paddling exercise). Kayakers and canoers also take to the lagoon and one can often see scullers as well.

List of animal houses and locations

Antelope and Zebra Area
Blum-Kovler Penguin/Seabird House
Helen V. Brach Primate House
Farm-in-the-Zoo (presented by John Deere)
Kovler Lion House
Kovler Sea Lion Pool
McCormick Bird House
Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond
Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat
Pritzker Family Children's Zoo
Regenstein African Journey
Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit
Regenstein Center for African Apes
Regenstein Small Mammal/Reptile House

Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park

Lincoln ParkLincoln Park
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Lincoln Park