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Marble Caves, Chile Chico

December 5, 2014, 1:51 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Carved into the Patagonian Andes, the Cuevas de Mármol are located on a peninsula of solid marble bordering Lake General Carrera, a remote glacial lake that spans the Chile-Argentina border. 

Formed by 6,000-plus years of waves washing up against calcium carbonate, the smooth, swirling blues of the cavern walls are a reflection of the lake's azure waters, which change in intensity and hue, depending on water levels and time of year. 
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Gardens at Marqueyssac

December 6, 2014, 1:56 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

The Château de Marqueyssac is a 17th-century château and gardens located at Vézac, in the Dordogne Department of France. The château was built at the end of the 17th century by Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac, Counselor to Louis XIV, on cliffs overlooking the Dordogne Valley. The original garden à la française was attributed to a pupil of André Le Nôtre, and featured terraces, alleys, and a kitchen garden surrounding the chateau. Between 1830 and 1840, Julien Bessières constructed a chapel and a grand alley one hundred meters long for horseback rides.

In the 1860s, the new owner, Julien de Cervel, began to plant thousands of boxwood trees - today there are over 150,000 - and had them carved in fantastic shapes, many in groups of rounded shapes like flocks of sheep. He also added linden trees, cypress trees, and stone pine from Italy, and introduced the cyclamen from Naples. Following the romantic style, he built rustic structures, redesigned the parterres, and laid out five kilometers of walks.

In the second half 20th century the house was rarely occupied and the gardens were not well maintained. Beginning in 1996, a new owner, Kleber Rossillon, restored the gardens to their old character and added some new features including an alley of santolina and rosemary and, in the romantic spirit of the 19th century, a course of water descending from the belvedere and ending in a cascade. The gardens were opened to the public in 1996.

Since 1997, the gardens have been classified amongst the Notable Gardens of France by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the French Ministry of Culture.
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Ice Canyon, Greenland

December 7, 2014, 2:04 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah


Imagine if you could pick up the Greenland Ice Sheet and see what lies beneath. Surely 1.7 million square kilometers of slowly thawing ice must rest on a massive pool of melted water, right?

Unlike the ice sheet covering Antarctica that sits atop numerous lakes, the Greenland Ice Sheet blankets a giant subglacial canyon nearly twice as long as the Grand Canyon located in Arizona. 

Before the land was completely glaciated at least four million years ago, melt from partial ice cover likely flowed through the bedrock canyon.

While flying over the ice sheet, scientists over the past three decades have measured the depths of the canyon using a radar system that operates at frequencies where ice is transparent to radio waves—from around 50 megahertz to 500 megahertz.

The Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is ten times as large as Greenland's, sits on a complex topography that includes bedrock and mountain ranges.


 

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Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver, British Columbia

December 8, 2014, 2:10 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 140 metres (460 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) above the river. It is part of a private facility, with an admission fee, and draws over 800,000 visitors a year.
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Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada

December 9, 2014, 2:15 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Valley of the Ten Peaks is a valley in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, which is crowned by ten notable peaks and also includes Moraine Lake. The valley can be reached by following the Moraine Lake road near Lake Louise. The ten peaks were originally named by Samuel Allen, an early explorer of the region, who simply referred to them by using the numerals from one to ten in the Stoney First Nations Language. He may have learnt the terms from his Native American guides, who helped him with the horses. The Nakoda - also known as the Stoney Indians - is a tribe whose culture and dialect are closely related to that of the Assiniboine First Nation, from whom they are believed to have separated in the mid-1700s, and who roamed large parts of the prairies and mountains of western Alberta well into British Columbia. The secluded Valley of the Ten Peaks was part of their original homeland. Gradually, though, all but three of the mountains were renamed in honour of noteworthy individuals, including Allen himself.
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WORLD’S BEST STREET FOOD

December 10, 2014, 2:38 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

CORNISH PASTY, Cornwall, UK. In 2011 the EU granted the Cornish pasty – beloved by Brits as an edible lunchbox – Protected Geographical Indication status, declaring it a food of regional importance. Only those slow-baked in Cornwall can bear the title ‘Cornish pasty’, and the ingredients must be chunked potato, swede, onion and at least 12.5% beef; the pastry must be crimped to the side.

ORIGIN Pasties have been eaten since medieval times, and by the 1530s Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, was reputedly rather partial to them. Yet it was the less wealthy folk of Cornwall who made pasties their own. By the end of the 18th century, few miners or farmers went to work without one. The ingredients were cheap, the product portable and the crimped ridge lifesaving: a disposable grip for miners working amid high levels of arsenic.
 
TASTING This may not be fancy food, but it’s the most appetizing sort of fuel. The dense filling-lightly seasoned, served hot-is robust and sustaining. Scents of baking waft from many a Cornish shop, and buying a pasty is an unceremonious affair-you’re as likely to find a good one in the village post office as in any artisan deli. Biting into a proper pasty, the pastry tender but firm, with onion slithers jostling tender hunks of beef skirt, is like sinking into a battered old sofa-warm and deliciously comforting. Although pasties never contain fish (it’s thought bad luck), the best place to eat one is by the sea. Stroll along some of Cornwall’s 300 miles of coast-a rollercoaster of cliff tops and coves-and never will a pasty taste better.

Ann’s Famous Pasty Shop, on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, sells pasties in-store and online (US$4.60; annspasties.co.uk).

More Inspiration and Recipes for Free!
If the street foods in our top ten have given you an appetitie for discovering new dishes and making them at home. Now’s you chance to win your free copy of The World’s Best Street Food! Simply write to him at lpmagazine@regentmedia.sg. And share with us your best streetside food experience while on your travels.
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Multnomah Falls, Oregon

December 11, 2014, 3:02 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Multnomah Fallsis a waterfall on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, located east of Troutdale, between Corbett and Dodson, along the Historic Columbia River Highway. The falls drops in two major steps, split into an upper falls of 542 feet (165 m) and a lower falls of 69 feet (21 m), with a gradual 9 foot (3 m) drop in elevation between the two, so the total height of the waterfall is conventionally given as 620 feet (189 m). Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon. It is credited by a sign at the site of the falls, and by the United States Forest Service, as the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States. However, there is some skepticism surrounding this distinction, as Multnomah Falls is listed as the 137th tallest waterfall in the United States by the World Waterfall Database (this site does not distinguish between seasonal and year-round waterfalls).

A foot trail leads to Benson Footbridge, a 45-foot (14 m)-long footbridge that allows visitors to cross 105 feet (32 m) above the lower cascade. Benson soon gave Portland land that included most of the falls as well as nearby Wahkeena Falls.

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Berlin, Germany

December 12, 2014, 7:48 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Best For Museums

The Pergamon Museumis a feast of classical Greek, Babylonian, Roman, Islamic and Middle Eastern art and architecture. The highlights is the marble Pergamon Altar (00 49 30 2090 5555; Museum Island; 10am-6pm Fri-Wed, 10am-10pm Thu: US$16).

Best For Views

For great city views, take the lift to the observation deck of the Panoramapunkt. From here it’s easy to see that Postdamer Platz is divided into : Daimler City, the flashy Sony Centre, and the Beisheim Centre inspired by America skyscraper design (panorama punkt de; Postdamer Platz 1; 10am-8pm; Us$6).

Best For Culture

Berlinagenten specializes in private customized tours off the beaten track and into unique boutiques, bars and restaurants – even private homes. For the culinary scene try the Gastro-Rallye tour (00 49 30 4372 0701; berlingagenten.com; from US$235 per person).

Best For Walks

Little more than a mile of the Berlin Wall survives as a symbol of the triumph of freedom over oppression. The best-preserved stretch is the East Side Gallery by artists in 1990. A wall guide maps its course, with commentary and GPS (mauerguide.de; US$13 per day).

 Why Go?

In the past 100 years alone Berlin has staged a revolution, headquartered fascists, been divided, then reunited – a past that feeds the city’s experimental character. Avant-garde museums, eclectic galleries, grand opera and late-night clubs – they’re all here.

When To Go

Berlin winters are cold, with frequent rain and snow. Instead, visit in May and June you can catch the Culture Carnival. Otherwise September is good for art and jazz festivals, and in December you can shop in the Christmas markets.

How To Go

Berling Tegel Airport is currently the city’s main international airport, until the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens on 3 June 2012 and flights direct there instead. From either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, fly into Berlin with Lufthansa (Lufthansa.com) or Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com); with a stop in Frankfuter Munich, or at Doha repectively

Eat & Drink

Anna Blume, Prenzlauerberg, lures patrons into its velvety art-nouveau interior all day long. Perfumed by homemade cakes, java coffee, and flowers from the attached shop, it has a good people-watching terrace too (00 49 30 4404 8749; café-annablume.de; kollwitzstrasse 83; 8am-2am; mains Us$6-US$13).

The lamps and Meissen tile mural are from the old GDR-era Palast der Republik (former East German parliament), but Tartane is a contemporary gastro pub. Bohemian clientele enjoy burgers and Kolsch beer from Cologne (00 49 30 4472 7036; tartan.de; Torstrasse 225; 6pm-2am Mon-Sat; mains US$11-US$24).

Engelbecken is a lakeside charmer with impeccably crafted German soul food. Local organic meat and seasonal produce might include roast organic veal meat loaf (00 49 30 6152810; vitzlebenstrasse 31; dinner Mon-Sat; midday-1am Sun; mains Us$11-US$29).

At hip Spindler & Klatt, in a former Prussian bread factory, loll on a platform bed while eating creative fusion dishes such as beef bavette and sesame potatoes (00 49 30 319 881 860; spindler klatthttp://www.klatt.com.com; kopenicker Strasse 16-17; dinner, Thurs-Sun; mains Us$19-US$29).

Try Michael Kempf’s Michelin starred cuisine at avant-garde Facil. Expect elegantly presented dishes such as alba truffles or saddle of poulting hare (00 49 30 59005 1234; facil.de; Mandala Hotel, Postdamer Strasse 3; Mon-Fri; two-course lunch US$40, dinner from US$110).

Essentials

Getting Around

Berlin’s public transport system is run by BVG and consists of the U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains, buses and trams (bvg.de).  Buy train tickets from vending machines at stations. For taxi rides up to two miles, request the Kurzstreckentarif short-trip rate (US$5.50 per trip).

Typical Cost

Ampelmann T-shirt from US$24; mid-range meal US$24-US$40; Mid-range hotel from US$110; Mid-end hotel from US$240

Sleep

Helmut Newton studied with fashion photographer Yva at the Hotel Bogota in the 1930s and this landmark still hosts glam photoshoots. It has great vintage charm, period paneling up the staircase and retro furnishings. Room sizes vary greatly and the cheaper ones share a bathroom (00 49 30 881 5001; hotel-bogota.de; Schluterstrasse 45; from US$85).

Propeller Island City Lodge was inspired by Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and each of the 32 rooms is a journey to a unique, surreal world. Wake up in a Disney-style castle, a padded prison cell or a kaledeiscope (00 49 30 891 9016; propeller-island.de; Albrecht Achilles-Strasse 58; from US$110).

Arte Luise Kunsthotelbills itself as a ‘gallery with rooms’. Each room reflects the vision of a different artist, who receives royalities whenever it’s booked. You might sleep in a bed built for giants, in the company of astronauts or in a red ‘Cabaret’. Courtyard rooms are quieter (00 49 30 284 480; luise-berlin.com; Luisenstrasse 19; from US$135).

Arcotel John F pays homage to John F kennedy with whimsical detail, including rocking chairs (because he used one to combat a bad back) and curvaceous lamps inspired by Jackie’s ball gown (00 49 30 405 0460; arcotelhotels.com; werderscher Markt 11; rom US$160).

Once a 19th-century bank HQ, the Hotel de Rome has since been transformed by designer Tommaso Ziffer into a modern hotel. The former vault is now the pool or spa area and the directors’ rooms, still with wartime shrapnel damage, are now suites with luxurious furnishings (00 49 30 460 6090; hotelderome.com; Behrenstrasse 37; from US$530).

Your Recommendations

Good Thinking - by Judy Hoffman

Café Einstein is a traditional Vinnese-style café serving everything from breakfast to light lunches, formal evening meals, schnitzels and cakes. The atmosphere and service are excellent; you can sit here for as long as you like, reading the papers, drinking coffee and eating cake or something more substantial. It’s also great for a quick break from sightseeing (00 49 30 261 5096; Kurfurstenstrasse 58; mains from US$19).

Eastern Charm– by David Cuschieri

Located in former East Berlin, Bar Gargarin has laid-back, welcoming ambience with fashionable décor. Adorning the walls, in-vogue propaganda artwork makes a good keepsake for any tourist. The food and wide range of drinks served here are inexpensive and the bar provides the ideal backdrop from which to appreciate the arty bohemian Prenzlauerberg district (bargagarin.com; Knaackstrasse 22-24).

Food For Thought– by Katherine Lapworth

Berlin’s luxury KaDeWedepartment store is well worth a visit; it’s got seven floors of fashion, design, restaurants and art. The jewel in its crown, however, is the food hall where you can find everything from sausages to champagne. It’s not only stuffed full of gourmet treats but is a window on what the well-heeled Berliner is buying for their supper (kadewe.de; Tauentzienstrasse 21).

Find Out More
You can download the Berlin chapter from the Germany guide at lonelyplanet.com.  Read Christopher Isherwood’s The Berlin Stories, the inspiration for Cabaret. For what’s on, check out visitberlin.tv and berlin.de
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Petra Jordan Trail

December 13, 2014, 3:18 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Petra  is a historical and archaeological city in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an, that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved.

Established possibly as early as 312 BCE as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan, as well as its most-visited tourist attraction. It lies on the slope of Jebel al-Madhbah (identified by some as the biblical Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It was described as "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a Newdigate Prize-winning poem by John William Burgon. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage". See: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Petra was chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the "28 Places to See Before You Die!


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Seljalandsfoss Waterfall on the South Coast of Iceland

December 14, 2014, 3:09 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Seljalandsfossis one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland and one of my favourite waterfalls here. It is just off ring-road 1, 120 km east of Reykjavík, turn left on Seljalandsmúli on road 249 (coming from Reykjavík) and drive 1 kilometer and it is right by the road. It is ca 60 meters high and it is breathtakingly beautiful. It is a must visiting Seljalandsfoss when driving the south-coast, you will not regret it. It is possible to walk behind the waterfall, but take care as it can get slippery and you will get wet from the drizzle. I've noticed that English people in particular take the opposite route behind the waterfall, Icelanders always start from the right side but the English from the left side (up the stairs) which leads to people meeting on the narrow path behind the waterfall.


If you want to escape the crowd of people visiting Seljalandsfoss it is best to go there in the evening, you can even get so lucky to have the waterfall just to yourself (if that is what you are looking for) :) You can take a day trip and visit Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss (30 km east of Seljalandsfoss) and return back to Reykjavík on the same day.

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Verdon, Provence, France

December 15, 2014, 3:24 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

So much to do here, not sure where to begin.

We downloaded hiking routes from wikiloc (not soo accurate), better to get a leaflet at a tourist office (Castellane for example). We decided to start with the Sentier L'Imbut, but from La Chalet de Maline, which means you go down on the Sentier Martel path. At the junction (at the bottom, with the river in front of you) you then go right to hop onto the Sentier L'Imbut through the Passage de l'Estrellier (walking bridge over the water), then you go right again and continue your way to the Imbut and if you're up to some climbing over rock formations you can continue to Baou. On our way back we had the company of a very friendly goat, who had to leave us when we scrammbled up the Vidal (very vertical path), and continued to Cavaliers. Unfortunately we didn't have two cars to park one on each side, so we went back down in the Gorges, back over passage de l'Estrellier and up again on the Sentier Martel. It took us 10h to walk the more than 20k (according to our GeoTrex, which did loose his GPS connection sometimes), with walking sticks which were really holding us up towards the end. This is not a hike for people unaccustomed to hiking on rocky surfaces, who have fear of heights or whose physical conditions is not 100%. You can off course cut the walk short and return or only walk one side of the Gorges.

After a deserved break, we went then climbing with Pascal Fadou from Aventures et Nature. He is a great guide, who really knows his way around the Gorges. The climbing was terrific, the via cordata 'les cataractes' with a rappel of 160m and 60m and lots of traversees is impressive and the canyon Baudan Baou was exciting to say the least. We did all this with Pascal and would go with him again for sure, he is not more expensive than the other more commercial organization and for 2 of the 3 activities we were alone with him, which is a big plus! We also did the bungeejump from Point de l'Artuby with Latitude Challenge, no words can describe this and do take a video, you'll want to watch and rewatch your jump. It did cost more than 100eur for a jump that takes less than 2min, but it's something you have to do once in your lifetime (or so I belief).

We couldn't do the hydrospeed or rafting because in September there are only a few days left that the water level is ok for these activities (so book well in advance or go the last week of August, when the tourist streams should have already gone down a bit).
This on the active part of our holiday.

For the villages:

Castellane is probably the most touristy and offers the most shops, accomodations and activity agencies.
La Palud sur Verdon is more towards the lake and is a great fallout point for hiking, activities and visiting the lake.

Aiguines has a nice view over the lake, but not much activity (in September). Moustiers Saint Anne has a nice chapel on top of a cliff overlooking the village, which you can hike up to and a lot, a lot of shops with faience (decorated pottery). Bauduen and Lac Saint Croix are nice villages if you want to stay around the lake (not big, but you do find some restaurant, hotels and campings there).

Trigance is a nice medieval village, but that's about all there is to say about it (the view from the road is very nice)

You have the rive Gauche and the Route des Crêtes that you can follow to travel around the canyon (car, bike, motorcycle), I prefer the Route des Crêtes as you had more views of the high cliffs, also the route from Palud to Lac saint croix offers some nice scenery and brings you to the entrance of the canyon (nice views of the canyon and the lake)

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Keukenhof Gardens

December 16, 2014, 5:54 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Covering some 79 acres (32 hectares), the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens is the world’s largest flower garden. Come springtime, the meandering, wooded gardens are visited by some 800,000 flower-lovers, who come to soak up the blaze of color that envelops the park, its greenhouses, brooks and shady ponds and winding paths. It’s truly a memorable sight.

At Keukenhof Tulip Gardens, nature’s talents are combined with artificial precision to create a wonder of landscaping, where millions of tulips, along with narcissi and daffodils, hyacinths, bluebells, and many others blossom perfectly in place and exactly on time. And if the temperatures have been wilting, don’t worry: fresh blooms are planted by helping hands for the duration of the season. Special exhibits are held in the pavilions around the site, and there are cafes and refreshment stands throughout.

Practical Info

Before you go, be sure to check out the opening dates, as they vary from year to year. Usually, the park is open from late March to late May. To get here, take the special train/bus connections via Haarlem and nearby Leiden. You can easily spend half a day here filling your camera’s digital memory.

See all
Skip the Line: Amsterdam and Holland Pass The Amsterdam and Holland Pass is a city pass offering free and reduced entrance tickets to must-see attractions, museums and public transport in Amsterdam and other popular Dutch cities such as The Hague and Rotterdam. This sightseeing pass is the only leisure pass in The Netherlands that entitles you to the benefit of fast-track entry, allowing you to skip the long queues at some of the busiest tourist attractions such as Madame Tussauds, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Keukenhof Gardens and the Amsterdam Dungeon! Simply show your Holland Pass to the attendant and you can bypass the queue, saving you time and adding convenience.

The Amsterdam and Holland Pass is a city pass offering free and reduced entrance tickets to must-see attractions, museums and public transport in Amsterdam and ... 

Keukenhof Gardens and Tulip Fields Tour from Amsterdam
If you love flowers you won't believe the colorful display of tulips and other springtime bulbs in bloom at the magnificent Keukenhof Gardens! 

Amsterdam Super Saver: Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam and Marken Half-Day Tour plus Keukenhof Gardens Tour

Enjoy a Super Saver tour that combines the best of the Dutch countryside – windmills, fishing villages and flowering tulips – all in one day! With a local ...Enjoy a Super Saver tour that combines the best of the Dutch countryside – windmills, fishing villages and flowering tulips – all in one day! With a local guide, visit a clog maker in the windmill town of Zaanse Schans, and then take a boat ride to the quaint fishing villages of Volendam and Marken to see cheese made the traditional way. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely stroll through Keukenhof Gardens, where the beautiful seasonal displays of springtime bulbs will take your breath away.

Highlights
Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken plus Keukenhof Gardens full-day combo tour a great value!
Discover the Dutch countryside on a scenic drive from Amsterdam
See the windmills of Zaanse Schans and visit a clog maker
Explore the traditional fishing towns of Marken and Volendam
Admire Keukenhof Gardens’ vivid exhibit of tulips and daffodils
Round-trip coach transport, 20-minute boat trip and cheese factory included
Amsterdam Super Saver 1: Keukenhof Gardens Day Trip and Amsterdam City Tour
Amsterdam Super Saver 1 combines two best selling tours at a discounted price. Get your bearings in Amsterdam on a comprehensive 2.5-hour tour and visit .
Amsterdam Shore Excursion: Keukenhof Gardens and Tulips Fields Tour
If you arrive in the Amsterdam port in springtime, don't miss the opportunity to visit one of Holland's top attractions -- the Keukenhof Gardens! If you love ...  Read more
Keukenhof Garden Private Transfer with Entrance Tickets
Travel from Amsterdam to the Keukenhof Gardens in a luxury car. With your very own private vehicle - stop to take photos of the gorgeous tulip fields along ….
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Riomaggiore, Italy

December 17, 2014, 5:37 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Riomaggiore (Rimazùu in the local Ligurian language) is a village and comune in the province of La Spezia, situated in a small valley in the Liguria region of Italy. It is the first of the Cinque Terre one meets when travelling north from La Spezia.

The village, dating from the early thirteenth century, is known for its historic character and its wine, produced by the town's vineyards. Riomaggiore is in the Riviera di Levante region and has shoreline on the Mediterranean's Gulf of Genoa, with a small beach and a wharf framed by tower houses. Riomaggiore's main street is Via Colombo, where numerous restaurants, bars and shops can be found.

The Via dell'Amore is a path connecting Riomaggiore to its frazione Manarola, also part of the Cinque Terre.

Riomaggiore is the most southern village of the five Cinque Terre, all connected by trail. The water and mountainside have been declared national parks.

Riomaggiore inspired paintings by Telemaco Signorini (1835-1901), one of the artists of the Macchiaioli group.

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Chittorgarh, India

December 18, 2014, 5:24 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Chitaurgarh  is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar. The city of Chittaurgarh is located on the banks of river Gambhiri and Berach. The district was bifurcated and a new district namely Pratap Garh was created with certain portion taken from Udaipur district in the newly created district of Pratap Garh.

Fiercely independent, the fort of Chittor was under siege thrice and each time they fought bravely and thrice Jauhar was committed by the ladies and children, first led by Rani Padmini, and later by Rani Karnavati. The famous warriors Gora and Badal, in the war against Allaudin Khalji (1303 AD), have become legendary. The sacrifice of Jaimal and Phata in the war against the Mughals (1568 AD) was so great that the Mughal Emperor Akbar installed their statues in the fort of Agra. It has also been land of worship for Meera. Chittorgarh is home to the Chittorgarh Fort, the largest fort in India.

Transport

The completed Golden Quadrilateral highway system will pass through Chittorgarh, connecting it to much of the rest of India. Also crossing the East West Corridor (Express Highway). The Chittorgarh is situated at National Highway No. 76 & 79, both the Highways are crossing at Chittorgarh. National Highway 76 connects to Kota within 2 hours. It is well connected by rail with Jaipur via Bhilwara and Ajmer, Kota via Bundi, Jodhpur via Ajmer, Indore Junction BG, Bhopal, Indore Mhow, Ujjain, Ratlam, Nagda Junction, Ajmer and Fatehabad by many Broad gauge trains. The city is also connected to Udaipur City via Mavli Jn. Thus, Chittaur Garh is a major rail head of south Rajasthan. Some weekly trains to Hyderabad and Kolkata are passing through this station. The town still lacks connectivity to Bikaner, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur and Nagpur, so in order to catch trains for further destinations one has to reach Kota, Ratlam or Ajmer.


Places of Interest :

Chittorgarh Fort

The Chittorgarh Fort seated on a 180 metre hill, covers an expanse of 700 acres (2.8 km2). It was constructed by the Mauryans in the 7th century AD. There is also a belief that it was constructed by Bhima of the Pancha Pandavas. This fort was the citadel of many great Indian warriors such as Gora, Badal,Rana Kumbha, Maharana Pratap, Jaimal, Patta, etc.

Kalika Mata Temple

Kalika Mata Temple was originally built in the 8th century for Sun God and was later converted to a temple for mother Goddess, Kali in the 14th century.During the festival days of Navaratri, fairs are organised and pilgrims from different places come here to pay obeisance at the temple.

Vijay Stambh

Vijay Stambha, is a huge nine storey tower which was built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. The tower is 122 ft (37 m) high and stands on a 10 ft (3.0 m) high base. There are sculptures and carvings on the exterior walls of the tower. The tower is visible from any section of the town below. And for reaching tower top one have to climb 157 steps, one can take great view of the surroundings. The inside walls of the tower are carved with images of Gods, weapons, etc.

Kirti Stambh

Kirti Stambh is tower is dedicated to Rishabha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism. It was built by a merchant and is decorated with figures form the Jain pantheon.It is a seven storied pillar which was build by Biherwal Mahajan Sanaya of Digambar Jain sect during 12th century AD. On its four corners are engraved idols of Shri Adinathji in Digambar style which each are five feet (about 1.5meters) high and elsewhere are engraved several small idols consecrated to Jain lineage of deities.

Rana Kumbha's Palace

Rana Kumbha's Palace is near the Vijay Stambh. This is the birthplace of Maharana Udai Singh, the founder of Udaipur. His life was saved by the heroic act of the maid Panna Dhay, who replaced her son in place of the prince, with the result that her son was killed by Banbir. She carried the prince away to safety in a fruit basket. Rani Meera Bai also lived in this palace. This is the place where Rani Padmini committed jauhar with the other ladies in one of the underground cellars.

Rani Padmini's Palace

Rani Padmini's Palace is from which Alauddin Khilji (one of the rulers of Khilji dynasty during the sultanate rule over India) was allowed to watch a reflection of the Rani by replacing the mirror at such an angle that even if he turned back he could not see the room. Khilji had been warned by the Rani's husband Rawal Ratan Singh that if he turned back they would cut his neck.

Samadhisvara Temple

Dedicated to Lord Siva, the temple was built by Bhoja Pamaror powar one of Banjara group in early 11th century AD. Later on Mokal renovated it in AD 1428. The temple consists of garbhagriha, an antarala and a gudha-mandapa with mukhmandapa (entrance porch) on all the three faces, i.e., northern, western and southern sides. A colossal image of three faced Shiva is enshrined in the sanctum.

Kumbhaswamin Temple

Originally dedicated to Varaha (boar incarnation of Vishnu) the temple was built in 8th century AD and largely renovated by Maharana Kumbha (AD 1433-68). It is built on a raised plinth and consists of a garbhagriha, an antarala, a mandapa, an ardhamandapa and an open pradakshinapath. An image of Varaha is shown in the principal niche on the back of the shrine. In front of the temple is an image of Garuda under a canopy. On the north, there is a small shrine known as Meera Mandir.

Ratan Singh Palace

Located along the Ratneshwar pond, this palace is attributed to Rana Ratan Singh II (AD 1528-31). It is rectangular on plan and comprises a courtyard surrounded by rooms and a pavilion with balcony on the eastern part of the second storey.

Fateh Prakash Palace

This magnificent double storeyed palace was built by Maharaja Fateh Singh (AD 1884-1930). It is an edifice with a tower on each of its four corners crowned by domed chhattries. This palace is a grand specimen of modern Indian architecture and at present houses a museum.

Other havelis of relatively lesser significance include those of Alha Kabra, Fatta and Jaimal, Khatan-ka-Mahal and Purohitji-ki-haveli.
 

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Norway Alesund Birdseye of City

December 19, 2014, 5:13 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

Ålesund  is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture.

The town of Ålesund is the administrative centre of Ålesund Municipality, as well as the principal shipping town of the Sunnmøre district. Ålesund Municipality has a population of 45,033 as of 2013, while the greater Ålesund urban area has a population of 48,460 (this also includes most of neighboring Sula Municipality as well).

From Øye at the head of Hjørundfjorden, a road strikes south to the Nordfjorden, and from Maråk on Geirangerfjorden another strikes inland to Otta. The railway line Raumabanen starts at Åndalsnes, 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Ålesund, going to Dombås, then southwards on the Dovrebanen railway to Lillehammer and Oslo. Ålesund is a port of call for passenger and freight vessels travelling between Bergen, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle, Hamburg, and Trondheim, including the Hurtigruta (Norwegian Coastal Express) cruise ships, which arrive in Ålesund twice a day.

The town's airport, Ålesund Airport, Vigra, has several daily flights to/from Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Copenhagen. It also has several weekly flights to/from Riga (Riga International Airport) (AirBaltic) and London (London Gatwick Airport). In November 2012 KLM announced it would fly to Ålesund 5 days a week from Amsterdam starting in April 2013.

Lately, there have been suggestions of a high speed rail link to Oslo as well as metro-style local services to meet the needs of the expanding population of the town.


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Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia

December 20, 2014, 5:06 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

The wattle has been golden since July and now is being joined by splashes of white and yellow from the spring blossoms. The days are getting longer making for relaxing evening strolls along the beach.

The sunsets are golden. The weather is fine. There is lots to do.  Take the cruise around the Peninsula. Have a leisurely walk in Freycinet National Park. Kayak around the Bay. Go bush on a quad bike. See Wineglass Bay from the air.

Come and relax in one of the world's beauty spots.

The Freycinet Experience

Mention Coles Bay, Wineglass Bay, and Freycinet National Park to a Tasmanian and you'll see eyes light up with thoughts of fishing and boating, bushwalking, sea kayaking, rock climbing, sun and sand, and spectacular coastal scenery.

Where else in Australia can you find pink granite mountains rising straight from the sea to form a magnificent sheltered waterway or one of the top ten beaches in the world, Wineglass Bay?

Coles Bay, Tasmania sits at the foot of the granite mountains known as the Hazards and on the edge of the world-renowned Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay, about two and 1/2 hours drive from Hobart and Launceston on the east coast of Tasmania.

Facilities in Coles Bay or on the Freycinet range from luxury accommodation and gourmet restaurants to wilderness camping and self-catering. Freycinet National Park is home to the only interpretation centre on the east coast of Tasmania. 

Coles Bay, Tasmania: Australia's First Plastic Bag Free Town. In April we celebrated the 10th anniversary of becoming Australia's first plastic shopping bag free town.


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Colorado Plateau, Arizona

December 21, 2014, 11:55 pm
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Executive summary by darmansjah

The Wave is on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes, which are in turn located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.

The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The province covers an area of 337,000 km2 (130,000 mi2) within western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, southern and eastern Utah, and northern Arizona. About 90% of the area is drained by the Colorado River and its main tributaries: the Green, San Juan, and Little Colorado.

The Colorado Plateau is largely made up of high desert, with scattered areas of forests. In the southwest corner of the Colorado Plateau lies the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Much of the Plateau's landscape is related, in both appearance and geologic history, to the Grand Canyon. The nickname "Red Rock Country" suggests the brightly colored rock left bare to the view by dryness and erosion. Domes, hoodoos, fins, reefs, goblins, river narrows, natural bridges, and slot canyons are only some of the additional features typical of the Plateau.


The Colorado Plateau has the greatest concentration of U.S. National Park Service (NPS) units in the country. Among its ten National Parks are Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Mesa Verde, and Petrified Forest. Among its 17 National Monuments are Dinosaur, Hovenweep, Wupatki, Sunset Crater Volcano, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Natural Bridges, Canyons of the Ancients, and Colorado.


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Mount Roraima, Venezuela

December 22, 2014, 12:09 am
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Mount Roraima, Venezuela

Executive summary by darmansjah

Mount Roraima(Spanish: Monte Roraima ) is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in South America. First described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596, its 31 km2 summit area is defended on all sides by tall cliffs rising 400 metres (1,300 ft). The mountain also serves as the triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

Mount Roraima lies on the Guiana Shieldin the southeastern corner of Venezuela's 30,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi) Canaima National Park forming the highest peak of Guyana's Highland Range. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to some two billion years ago in the Precambrian.

The highest point in Guyana and the highest point of the Brazilian state of Roraima lie on the plateau, but Venezuela and Brazil have higher mountains elsewhere. The triple border point is at 5°12′08″N 60°44′07″W, but the mountain's highest point is Maverick Rock, 2,810 metres (9,219 ft), at the south end of the plateau and wholly within Venezuela.

Lthough the steep sides of the plateau make it difficult to access, it was the first recorded major tepui to be climbed: Sir Everard im Thurn walked up a forested ramp in December 1884 to scale the plateau. This is the same route hikers take today.

Today, Mount Roraima is a destination for backpackers. Almost all who go up the mountain approach it from the Venezuelan side. Most hikers hire a Pemon Indian guide in the village of Paraitepui, which is reached by dirt road from the main Gran Sabana road between kilometre 88 and Santa Elena de Uairen. Although the path to reach the plateau is well marked and popularly traveled, it is easy to get lost on top of the mountain, as there are few distinct trails and the near constant cloud cover on top and the uncanny rock formations make visual references problematic. Paraitepui can be reached easily by four-wheel-drive vehicle, with great difficulty by car if the unpaved road conditions are unusually fine, or by foot in about a day.

From Paraitepui, most hikers take two days to reach the base of the mountain, and then another day to follow "La Rampa," a natural staircase-like path, up to the top. Another two days are typically needed for the return, and many people spend one day and night on top of the mountain, making six days in total. Longer treks can reach the northern portion of the tepui, mostly in Guyana, with less explored and more intriguing sites such as Lake Gladys, although this offers more dangers than its more popular southern part and should only be attempted by well-supplied groups. The less adventurous can also reach the mountain, weather permitting, by helicopter tours available from the nearby Venezuelan city of Santa Elena de Uairén.
Maverick Rock, the highest point of Mount Roraima

The only non-technical route to the top is the Paraitepui route; any other approach will involve climbing gear. Mount Roraima has been climbed on a few occasions from the Guyana and Brazil sides, but as the mountain is entirely bordered on both these sides by enormous sheer cliffs that include high overhanging (negative-inclination) stretches, these are extremely difficult and technical rock climbing routes. Such climbs would also require difficult authorizations for entering restricted-access national parks in the respective countries. As of 2009, climbing from the Brazilian side would be particularly problematic, due to the access being through Raposa-Serra do Sol Amerindian reserve, where armed conflicts between the natives, rice farmers and the authorities have been frequent


 


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East Iceland

December 23, 2014, 12:35 am
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Executive summary by darmansjah

The East - Amazing Contrasts

In East Iceland, the visitor will be astonished by the variety and contrast of the landscape. You will find everything, from impressive fjords to friendly and peaceful fishing villages, from fertile and forested valleys to unique geological phenomena. All this is set against a background of impressive mountains and – farther away – Vatnajökull Glacier.

For the active tourist, there are superb hiking routes through verdant valleys and along high mountain ridges, both for those who prefer short hikes and for the passionate hiker who wants to go on for days and even weeks. The East Fjords are a magnificent landscape of long, narrow fjords, steep mountains and jagged peaks. This is one of the oldest regions of Iceland, which was shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age. Glacial action uncovered magma chambers that had been about 3 km beneath the surface, where zeolites had formed. These beautiful rocks can now be seen along the coast; for example at Teigarhorn. Off the shore are grassy islands that can be visited by boat.

For people who are interested in culture and fun, a visit to East Iceland will be most rewarding. In the summer, there is at least one festival a week, with a great variety of themes: history, music, golf, art, sports, hiking, art for and by young people, love, fishing – you name it! Look at http://www.east.isto plan your stay!

The East Fjords have many natural harbours, and in the 19th century this led to the development of fishing villages, most of which still exist. These seaside communities have a special charm, and many of them have town festivals every year. A number of museums in the East Fjords focus on various aspects of local history: 

World War II, French fishermen who fished off Iceland a century ago, local artists and technology. Other exhibitions highlight nature: the region’s beautiful minerals, and the reindeer that roam the eastern highlands.

There are few places in Iceland where a human being feels as small and helpless as in the vicinity of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Everything here is on a grand scale: the lofty mass of the ice cap, the spectacular mountain peaks, and all the signs of volcanic activity beneath the ice.

But it is not only the craggy, rugged beauty of the region that is appealing. In places such as Lónsöræfi, Borgarfjörður eystri and elsewhere, the landscape exhibits an extraordinary palette of colours. In the realm of Vatnajökull, the land is greener, the glacier whiter, the volcanic sands blacker than anywhere else. This otherworldly environment has become a popular location for international film-makers and advertisers.

The southeast boasts a wide variety of birdlife, as most migrant birds arrive here, and many vagrant species are also carried here from mainland Europe.
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Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

December 24, 2014, 1:44 am
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Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Executive summary by darmansjah

Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, Central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plain near the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the province of Lucca. It is famous among other things for its intact Renaissance-era city walls.

Ancient and medieval city

Lucca was founded by the Etruscans (there are traces of a pre-existing Ligurian settlement) and became a Roman colony in 180 BC. The rectangular grid of its historical centre preserves the Roman street plan, and the Piazza San Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum. Traces of the amphitheatre can still be seen in the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro.

At the Lucca Conference, in 56 BC, Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus reaffirmed their political alliance known as the First Triumvirate.

Piazza Anfiteatro and the Basilica di San Frediano.

Frediano, an Irish monk, was bishop of Lucca in the early 6th century. At one point, Lucca was plundered by Odoacer, the first Germanic King of Italy. Lucca was an important city and fortress even in the 6th century, when Narses besieged it for several months in 553. Under the Lombards, it was the seat of a duke who minted his own coins. The Holy Face of Lucca (or Volto Santo), a major relic supposedly carved by Nicodemus, arrived in 742. During the 8th - 10th centuries Lucca was a center of Jewish life, the Jewish community being led by the Kalonymos family (which at some point during this time migrated to Germany to become a major component of proto-Ashkenazic Jewry). Lucca became prosperous through the silk trade that began in the 11th century, and came to rival the silks of Byzantium. During the 10–11th centuries Lucca was the capital of the feudal margraviate of Tuscany, more or less independent but owing nominal allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor.

Main sights

The walls around the old town remained intact as the city expanded and modernized, unusual for cities in the region. As the walls lost their military importance, they became a pedestrian promenade which encircled the old town, although they were used for a number of years in the 20th century for racing cars. They are still fully intact today; each of the four principal sides is lined with a different tree species.

The Academy of Sciences (1584) is the most famous of several academies and libraries.

The Casa di Puccini was re-opened to the public on 14 September 2011. At the nearby town of Torre del Lago, there is a Puccini opera festival every year in July/August. Puccini had a house there as well.

The Passeggiata delle Mura.

Church of San Michele of Antraccoli.

There are many richly built medieval basilica-form churches in Lucca with rich arcaded façades and campaniles, a few as old as the 8th century.

  
                                                                   Piazza dell'Anfiteatro


                                                                         
                                                                      Piazzale Verdi

  
  Piazza Napoleone

    Piazza San Michele

    Duomo di San Martino (St Martin's Cathedral)

    The Ducal Palace, built on the location of Castruccio Castracani's fortress. The original project was begun by Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1577–1582, and continued by Filippo Juvarra in the 18th century.

    The ancient Roman amphitheatre

    Church of San Michele in Foro

    Romanesque church of San Giusto.

    Basilica di San Frediano

    Church of Sant'Alessandro, an example of medieval classicism

    Torre delle ore ("The Clock Tower")

    Casa and Torre Guinigi - The Guinigi Tower with oak trees on top

    Museo Nazionale Guinigi

    Museo e Pinacoteca Nazionale

    Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca, a botanical garden dating from 1820

    Palazzo Pfanner

    Villa Garzoni, noted for its water gardens

Church of San Giorgio in the locality of Brancoli, built in the late 12th century. It has a nave and two aisles with a single apse, and a bell tower in Lombard-Romanesque style ranked among the most beautiful in northern Italy. The interior houses a massive ambo (1194) with four columns mounted on notable sculptures of lions. Also having notable medieval decoration is the octagonal baptismal fount. The altar is supported by six small columns with human figures
 

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