TRAVEL

Bordeaux

2010-08-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

Bordeaux place de la bourse with tram

Bordeaux (French pronunciation: [bɔʁdo] ( listen); Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city on the Garonne River in southwest France.It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture of the Gironde department. Its inhabitants are called Bordelais.

The city is among the world's major wine industry centres. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the eighth century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century.

Esplanade des Quinconces

Bordeaux is classified "City of Art and History". The city has been inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble".

Palais Gallien

Main sights include:

* Esplanade des Quinconces
* Colonnes des Girondins
* Grand Théâtre
* Allées de Tourny
* Cours de l'Intendance
* Place du Chapelet
* Pont de pierre
* Saint-André Cathedral, consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096. Of the Original Romanesque edifice only a wall in the nave remain. The Royal Gate is from the early thirteenth century, while the rest of the construction is mostly from the 14th-15th centuries.

Bordeaux Saint Pierre

* Tour Pey Berland (1440–1450), a massive, quadrangular tower annexed to the cathedral.
* Église Sainte-Croix (Church of the Holy Cross). It lies on the site of a 7th century abbey destroyed by the Saracens. Rebuilt under the Carolingians, it was again destroyed by the Normans in 845 and 864. It is annexed to a Benedictine abbey founded in the 7th century, and was built in the late 11th-early 12th centuries. The façade is in Romanesque style

Palais Rohan

* The Gothic basilica of Saint-Michel, constructed in the late 14th-15th centuries.
* Basilica of Saint-Seurin, the most ancient church in Bordeaux. It was built in the early 6th century on the site of a palaeochristian necropolis. It has an eleventh century portico, while the apse and transept are from the following century. The 13th century nave has chapels from the 11th and the 14th centuries. The ancient crypt houses sepulchres of the Merovingian family.
* Palais Rohan (Exterior:[6])
* Palais Gallien, the remains of a late second century Roman amphitheatre
* Porte Cailhau
* La Grosse Cloche (15th century) is the second remaining gate of the Medieval walls. It was the belfry of the old Town Hall. It consists of two 40 m-high circular towers and a central bell tower housing a bell weighing 7,800 kilograms (17,000 lb). The watch is from 1759.

Miroir d'eau place de la Bourse

* Église Saint-Éloi
* Place de la Bourse(1730–1775), designed by the Royal architect Jacques Ange Gabriel as landscape for an equestrian statue of Louis XV.
* Place du Parlement
* Place Saint-Pierre
* Rue Sainte-Catherine
* The Betasom submarine base

Saint-André Cathedral, Saint-Michel Basilica and Saint-Seurin Basilica are part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.

Bordeaux Pont de Pierre

Contemporary architecture

* Fire Station, la Benauge, Claude Ferret/Adrien Courtois/Yves Salier, 1951–1954
* Court of first instance, Richard Rogers, 1998
* CTBA, wood and furniture research centre, A. Loisier, 1998
* Hangar 14 on the Quai des Chartrons, 1999
* The Management Science faculty on the Bastide, Anne Lacaton/Jean-Philippe Vassal, 2006
* The Jardin botanique de la Bastide, Catherine Mosbach/Françoise Hélène Jourda/Pascal Convert, 2007
* The Nuyens School complex on the Bastide, Yves Ballot/Nathalie Franck, 2007
* Seeko'o Hotel on the Quai des Chartrons, King Kong architects, 2007

Bordeaux-Notre-Dame

Museums

* Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine arts museum), one of the finest painting galleries in France
* Musée d'Aquitaine
* Musée du Vin et du Négoce
* Musée des Arts Décoratifs
* Musée d'Histoire Naturelle
* CAPC
* Musée National des Doines

Rue Sainte-Catherine

* Vinorama
* Musée Goupil
* Casa de Goya
* Cap Sciences
* Centre Jean Moulin

Musée d'Aquitaine

Parks and gardens

* Jardin botanique de Bordeaux
* Jardin botanique de la Bastide
* La Maison des Chameaux (Camel Park)

text : wikipedia, pic : wikipedia & others

Hamamatsu, Japan

2010-07-10T00:48:00.000-07:00

Hamamatsu (浜松) is the largest city in Shizuoka, Japan.
An important industrial hub, the city is home to many companies, including Honda Motor Company, Kawai Pianos, Yamaha, Sony, Suzuki Motor Company and Hamamatsu Photonics as well as a large air base for Japan's defense force. Consequently, the city is well known for producing motorcycles, musical instruments and optoelectronic sensors among other things.

For its population of 818,197 (July 2006 figures), Hamamatsu is a uniquely international city. It is home to almost 20,000 Brazilians, mostly from São Paulo, Paraná, and Belém, as well as 3000 immigrants from Peru, giving it the highest per-capita concentration of South Americans in Japan. The city also has sizable immigrant populations from Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, China, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The ethnic diversity here provides the city with a wide array of ethnic stores, restaurants, bars and clubs.

* Act City, Itaya-machi 111-1 - Naka-ku (east side of JR station), Hamamatsu's only skyscraper is a symbol of the city, designed to resemble a harmonica, a reminder that Hamamatsu is sometimes known as the "City of Music"

* Tower Observatory. Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM.Coin-operated telescopes. ￥500.
* Chopin Monument. Erected in the rooftop park beside the tower itself is an authentic two-third-scale replica of the famous Art Nouveau bronze statue of Chopin by the famed artist Wacław Szymanowski. The original is in Hamamatsu's sister city, Warsaw.

* Futamata Castle Ruins (二俣城跡, ''Futamata-jouseki''), Futamata-cho Futamata - Tenryu-ku (from the northern ''Akaden'' terminus at Nishikajima, take the Tenryu-Hamanako line one stop north to Futamata Honmachi, walk 200m north to the main street, head left for about 300m and look for the sign).
* Hamamatsu Castle (浜松城, ''Hamamatsu-jou'')
* Keta River (気田川, ''Ketagawa'')
* Kiga Sekisho (気賀関所), Hosoe-cho Kiga 4577 - Kita-ku (take a Kiga-Mikkawa bus from central bus station terminal 15 and get off at Kiga-ekimae: 気賀駅前)
* Mitake Castle Ruins (三岳城跡, ''Mitake Jouseki'')
* Nakatajima Sand Dunes (中田島砂丘)
* Ryugashi Cavern (竜ヶ岩洞, Ryugashidou)
* Takisawa Observation Platform (滝沢展望台, ''Takisawa Tenboudai'')
* Tenryu River (天竜川)
* Washizawa Wind Cave (鷲沢風穴, ''Washizawa Fuuketsu'')
* Hokoji Hansobo (north of Hamamatsu
* Akino Fuku Art Museum
* Hamamatsu City Museum (浜松市博物館, ''Hamamatsu-shi Hakubutsukan'')
* Hamamatsu Festival Hall (浜松まつり会館, ''Hamamatsu Matsuri Kaikan'')
* Hamamatsu JASDF Air Park (航空自衛隊浜松広報館,
* Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art (浜松市美術館, ''Hamamatsu-shi Bijutsukan),
* Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments (浜松市楽器博物館, ''Hamamatsu-shi Gakki Hakubutsukan'')This museum, just northeast of Act City Tower, houses a collection of over 2,000 kinds of ethnic instruments from around the world. Each instrument has a display attached, with headphones so you can listen to the sound of the instrument. The museum also has a hands-on room, where you can play many types of instruments; drums, xylophones, sitars and native Japanese instruments. This is a child friendly museum. ￥400, high school students half-price, children free. edit
* Hamamatsu Science Museum (浜松科学館, ''Hamamatsu Kagakukan'')A range of interactive exhibits divided into five zones: nature, space, sound, light, and electricity. The third floor holds a planetarium. Museum only:Adults ￥500, ages 15-18 ￥350, children free; With planetarium:Adults ￥900, ages 15-18 ￥500, children ￥100. edit
* Kitaouji Collection (北大路コレクション), Inasa-cho Okuyamaji Nanzan 653-280 - Kita-ku, ☎ 090-8421-7825,
* Lake Hamana Music Box Museum (浜名湖オルゴールミュージアム, ''Hamanako Orugoru Myujiamu'')
* Sakuma Rail Park, Sakuma-cho Hanba 15-3 - Tenryu-ku (inside JR Tenryu-Chubu station on the Iida line)
* Choraku-ji Temple, Hosoe-cho Kiga 4578 - Kita-ku
* Daifuku-ji Temple (大福寺), Mikkabi-cho Fukunaga 220 - Kita-ku
* Gosha and Suwa Shrines (五社神社, ''Gosha-jinja'', and 諏訪神社, ''Suwa-jinja'')
* Horin-ji Temple (寶林寺), Hosoe-cho Nakagawa 65-2
* Kamoe Kannon (鴨江観音), Kamoe 4-17-1 (up the hill about 1km west of ZaZa City)
* Makaya-ji Temple, Mikkabi-cho Makaya 421 - Kita-ku
* Okuyama Hoko-ji (方広寺), Inasa-cho Okuyama 1577-1 - Kita-ku
* Ryotan-ji Temple (龍潭寺), Inasa-cho Iinoya 1989 - Kita-ku
* Yamazumi Shrine (山住神社, ''Yamazumi-jinja''), Misakubo-cho Yamazumi 230 - Tenryu-ku

* Bentenjima Kaihin Park (弁天島海浜公園, ''Bentenjima Kaihin Koen''), Maisaka-cho Bentenjima 3775-2
* Hamamatsu Castle Park (浜松城公園, ''Hamamatsu-jou Kouen'')
* Hamamatsu Flower Park (浜松フラワーパーク), Kanzanji-cho 195 - Nishi-ku
* Hamamatsu Fruit Park (浜松フルーツパーク), Miyakoda-cho 4263-1 - Kita-ku
* Hamamatsu Municipal Zoo (浜松市動物園), Kanzanji 199 - Nishi-ku (Take the Kanzanji bus line from terminal 1 at the main bus station.)
* Hamanako Garden Park (浜名湖ガーデンパーク), Murakushi-cho 5475-1 - Nishi-ku
* Observation tower. 9AM-4:30PM (5PM in summer). This 50-meter tower has a covered observation deck with a nice view of the park and lake. Adults ￥300, children ￥100.

* Pal-Pal Amusement Park, Kanzanji-cho 1891 - Nishi-ku
* Torch Fishing (Takiya-ryo), Yuto-cho 9985-3 (at Yuto Fishing Co-op)
* Wotto Hamanako Aquatic Experience Center (浜名湖体験学習施設ウォット, ''Hamanako Taiken Gakushuu Shisetsu Wotto'')At this hands-on aquarium, you can see, touch, and learn about aquatic life in Lake Hamana. ￥300. edit
* Hamanako Pleasure Boat (浜名湖遊覧船, ''Hamanako Yuuransen''), Mikkabi-cho Oosaki 1899,

* Miyakoda Hiking Course, (Take the Akaden to Nishikajima station and transfer to the Tenryu-Hamanko line to Miyakoda station, then look for a signpost showing the hiking route, these will be at most major intersections on the route.). This "19 km hiking trail" is actually a route on the roads through the area.
* Tenryu River Boat Tour, Minazawa Tenryu-ku (take the Tenryu-Hamanako from the north end of the Akaden line to Tenryu-Futamata station, buy a ticket and take the shuttle bus to the departure point near Funagira Dam)
* Yu Fukei Shiori (湯風景しおり), Takabayashi 1-chome 13-13 - Naka-ku (off Route 152 about 1.5 km north of City Hall, behind the Circle K)
* Watch a movie in Toho Cinemas, in the Zaza City Complex or at Sun Street Shopping Center in Hamakita.

* Get a Thai massage at Celeb , located near Lake Hamana.
* Hamamatsu Racetrack (浜松オートレース場, ''Hamamatsu Ootoresuba''), Wago-cho 936-19 (free 20-minute shuttle bus from the central bus station)

cr: wikitravel

MEXICO

2010-01-29T05:29:00.000-08:00

Mexico
(formally the United Mexican States) is a country in North America, lying between the United States of America to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast.
Its extensive coastlines include the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Mexico has nice and warm people, unique food, art and archeology, pyramids, museums, Haciendas, 6,000 miles of shoreline, superb architecture and 21 century cities, weather from snow mountains in the Sierras, to rainy jungles in the Southeast and desert in the Northwest, lots of golf courses throughout the country, excellent fishing, world top destinations like Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Los Cabos, and Patzcuaro. Mexico is ranked 7th major destination for foreigner visitors, according to WTO.

Easter is widely observed nationwide, according to the yearly Catholic calendar (the first Sunday after the first full moon in Spring). Actual non working days may shift to the Monday before the holiday, so check an up to date calendar.

* Mexico City - Capital of the Republic, one of the three largest cities in the world, and a sophisticated urban hub with a 700-year history. In Mexico City, you will find everything from parks, Aztec ruins, colonial architecture, museums, to nightlife and shopping.

* Acapulco - A sophisticated urban beach setting known for its top-notch nightlife, elegant dining, and nightmarish traffic. Many of the older (pre-1990s) concrete structures have suffered tropical decay.

* Cancun - One of the worlds most popular and famous beaches, known for its clear Caribbean waters, its lively party atmosphere, and its wealth of recreational facilities. During Spring Break it is noted for drinking, sunburning, and debauchery.

* Guadalajara - A traditional city, capital of Jalisco state, and the home of mariachi music and tequila. Guadalajara is blessed with perpetual spring weather and its colonial downtown is graceful and sophisticated.

* Mazatlan - Lively Pacific coast town, Mazatlan is a shipping port, a transportation hub with ferries to Baja California, and a beach resort destination with miles of sandy shore. It is a popular Spring Break destination due to its variety of affordable lodging options.

* Monterrey - A large modern city that is the commercial and industrial hub of Northern Mexico. Monterrey enjoys a dry, mountainous setting and is known for its high-quality educational and transportation infrastructure.

* San Luis Potosi - Located in central Mexico, a colonial city that was once an important silver producer, but today, relies on manufacturing for its economic base.

* Taxco - In central Mexico west of Cuernavaca, this nice steep mountain town was once a major silver producer, and now has a strong place in the trade of decorative silver, from cheap fittings to the most elegant jewelry and elaborate castings.

* Tijuana - Mexico's busiest border crossing for pedestrians and private vehicles, and a long-time bargain Mecca for southern Californians due to its proximity with San Diego.

Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) - An exotic destination for travellers looking for a unique remote adventure! An awesome mountain rail ride --- one of the greatest in the world --- takes you upwards over 8000 feet on the CHEPE, the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway. Hiking, horseback riding, birding, & Tarahumara Indians. Copper Canyon, the Sierra Madre and the Chihuahuan desert of Mexico. This area is designed for adventurous individuals who will tolerate some rough travel to get to their point(s) of interest. Copper Canyon, a magnificent remote wilderness is not likely ever to become a mass market destination.

* Sea of Cortez - See whale birthings, swim with dolphins, and sea kayak in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, along the eastern coast of Baja California, near La Paz. And the sunsets at Puerto Penasco are not to be missed.

* Monarch Butterfly Breeding Sites - Protected natural areas in the highlands of the state of Michoacan. Millions of butterflys come to the area between November and March of each year, although numbers have declined sharply recently. See them before they're all gone.

* Sumidero Canyon - From docks on the Rio Grivalva (the only major river within Mexico) near Tuxtla Guiterrez in Chiapas state, tour launches take you into this steep-walled National Park. You'll likely see vast flocks of flamingos, pelicans, and other waterfowl, as well as crocodiles, impossible caves, and tourists urinating from sheer clifftops a kilometer above you.

* Chichen Itza - Majestic Mayan city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and recently voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

* Ek Balam - Recently reconstructed Mayan site, famous for its unique decorated stucco and stone carved temples.

* El Tajin - In the state of Veracruz near the town of Papantla. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

* Monte Alban - In the state of Oaxaca, a Zapotec site dating from about 500 B.C. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

* Palenque - Mayan city in the state of Chiapas, Palenque famous for its elaborate paintings. Also well known for having the largest tract of rainforest in Mexico located in the same area.

* Teotihuacan - In the state of Mexico, near Mexico City. Enormous site with several large pyramids.

* Tulum - Mayan coastal city with spectacular Caribbean vistas. Dates from late Mayan period.

* Uxmal - Impressive Mayan city-state in the Puc Region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

* Surfing - Baja California, Vallarta, Oaxaca
* Sea Kayaking - Baja California
* Snorkeling - Baja California, Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, etc.
* Scuba diving - Baja California, Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas etc.
* Whale Watching - Baja California
* White Water Rafting - Veracruz
* Visit a Volcano - Mexico, Toluca etc.
* Take a ride on the Copper Canyon Railway
* Enjoy the beautiful coast line and beaches of Oaxaca: Mazunte, Puerto Escondido, etc.
* Go for a horseback ride in the Barrancas de Chihuahua
* Visit the archaeological sites - Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, Monte Alban, Calakmul, Palenque, etc.; also cave paintings in Baja California
* Volunteering - Chiapas or in Xalapa, Veracruz with Travel to Teach.
* Visit ecological parks - Mayan Riviera

Shanghai

2009-11-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

Pudong Skyline

Shanghai (Chinese: 上海) is the largest city in China, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people.Located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city is administered as a municipality of the People's Republic of China with province-level status.

Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favourable port location and as one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. The city flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business by the 1930s.However, Shanghai's prosperity was interrupted after the 1949 Communist takeover and the subsequent cessation of foreign investment. Economic reforms in 1990 resulted in intense development and financing in Shanghai, and in 2005 Shanghai became the world's largest cargo port.

The city is a tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund and City God Temple, its modern and ever-expanding Pudong skyline including the Oriental Pearl Tower, and its new reputation as a cosmopolitan center of culture and design. Today, Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world's fastest-growing major economy.
Shanghai Tour

Shanghai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles. The Bund, located by the bank of the Huangpu River, contains a rich collection of early 20th century architecture, ranging in style from neoclassical HSBC Building to the art deco Sassoon House. A number of areas in the former foreign concessions are also well preserved, most notably the French Concession. Despite rampant redevelopment, the old city still retains some buildings of a traditional style, such as the Yuyuan Garden, an elaborate traditional garden in the Jiangnan style.

Contemporary architecture include the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Grand Theatre in the People's Square precinct and Shanghai Oriental Arts Center.
Renovated shikumen lanes in Xintiandi, now a high-end restaurant and shopping center.
Shanghai Tour
One uniquely Shanghainese cultural element is the shikumen (石库门) residences, which are two or three-story townhouses, with the front yard protected by a high brick wall. The name "shikumen" literally means "stone storage door", referring to the strong gateway to each house.

The Shanghai International Exhibition Center, an example of Soviet neoclassical architecture in Shanghai. Beijing, the nation's capital, displays an even greater array of this particular type of architecture.

The Pudong district of Shanghai displays a wide range of supertall skyscrapers. The most prominent examples include the Jin Mao Tower and the taller Shanghai World Financial Center, which at 492 metres tall is the tallest skyscraper in mainland China and ranks second in the world. The distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower, at 468 metres, is located nearby toward downtown Shanghai. Its lower sphere is now available for living quarters, at very high prices. Another tall highrise in the Pudong area of Shanghai is the newly finished Development Tower. It stands at 269 meters.

Also in Pudong, a third supertall skyscraper topping the other Shanghai buildings called the Shanghai Tower is under construction. With a height of 632 metres (2074 feet), the building will have 127 floors upon planned completion in 2014.

The first motor car was driven and the first train tracks and modern sewers were laid in Shanghai. It was also the intellectual battleground between socialist writers who concentrated on critical realism.

The talent and passion of Shanghainese filmmakers following World War II and the Communist revolution in China contributed enormously to the development of the Hong Kong film industry. Many aspects of Shanghainese popular culture ("Shanghainese Pops") were transferred to Hong Kong by the numerous Shanghainese emigrants and refugees after the Communist Revolution.
Although often viewed as a modern metropolis, Shanghai still contains some picturesque rural suburban areas.

Shanghai boasts several museums of regional and national importance. The Shanghai Museum of art and history has one of the best collections of Chinese historical artifacts in the world, including important archaeological finds since 1949. The Shanghai Art Museum, located near People's Square, is a major art museum holding both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The Shanghai Natural History Museum is a large scale natural history museum. In addition, there is a variety of smaller, specialist museums, some housed in important historical sites such as the site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Shanghai's parks offer some reprieve from the urban jungle. Due to the scarcity of play space for children, nearly all parks have a children's section. Zhongshan Gongyuan in Downtown Shanghai is famous for its monument of Chopin, the tallest statue dedicated to the composer in the world. Built in 1914 as Jessfield Park, it once contained the campus of St. John's University, Shanghai's first international college; today, it is known for its extensive rose and peony gardens, a large children's play area, and as the location of an important transfer station on the city's metro system. One of the newest is in the Xujiahui District, Xujiahui Gongyuan, built in 1999 on the former grounds of the Great Chinese Rubber Works Factory and the EMI Recording Studio (today's glamorous La Villa Rouge restaurant), with entrances at Zhaojiabang Lu and in the west at the intersection of Hengshang Lu and Yuqin Lu. The park has a man-made lake with a sky bridge running across the park, and offers a pleasant respite for Xujiahui shoppers.

Other Shanghainese cultural artifacts include the cheongsam (Shanghainese: zansae), a modernization of the traditional Chinese/Manchurian qipao (Chinese: 旗袍; fitting. This contrasts sharply with the traditional qipao which was designed to conceal the figure and be worn regardless of age. The cheongsam went along well with the western overcoat and the scarf, and portrayed a unique East Asian modernity, epitomizing the Shanghainese population in general. The fashion industry has been rapidly revitalizing in the past decade, there is on average one fashion show per day in Shanghai today. Like Shanghai's architecture, local fashion designers strive to create a fusion of western and traditional designs, often with innovative if uncontroversial results.
Shanghai Tour
Shanghai has hosted a number of world events, including the 2007 Summer Special Olympics and a Live Earth concert. The Shanghai International Film Festival is annually held in the city. The city will be the host of the Expo 2010 World's Fair between May and October 2010. Shanghai is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Super League, the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, and the Shanghai Golden Eagles of the China Baseball League. The city has also hosted the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit every year since 2004.
Shanghai Tour

Turkey

2009-10-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of archaeological and historical sites, and on seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.

Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots not only in Turkey but also in the world. Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, has a number of major attractions derived from its huge historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

These include the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Galata Tower, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and the Pera Palas.
HAGIA SOPHIA

TOP KAPI

Dolmabahçe Palace

Galata Tower

GRAND BAZAAR

The biggest shopping centers of European region by hosting malls and shopping centers like Metrocity, Akmerkez and Cevahir Mall (which is the biggest mall in Europe and seventh largest shopping center in the world).
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:FVqUI_3Qxou7IM:http://edem.egovshare2009.org/photos/antalya01.jpg

Other attractions include sporting events, museums, and cultural events.

Istanbul is also the fourth holiest site for followers of Islam and is the destination of many pilgrimages.

Beach vacations and Blue Cruise, particularly for Turkish city-dwellers and visitors from Western Europe, are also central to the Turkish tourism industry. Most beach resorts are located along the southwestern and southern Aegean coast, especially along the Mediterranean coast near Antalya. Antalya is also accepted as the tourism capital of Turkey. Major resort towns include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kuşadası, Cesme, Didim and Alanya.

Custom Search

Major cultural and historical attractions elsewhere in the country include the sites of Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon, House of Virgin Mary, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Trabzon] (where one of the oldest monastery Sümela Monastery), Konya (where the poet Rumi had spent most of his life), Didyma, Church of Antioch, religious places in Mardin (such as Deyrülzafarân Monastery), and the ruined cities and landscapes of Cappadocia.

Diyarbakır is also an important historic city, although tourism is on a relatively small level due to waning armed conflicts.

Ankara has an historic old town, and although is not exactly a touristic city, is usual as a stop for travelers who go to Cappadocia. The city enjoys an excellent cultural life too, having a lot of museums and cultural events. The Anıtkabir is also in Ankara. It is the mausoleum of Atatürk (meaning ancestor of the Turks), the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

source text : wikipedia

JEJU ISLAND

2009-10-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Jeju Island (제주도,濟州島) , formerly Cheju Island, is an island off the southern coast of South Korea.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province is the premier tourist destination in Korea. Scenic beaches, waterfalls, cliffs and caves lie in harmony, and the mild weather makes Jeju island an even more ideal tourist destination. Mt. Hallasan in Jeju island has flora and fauna of both temperate and tropical varieties, coexisting on the mountain.

Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946. Its capital is the city of Jeju.

Jeju has its own English language magazine created by foreign residents on the island – Jeju Life.

Jeju Island, also known as the "Island of the Gods," is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and many Japanese. It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds. The island's mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls, riding horses, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

Similar to Gyeongju and some other areas, local residents can enter most places for free or for a steeply discounted price.

Typical coastal climate with minimum temperatures above 0 C even in winter due to warm currents. The island is on the border of moderate and subtropical zones, South coast - subtropics. Mild climate, 4 seasons:

* Hot summer: usual air temperature is 26 C, highest 33 C, highest water temperature of upper layers is 28 C.

* Warm and dry autumn: the air is becoming cooler and water temperature remains as in summer (24 C) until October.

* Short and mild winter with snowfalls in the northern part of the island and in highland, while in the southern part farmers harvest tangerines.

* Warm spring when everything blooms.

Beach season - from May to October, active tourism - year round.

As the tourist trade in Jeju Island has grown larger in recent years, it is increasingly common to find some taxi drivers who speak English, Japanese and even Chinese, especially in Jeju City itself

However, you shouldn't rely on this as a means of getting around, and it would be wise to learn some basic Korean phrases for travel purposes.

Buses and Taxis are the main method of public transportation. Some locals prefer bicycles to cars especially in areas outside of the Jeju-shi metropolitan area.

TICKET TO JEJU ISLAND

FANTASTIC JEJU ISLAND

Must see :

Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival

Museum :

Folklore and Natural History Museum

Jeju Education Museum

Jeju Independence Museum

Haenyeo Museum,

Jeju Teddy Bear Museum

Green tea museum

Museum of African Art

Must visit :

Hallim Park

Manjanggul lava-tube cave

Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong)

Botanic Garden "Yeomiji"

Seongeup Folklore Village (Seongeup Folk Village)

Jeju Folk Village Museum

Iho Beach

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

Gimnyeong Maze

Seopjikoji

Jusangjeolli

Mini World and Miniature Theme Park

Submarine tour

Sculpture park

"All In House" This is the house the famous Korean drama series "All In" was filmed. It is like a museum that provide everything about the drama.

Shop at Jeju Folk Arts Complex

ITALIA

2009-09-10T06:38:00.001-07:00

Italy (Italian: Italia) is a large country in Southern Europe. It is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - art and monuments are everywhere around the country. It is also famous worldwide for its cuisine, its fashion, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, as well as for its beautiful coasts, lakes and mountains (the Alps and Appennines). Two independent mini-states lie within Italy: San Marino and Vatican City. While technically not part of the European Union, both of these states are also part of the Schengen Region and the European Monetary Union. Italy has hot, dry summers, with July being the hottest month of the year. In the north, they experience cold winters, as compared to mild ones in the south. Some regions in the south of Italy can experience no rainfall for the whole summer season. The long mountain ranges in Italy impact the weather significantly, as you can experience very different weather going from town to town.

Non-Guidebooks about Italy or by Italian writers :-The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone -Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King -Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes- The Sea and Sardinia by D.H. Lawrence -Italian neighbours and A season with Verona by Tim Parks -Winter Stars by Beatrice Lao -The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo

Northwest Italy (Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy & Valle d'Aosta)

Home of the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre, and world class cities like Turin, Milan, and Genoa share the region's visitors with beautiful landscapes like the Lake Como area

Northeast Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige & Veneto)

From the famous canals of Venice to impressive mountains such as the Dolomites and the Italian Alps and first-class ski resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo and others.

Central Italy (Lazio, Abruzzo, Marche, Tuscany & Umbria)

Breathes history and art. Rome boasts the remaining wonders of the Roman Empire and some of the world's best known landmarks such as the Colosseum. Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, is Tuscany's top attraction, whereas nearby cities like Siena, Pisa and Lucca have much to offer to those looking for the country's rich history and cultural heritage.

Southern Italy (Apulia, Basilicata, Campania & Molise)

Bustling Naples, the dramatic ruins of Pompeii, the romantic Amalfi Coast, laidback Apulia and stunning beaches of Calabria, as well as up-and-coming agritourism help making Italy's less visited region a great place to explore.

Sicily

The beautiful island famous for archaeology, seascape and some of the best cuisine the Italian kitchen has to offer.

Sardinia

Large and remote island some 250 kilometers west of the Italian coastline.

There are hundreds of Italian cities, here are nine of its most famous:

* Rome (Roma) - the capital, both of Italy and, in the past, of the Roman Empire until 285 AD; home of the Roman Catholic Church (the Vatican).

* Milan (Milano) - Known as one of the main fashion cities of the world, it's also the most important centre of trade and business in all the country.

* Naples (Napoli) - Beside Venice, Taranto and Genoa,one of the most important port city in Italy. Naples is filled with life, and sun. Here you will find the best pizza in Italy, because it was born here. Naples is also near to the famous volcano Vesuvius and the ruins of the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Ercolano.

* Florence (Firenze): City of "rebirth". This city is known for its architecture and art and for the impact it has had throughout the world. Florence is also home to Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Home to many other well-known museums of art.

* Turin (Torino) - First capital of Italy, after being the capital of Kingdom of Sardinia (actually Piedmont-centred), what had promoted national reunification. Home of the FIAT, the most important industry in Italy,. Turin is a well known industrial city, based on the aerospace industry and, of course, automobile industry. Home of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

* Bologna - Home of the first university in the western world. This city is filled with history, culture, and technology. Bologna is well known for its food. One of the world's great university cities.

* Genoa (Genova) - It was one of the most important medieval maritime republic. Very wealthy and diverse city. Its port brings in tourism and trade, along with art and architecture. Genoa is birthplace of Columbus and jeans.

* Pisa - Pisa, one the medieval maritime republic, is home to the unmistakable image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Very touristy city. Streets are filled with vendors who will try to sell you anything. Famous too for the University "La Normale".

* Venice (Venezia) - Venice is known for its history (the most important, beside Genoa and Pisa, of the medieval maritime republics), art, and world famous canals. One of the most beautiful cities in Italy; it is home to Island of Murano, which is famous for its hand-blown glass. St. Mark's Square is where most of the tourists are and can get very crowded in the summertime.

* Calabria and its pearl Praja a Mare - the italian best kept secret, with the stunning Dino Island, the Blu Grotto, and the Arcomagno bays

* Capri and Ischia - the famed islands in the Bay of Naples

* Cinque Terre - five tiny, scenic, towns strung along the steep vineyard-laced coast of Liguria

* Courmayeur - offers the attractions of a large international resort for skiers and mountaineers

* Elba - the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia

* Rimini and the Romagna Riviera, Italy's most famous and visited beach tourism locations.

* Vatican City - the independent city-state and seat of the Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church

* Lago di Garda - A beautiful lake in Northern Italy

* Italian Alps, including The Dolomites - Some of the most beautiful mountains include Mount Blanc/Bianco and Mount Rosa.

By plane. Italy has a national airline, Alitalia , as well as several smaller carriers, such as Meridiana or Air One . There are budget routes flown from and within Italy by low cost airlines.

Most of mid-range international flights arrive to the following Italian cities:

* Milan - with 2 airports: Malpensa (MXP) and Linate (LIN); in addition, Bergamo (BGY - Orio al Serio) is sometimes referred to as "Milan Bergamo"

* Rome - with two airports: Fiumicino (FCO - Leonardo Da Vinci) and Ciampino (CIA)

* Bologna (BLQ – Guglielmo Marconi)

* Naples (NAP - Capodichino)

* Pisa (PSA - Galileo Galilei)

* Venice (VCE – Marco Polo)

* Turin (TRN – Sandro Pertini)

* Catania (CTA - Vincenzo Bellini)

* Bari (BRI - Karol Wojtyla or Palese)

By train

* From France via Nice, Lyon, and Paris

* From Croatia via Zagreb

* From Austria via Vienna, Innsbruck and Villach

* From Geneva, Zurich and other Swiss cities

* From Germany via Munich

* From Czech Republic via Prague

* From Hungary via Budapest

* From Serbia via Belgrade

* From Slovenia via Ljubljana

* From Spain via Barcelona

By car

Italy borders on France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. Austrian, French and Swiss borders are open, but cars can be stopped behind the border for random checks. Switzerland is now part of the Schengen zone, and they lifted systematic identity checks for travellers on land borders from 2008 December 12.

By bus

With Eurolines .

By boat

There are several ferries departing from Greece, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Most of them arrive to Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi.

Some regular ferry services connect the island of Corsica in France to Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and North of Sardinia. Barcelona is connected to Civitavecchia.

Some regular ferry services connect Sicily and Naples to some North African harbours.

There is a hydrofoil service running from Pozzallo on the south-eastern coast of Sicily to Malta.

Islands :

Sicily, Sardinia, Capri, Ischia, Elba, Procida, Aeolian Islands, Tremiti, Ustica, Pantelleria, Aegadi Islands, Pelagie Islands Dino Island

Dino Island, Praja a Mare, Calabria

Museums :

Every major city has a number of local museums, but some of them have national and international relevance.

These are some of the most important permanent collections.

* Uffizi Museum in Florence, one of the greatest museums in the world, must see. Given the great number of visitors, ticket reserving is a good idea to avoid hours-long queues.

* Egyptian Museum in Turin, holds the second-largest egyptian collection in the world, behind the Egypt's Cairo Museum collection.

* The Aquarium in Genoa, one of the largest and most beautiful in the world, is in the Porto Antico (ancient port) in an area completely renewed by architect Renzo Piano in 1992.

* Science and Technology Museum in Milan, one of the largest in Europe, holds collections about boats, airplanes, trains, cars, motorcycles, radio and energy. Recently has also acquired the Toti submarine, which is open to visitors.

* Roman Civilization Museum in Rome, hold the world's largest collection about ancient Rome and a marvellous reproduction (scale 1:250) of the entire Rome area in 325 A.D., the age of Constantine the Great.

* National Cinema Museum in Turin, located inside the wonderful Mole Antonelliana, historical building and symbol of the city.

* Automobile Museum in Turin, one of the largest in the world, with a 170 car collection covering the entire automobile history.

By train

The Italian rail system has different train types: TBiz, EurostarItalia, Eurostar Italia AV (for Alta velocita or high speed with the ESAV logo), Eurostar City Italia, IntercityPlus, Intercity, Espresso, Interregionale and Regionale, Eurostar Italia and TBiz being the classiest. Generally speaking, for a given distance each tier costs from 40% to 100% more than the one below it. The train cars used by the TBiz and Eurostar Italia services are far newer than those used by the other types, but are not necessarily more comfortable; however many of them provide power sockets which may be useful if you plan on working on the train. On the other hand the cars used by Intercity trains might be split up into distinct, six-seater compartments, which is really nice when you're travelling in groups. A new level has been introduced recently. It is called Intercity-plus and it is just a way to have passengers pay more than the intercity fares. Recently, many of Interegionale trains have been classified as Intercity.

The main practical difference between train types is reliability. Intercity services are generally reliable, but if you need to catch a flight, for example, it might be better to pay extra for the Eurostar Italia. Interregionale and Regionale are less reliable, and stops in many more stations along the way. The other big difference between TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Intercity Plus and Intercity with Interregionale, Regionale and Espresso services is that on the best ones seating reservation is compulsory, where every passenger has a seat allocated to him/her. This means that the train will never (theoretically) be packed with an impossible number of people, but it also means you will need to purchase tickets in advance. Actually, many passengers with tickets for other trains that take a wrong one will have to pay the cheap fine for not having a seat reservation. As a result, on major routes or peak hours, expect to find your seat taken, in this case usually a brief discussion is enough to get your seat. During commuter hours, on major north-south routes during the holidays, or before and after large political demonstrations, trains on the lower train types can become extremely full, to the point where it gets very uncomfortable, in which case you could find yourself sitting on a tiny fold out flap in the hallway, where you'll have to move for everyone passing by.

The pricier train types are usually faster, but there is not a consistent speed difference between trains. The main difference being the number of stops made along the same routes. On some routes, the Eurostar will cut the travel time in half, but on others all trains go more or less at the same speed, and taking the Eurostar Italia might be a waste of money. Just check the Trenitalia website [13] or the printed schedule, usually located near the entrance to each platform, to see how long the trip will take.

On long routes, such as Milan - Rome or Milan - Reggio Calabria, Trenitalia operates special night trains Treni Notte. They depart around 22 and arrive in the morning. Depending on the train, you may be able to choose between normal seats, couchette and sleeper cabins of different categories. Seats are cheapest, but even sleeper cabins are not prohibitively expensive and are a very relaxing way to travel long distances. Also keep in mind some trains do not provide air conditioning so bring your own water bottle during the hot summer months.

On the train schedules displayed at each station, every train is listed in different colours (i.e. blue, red, green). The arrival times are listed in parentheses next to the names of each destination. One thing to watch out for is that certain trains only operate seasonally, or for certain time periods (for example, during holidays).

The lines to buy tickets can be very long, and slow, so get to the station early. There are touch-screen ticket machines which are very useful, efficient, and multilingual, but there are never that many, and the lines for those can be very long too.

You can also buy tickets online on the Trenitalia website; you will receive a code (codice di prenotatione (PNR)) that is used to pick up the ticket from a ticket machine in the station ("Self Service"). For some (but not all) trains you can also choose a ticketless option, where you print out the ticket yourself. See also below at Trenitalia Ticketless. You can also choose an option to have a "proper" receipt printed on the train, should you need one. By default the site will only show the "best" (usually more expensive) connections - you may select to "show all connections" to see if there are slower but cheaper connections available.

Eurostar trains can fill up, so if you're on a tight schedule you should buy those tickets in advance. In general, you should buy the tickets before boarding the train. The Italian Rail recently (end of 2007) started a campaign against fare evasion, and introduced heftier fines (starting at €50). If you're really running late and you have no ticket, it's probably best to directly talk with the conductor ('il controllore or il capotreno) outside the train when boarding.

Remember that you must validate the ticket before boarding, by stamping it in one of the yellow boxes (marked Convalida). Travelling with an unstamped ticket is technically the same as travelling without ticket. It is quite important not to forget to validate your ticket as the conductors are generally not tolerant in this particular matter.

The cheapest way to travel in a region is to buy a zone ticket card. A chart displayed near the validating machine tells you how many zones you must pay between stations. To buy a zone card for the next region you would have to get off the train at the last station and because the stops are so short you would have to board the next train (usually in about 1 hour).

As of January 10, 2005 a smoking ban in public places went into effect in Italy. You will be subject to fines for smoking on any Italian train.

There are special deals offered too...some of them are reserved to foreign tourist and others are available to locals. Some deals are passes that allow travel during a chosen period, while other special offers are normal tickets sold at decent prices with some restrictions. Before you choose to buy a pass, check first if it is cheaper than buying a normal ticket (or better, a discounted normal ticket, if available).

If you are travelling a lot, and you're not Italian, you can get a TRENITALIA PASS: you buy a number of days of travel to be used within 2 months, however you still have to pay a supplement on the compulsory reservation services, i.e. TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Intercity Plus and Intercity which will between EUR 5.00 and EUR 25.00 depending on the train type. Details are on the Trenitalia website , and also on RailChoice website at .

Trenitalia Ticketless

Trenitalia's Ticketless option is only available for single direct trips when booked online. You can book a combined trip comprising more than one train, but then the only option is Self Service, meaning you must pick up the printed ticket from a machine.

A workaround is to book each train segment separately and choose the Ticketless option for each - the total cost is the same.

The Self Service option requires you do perform steps:

1. pay online for the train voyage and get a PNR via email

2. before departure queue at the Self Service machine and get a printed ticket

3. queue at the counter and get a receipt for your ticket

4. get on the train

Step 3 is not required for legally getting on the train, but without a receipt you will not be able to claim expenses from your employer or from any tax authority.

Keep in mind that sometimes: the machines are out of order; the queue at the counter is very long and slow moving.

By car

Italy has a well-developed system of highways in the northern side of the country while in the southern it's a bit worse for quality and extension. Every highway is identified by an A followed by a number on a green backdrop. Most of the highways (autostrade) are toll roads. Some have toll stations giving you access to a section (particularly the tangenziali of Naples, Rome, and Milan, for example), but generally, most have entrance and exit toll stations. Don't lose your entrance ticket, for if you do, you will be charged for the longest distance (example: if you are on A1 Milano-Napoli at the Milano toll station you'll be charged for the entire 700km distance). All the blue lanes (marked "Viacard") of toll stations accept major credit cards as well as pre-paid card (Viacard) that you can buy at tobacconist, Autogrill, or gas stations.

Many Italians use an electronic pay-toll device, and there are reserved lanes marked in Yellow with the sign "Telepass" or a simply "T". Driving through those lanes (controlled by camera system) without the device will result in a fine and a payment of the toll for the longest distance. Due to agreement with other countries, if you're foreigner, you'll pay also extra cost for locating you in your country.

Even if speeding is very common on autostrade,(although lot less than in the past) be aware that there are a number of automatic and almost invisible systems to punish speeding and hazardous driving, also italian Highway Patrol (Polizia Stradale) has several unmarked cars equipped with speed radars and camera systems. If you don't know the road very well you should probably keep to a reasonable speed.

Since 2006, several sections of the italian Highways are equipped with an automatic system called SICVE or TUTOR that check the average speed of the veichles over a long distance (5/10 km), and the coverage is continuosly improved (at the moment, signs are posted at the beginning of the section covered - full list of sections covered is here [17]).

A good clue of a nearby check system is when cars around you suddenly reduce speed. If you see a lot of cars keeping themselves just under the limit and nobody overtaking, you'd better do the same. Driving outside an autostrada, when cars coming in the opposite direction are flashing lights to you, you're probably driving towards a speed check.

Note that common use of flashlights may be different from your country. Flashing lights may be meant either as a warning to give way or as an invitation to go first, depending on the situation: so, please, be extremely careful in order to avoid any problem.

Speed limits are:

* 130 km/h on highways (autostrade) (110 km/h in case of rain);

* 110 km/h on freeways (superstrade);

* 90 km/h on single-lane roads;

* 50 km/h inside cities.

Italian laws allow a 5% (minumum 5 km/h) tolerance on local speed limit. Fines are generally very expensive.

Motorbikes should drive always with the headlights on, for other vehicles that applies only outside cities and on autostrade.

Drunk driving is a controversial issue. The tolerated limit is 0.50g/L in blood; being above this limit punishable by a heavy fine, licence revocation and jail time, but drunk driving is still rather common.

Anyway, after several deadly accidents involving drunk drivers the checks are becoming more and more frequent and at the date of January 2009 the governement is planning to reduce the limit to 0.20g/L or even to 0.0g/L.

All passengers are required to wear their seat belt and children under 10 must use the back seat. Unless clearly posted on the road you are using, you are supposed to yield to any vehicle coming from your right from another public thoroughfare. Signposts used in Italy are patterned according to EU recommendations and use mostly pictograms (not text) but there are minor differences (example: highways directions are written on green background while the white stands for local roads and blue for the remaining).

Avoid using the blue roads for long distances. While autostrade may be expensive, they significantly decrease the time it takes to travel from one place to another, as blue roads often obligates you to drive through several cities and villages.

As can be expected, fuel is considerably more expensive than in North America and Japan, but on par with most of the rest of western Europe. Expect to pay about €1.25 per liter for fuel.

Many tourists report [18] that they got fined (about €100) for entering a ZTL [19] (zona a traffico limitato; Limited Traffic Zone) unknowingly. ZTLs [20] are restricted areas in many Italian cities where vehicles are not permitted except for limited reasons between certain hours. The entrance to a ZTL is marked by signs and cameras, which can easily go unnoticed by tourists driving a car.

By bus

Buy town bus tickets before boarding from corner stores and other shops. The payment system for most mass transit in Italy (trains, city buses, subway) is based on voluntary payment combined with sporadic enforcement. Specifically, you buy a ticket which can be used at any time (for that level of service, anyway) and when you use it you validate the ticket by sticking it into a machine that stamps a date on it. Once in a while (with varying frequency depending on the mode of transportation) someone will ask you for your ticket and if you don't have one you get a fine, and theoretically (sometimes happens, if a fraud is suspected) you can be asked to present to the Police for a formal report. Usually line enforcers aren't very condescending, especially in northern Italy. In almost every city there's a different pricing scheme, so check in advance ticket formulas and availability.

For tourist may be very convenient to buy daily (or multi-day) tickets that allow you to travel as much as you want in a single (or more) day. Every major city also has some type of City Card, a fixed-fee card allowing you to travel on local public transportation, visit a number of museums and giving you discounts on shops, hotels and restaurants.

Check for both these possibilities at local Tourist's Office or on city's website (which is often of the form www.comune.cityname.it as for example www.comune.roma.it).

By thumb

Hitchhiking in Italy is related with the hippies and "on the road" kind of culture. Therefore, it is considered out-dated and useless. You will rarely find Italians hitchhiking unless there's a serious problem with the bus or other means of transportation. Hitchhiking in the summer in touristy areas works okay because you'll get rides from Northern European tourists, and it works okay in very rural areas as long as there is consistent traffic (because you're still playing the odds), but hitchhiking near large cities or along busy routes is extremely frustrating. Hitchhiking is not recommended for women travelling alone. Hitchhiking along expressways and highways is forbidden. Off the Autostrada things are also a bit difficult: Italians are generally very friendly and open people, but they're less likely to pick up hitchhikers than anyone else in the world. It is easier to hitchhike out of the Bronx than it is to hitchhike in Italy.

[edit] By boat

Approaching Italy by sea can be a great experience and is a good alternative to traditional onshore "tours". A yacht charter to Italy is a fulfilling way to experience the country. Although the yacht charter industry is smaller than one would expect for this incredibly popular tourist destination, there are many reasons to choose a yacht over a more conventional onshore approach. The Italian coast, like the French coast, attracts luxury yacht charters of the highest standards. "Touring" Italy from a private yacht is surprisingly convenient and comfortable. Italy's dramatic coastline is best appreciated from the sea and the Italians know it! You may take a swim whenever you like, and many of the most famous sights are within easy reach of the seashore. Cruising on a private yacht also offers you a certain relief from the crowds and traffic that are traditionally unavoidable in Italy's most popular destinations. There are major distinct nautical regions in Italy: Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Sardinia and Sicily. Each has its own flavor and focus. Be sure to plan your itinerary carefully as each region is rewarding in its own particular way.

Talk

Not surprisingly, Italian is the language spoken by the vast majority of Italians. The northern part of the Trentino-Alto Adige region (South Tyrol) is predominantly German speaking with Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language related to Switzerland's Romansh, also spoken by a minority. There is a small French-speaking minority in the Valle d'Aosta region and Slovene is spoken by a minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area. There are several small pockets of Greek-speaking communities in the southern regions of Calabria and Puglia.

Local dialects are widely spoken as second language, often its accent it is also maintained while speaking Italian. There is a big variety of dialects, often viewed as a result of centuries of division (Italy was not fully unified until 1871) with small difference of accent even in adjacent towns.

English is spoken fairly commonly on the well-travelled path, especially in touristic areas where it is widely spoken by sellers and tourist operators. German, French, Japanese and Spanish are often spoken in these areas as well, but a bit less.

In the cities you can often speak English with younger people, aged between 14 and 35: almost everyone had to take English in school since the 80's, though the result depends on the person. At least the most basic phrases usually stuck, and normally there's at least one per group with a decent level of English. On the other hand, senior citizens rarely know English, but they'll try to help you anyway with gestures or similar words. Spanish is spoken by a considerable number of people but not widely, anyway it's very similar to Italian language and they can be understood if the speakers communicate slowly between them. German and French are known by some people but could be hard for you to find them.

You'll want a good phrasebook if you're going anywhere remote, although even this may not help you in the smaller towns and villages as many areas still speak dialects that you won't find in any phrasebooks.

Italy is part of the Eurozone, so the common currency of the European Union, the Euro (€), is legal tender in Italy.

Italy is quite an expensive country. It has many luxury hotels and posh restaurants. It may cost €40.00 a day if a person self caters, stays in hostel, avoids drinking and doesn't visit too many museums. However, staying in a comfortable hotel, eating out regularly and visiting lots of museums and galleries, may cost a person at least €150-200 a day. Hiring a car may double expenses, so one should visit with enough budget.

All the bills include the service charges, so tipping is not necessary, although it is widely customary in restaurants and in hotels. Tipping the taxi drivers is also not necessary, but a hotel porter may expect a little something.

If you plan to travel through countryside or rural regions you probably should not rely on your credit cards: in many small towns they're accepted only by a small number of shops (particularly restaurants).

Unless otherwise stated, prices are inclusive of IVA sales tax (same as VAT), which is 20% for most goods, and 10% is restauration and hotelerie. On some products, such as books, IVA is 4%. If you're a non-EU resident, you are entitled to a VAT refund on purchases of goods that will be exported out of the European Union. Shops offering this scheme have a Tax Free sticker outside. Be sure to ask for your tax-free voucher before leaving the store. These goods have to be unused when you pass the customs checkpoint upon leaving the EU.

Italian fashion is renowned worldwide. Many of the world's most famous international brands have their headquarters in Italy. The two key areas for high-class shopping are Via della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone (and surroundings), in Milan and via Condotti in Rome, but you'll find flagship stores in almost every major city.

Sailing

Sailing is one of the best way to see the Italian islands, Sardegna, Sicilia, Tuscany Islands, Pontine, Aeolian, Capri, and more. Most charters offers many solutions from bareboat to crewed and cabin charter, with all the type of the boats.

Charter Listing in Alphabetic order, please.

* ItalyCharter

* SailEasy

Cuisine

Italian food inside of Italy is different than Italian in America or western Europe. Italian food is based upon a few simple ingredients and Italians often have very discriminating tastes that may seem strange to Americans and other visitors.

For instance, a sandwich stand might sell 4 different types of ham sandwiches that in each case contain ham, mayonnaise, and cheese. The only thing that may different between the sandwiches is the type of ham or cheese used in them. Rustichella and panzerotti are two examples of sandwiches well-liked by Italians and tourists alike. Also, Italian sandwiches are quite different from the traditional Italian-American "hero", "submarine", or "hoagie" sandwich. Rather than large sandwiches with a piling of meat, vegetables, and cheese, sandwiches in Italy are often quite small, very flat (made even more so when they are quickly heated and pressed on a panini grill), and contain a few simple ingredients, rarely, if ever lettuce. The term panini may be somewhat confusing to travellers from Northern Europe where it has erroneously come to mean a flat heated sandwich on a grill, in Italy the term is equivalent to "bread rolls" (plural) which can be simple rolls or sometimes with basic filling. However instead of a sandwich why not try piadinas which are a flat folded bread with filling which are served warm.

Americans will notice that Italian pasta often has a myriad of sauces rather than simply tomato and alfredo. Also, Italian pasta is often served with much less sauce than in America.

Structure of a traditional meal: Usually Italian meals for working days are: small breakfast, one-dish lunch, one-dish dinner. Coffee is welcomed at nearly every hour, especially around 10:00 and at the end of a meal. At the weekends and in restaurants (for other occasions), they typically consist of the sections described below.

A traditional Italian meal is separated into several sections: antipasto (marinated vegetables, etc), primo (pasta or rice dish), secondo (meat course) often with a side-dish: contorno, and dolce (dessert).

Like the language and culture, food in Italy is extremely different region by region. Pasta and olive oil are considered the characteristics of southern Italian food, while northern food focuses on rice and butter(although today there are many many exceptions). Local ingredients are also very important. In warm Naples, citrus and other fresh fruit play a prominent role in both food and liquor, while in Venice fish is obviously an important traditional ingredient. As a guideline, in the south cuisine is focused on pasta and dessert, while at north meat is king, but this rule can be very different depending on where you are.

A note about breakfast in Italy: Breakfast in Italy is very light, often just a coffee with a pastry (cappuccino e brioche) or a piece of bread and fruit jam. Unless you know for certain otherwise, you should not expect a large breakfast in Italy. Cappuccino is a breakfast drink; ordering one after lunch or dinner is considered highly strange and considered a typical "tourist thing".

Another enjoyable Italian breakfast item is cornetto (pl. cornetti): a croissant or light pastry often filled with cream or nutella.

Lunch is seen as the most important part of the day, so much that they have one hour reserved for eating and another for napping. All shops close down and resume after the two hour break period. To get around this businesses stay open later. And, good luck trying to find a place open during the so-called "pausa pranzo" (siesta time). This may not apply to the city center of the biggest cities or to shopping centers.

In Italy cuisine is considered a kind of art. Great chefs as Gualtiero Marchesi or Gianfranco Vissani are seen as half way between TV stars and magician. Italians are extremely proud of their culinary tradition and generally love food, and talking about it. However they are not so fond of common preconceptions, like that Italian food is only pizza and spaghetti. They'll also distaste "bastardized" version of their dishes that are popular elsewhere, and many Italians have a hard time believing that the average foreigner can get even a basic pasta dish "right".

You should consider that Italy's most famous dishes like pizza or spaghetti belong to southern regions cuisine, and eating in different areas can be an interesting opportunity to taste some less well known local specialty.

When dining out with Italians read the menu and remember that almost every restaurant has a typical dish and some towns have centuries-old traditions that you are invited to learn. People will be most happy when you ask for local specialties and will gladly advise you.

For a cheap meal you may like to track down an aperitivo bar (somewhat similar to the concept of tapas) which in the early evening (about 17:00) serve a series of plates of nibbles, cheese, olives, meat, bruschetta and much more, all this food is typically free to anyone who purchases a drink but is intended to be a premeal snack.

The tradition of Aperitivo is particulary felt in Milan. There you can often make a dinner out of it.

[edit] Specialties

Almost every city and region has its own specialities, a brief list of which may include:

* Risotto - Aroborio rice that has been sautéed and cooked in a shallow pan with stock. The result is a very creamy and hearty dish. Meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and cheeses are almost always added depending on the recipe and the locale. Many restaurants, families, towns, and regions will have a signature risotto or at least style of ristotto, in addition or in place of a signature pasta dish (risotto alla Milanese is famous Italian classic). It's a typical dish in Lombardy and Piedmont.

* Arancini - Balls of rice with tomato sauce, eggs, and cheese that are deep fried. They are a southern Italian specialty, though are now quite common all over.

* Polenta - Yellow corn meal (yellow grits) that has been cooked with stock. It is normally served either creamy, or allowed to set up and then cut into shapes and fried or roasted. It is a very common dish in northern mountains restaurants, usually eaten with deer of boar meat.

* Gelato This is the Italian version of ice cream. The non-fruit flavors are usually made only with milk. Gelato made with water and without dairy ingredients is also known as sorbetto. It's fresh as a sorbet, but tastier. There are many flavors, including coffee, chocolate, fruit, and tiramisù.

* Tiramisù Italian cake made with coffee, mascarpone, and ladyfingers (sometimes rum) with cocoa powder on the top. The name means "pick-me-up."

Cheese and sausages

In Italy you can find nearly 200 kinds of cheese, including the famous Parmigiano Reggiano, and 300 types of sausages.

If you want a real kick, then try to find one of the huge open markets, usually on Saturdays, to see all the types of cheeses and meats in action.

Restaurants

Italian restaurants and bars charge more (typically double) if you eat seated at a table rather than standing at the bar or taking your order to go. There is usually small, very small print on the menus to tell you this. Some menus may also indicate a coperto (cover charge) or servizio (service charge).

Traditional meal includes (in order) antipasto (starter), primo (first dish - pasta or rice dishes), secondo (second dish - meat or fish dishes), served together with contorno (mostly vegetables), cheeses/fruit, dessert, coffee, spirits. Italians usually have all of them served and restaurants expect customers to follow this scheme; elegant or ancient restaurants usually refuse to make changes to proposed dishes (exceptions warmly granted for babies or unhealthy people) or to serve them in a different order, and they absolutely don't serve cappuccino between primo and secondo.

Sequence of dishes: When eating with a friend or a partner, agree whether you want primo (pasta or rice dishes) or secondo (meat dishes - if you want vegetables too look under contorni and order them as sides). When pizza is ordered, it is served as a primo (even if formally it is not considered as such), together with other primi. If you order a pasta/pizza and your friend has a steak you will get your pasta dish, and probably when you've finished eating the steak will arrive. It's slightly frowned upon to ask them to bring primo and secondo dishes at the same time (or "funny" changes like having a secondo before a primo). They may well say yes...and then not do it. Bad luck if you're doing the Atkins diet...

Restaurants which propose diet food, very few, usually write it clearly in menus and even outside; others usually don't have any dietetic resources, as Italians on a diet don't go to the restaurant.

Smoking: Italian restaurants are completely non-smoking or have a non-smoking area which is well separated from the smoking area; even if Italians have a friendly approach to laws and rules, this particular law is respected almost everywhere, though. Better anyway to precisely ask for an effective smoking or non-smoking area. When not available, it's normal to step out the restaurant door to smoke, you will find many people doing so and this is often a good moment to meet new people too.

When pets are allowed (not a frequent case), never order ordinary dishes for them; in particular, never ever order meat for your pet, this would seriously upset waiters and other customers. In case of need, you might ask if the chef can kindly propose something (he usually can).

Better to leave tips in cash (not on your credit card).

Pizza is a quick and convenient meal. In many large cities there are pizza shops that sell by the gram. When ordering, simply tell the attendant the type of pizza you would like (e.g. pizza margherita, pizza con patate (french fries), pizza al prosciutto (ham), etc.) and how much ("Vorrei due fette - two slices - per favore"). They will slice it, warm it in the oven, fold it in half, and wrap it in paper. Other shops also sell by the slice, similar to American pizza shops. Italians found this a sort of second class pizza, chosen only when you cannot eat a "real" pizza in a specialized restaurant (Pizzeria). Getting your meal on the run can save money--many sandwich shops charge an additional fee if you want to sit to eat your meal. Remember that italian pizzas have a thinner base of bread and less cheese than the foreign sold ones.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Bars, like restaurants, are non-smoking.

Italians enjoy going out during the evenings, so it's normal to have a drink in a bar as pre-dinner. It is called Aperitivo. Within the last couple years, started by Milan, a lot of bars have started offering fixed-price cocktails at aperitivo hours (18 - 21) with free, and often a very good buffet meal. It's now widely considered stylish to have this kind of aperitivo (called Happy Hour) instead of a structured meal before going out to dance or whatever.

While safe to drink, the tap water in some paeninsular parts of Italy can be cloudy with a slight off taste. Most Italians prefer bottled water, which is served almost exclusively in restaurants. Make sure you let the waiter/waitress know you want regular water or else you could get frizzante (or fizzy club soda water) water. The exception to this is Rome where they have exceptional pride in their quality of water. This goes right back to the building of aqueducts channeling pure mountain water to all the citizens of Rome during Roman times. You can refill your drinking containers and bottles at any of the constant running taps and fountains dotted around the city, safe in the knowledge that you are getting excellent quality cool spring water - try it!

Wine

Beer

Although wine is a traditional everyday product, beer is drunk as well, particularly when going out for a pizza with friends.

Beer does not belong to the Italian tradition as wine does: even if pubs serving beer are very common they tend to have both little choice and quality. If you are looking for good beers you won't find any problem, you just have to look around a little bit more. First of all, Italian beer market is dominated by international brands and their local belongings, which is fairly comfortable if you are a casual drinker, like most Italians are. Major Italian beers include Peroni and Moretti. Instead, if you are serious about beer drinking, you'll probably be better to find one of the many micro-breweries around the country. They often are run by local beer enthusiasts turned brewers, running small breweries with a pub attached. Their association is called Unionbirrai [23].

Other drinks

A cold limoncello on a warm night

* Limoncello. A liquor made of alcohol, lemon peels, and sugar. Limoncello can be considered a "moon shine" type of product as every Italian family, especially in the middle-south (near Napoli) and southern part of the country, has their own recipe for limoncello. Because lemon trees adapt so well to the Mediterreanean climate, and they produce a large amount of fruit continually throughout their long fruit-bearing season, it is not unusual to find many villa's yards filled with lemon trees bending under the weight of their crop. You can make a lot of lemonade, or better yet, brew your own limoncello. It is mainly considered a dessert liquor, served after a heavy meal (similar to amaretto), and used for different celebrations. The taste can be compared to a very strong and slightly thick lemonade flavor with an alcohol tinge to it. Best served room temperature or chilled in the freezer. It is better sipped than treated as a shooter.

* Don't forget the northern regions spirit Grappa. You'll either like it or you won't. It's made by fermenting grape skins, so you could imagine how it might taste. If you're going to drink it, then make sure you get a bottle having been distilled multiple times.

Sleep

In major cities and touristic areas you can find a good variety of accommodations, from world-class brand hotels to family-managed bed & breakfasts and room rentals, but hostels are really few. Camping is a good way to save money and they're usually well managed, but especially during summer, managers tend not to accept last-minute groups of young people (given the high chance of problems that such groups of Italian guys tend to cause), so you'd better book in advance. Farmstays are an increasingly popular way to experience Italy, particularly in rural areas of Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, Abruzzo, Sardinia and Apulia. They provide a great combination of good and healthy food, wonderful sights and not-so-expensive prices. If you prefer self-catering accommodations, it's quite simple to find them on the wonderful Amalfi Coast or the less commercial and more genuine Calabria coast.

[edit] Cope

* Electricity. Italy uses 220V, 50Hz. Italy has its own electrical plug design. The standard "European" two-prong plugs will fit, but grounded (three-prong) plugs from other countries will not. German-type "Schuko" sockets can also be found quite often, especially in the north, and you'll find adapters for that system in virtually all supermarkets. Adapters for other systems (including US plugs) are not that ubiquitous but can be found at airports or in specialised shops.

Learn

For English-speakers looking to study in Italy, there are a few options. In Rome, Duquesne University, John Cabot, Loyola University Chicago and Temple University maintain campuses. Right outside of Rome the University of Dallas maintains its own campus in Marino. Penn State University has a program that sends architecture & landscape architecture students. St. John's University has a graduate program in Rome for International Relations and MBA.

It depends on how you want to learn. Are you interested in studying in a huge touristy city like Florence or Rome? Or, are you interested in learning from a small town on the Italian Riviera. The smaller cities have better opportunity to learn Italian because there's not a lot of English going around. No matter where you decide, Italy is one of the best spots geographically to travel while you're not studying.

Think about learning what the Italians are best at: food, wine, Italian language, architecture, motors (cars and bikes) and interior design.

Work

Work in Italy is very competitive. Unemployment rate is considerably high, compared to other major European countries, and mostly made up of young adults and female. Salaries range from EURO 800 - EURO 1,400. There's a huge underground black market though, where you'll find most of these individuals working. This doesn't mean working in some kind of obscure crime syndicate: most "black" workers can be found in small business as bars, pubs, small shops or construction workers. Although this kind of jobs are illegal (but legal consequences are most on the employer) they're probably the easier thing to find if you're looking for a temporary job.

If you're thinking about establishing a small business be sure to get in contact with local Chamber of Commerce and an accountant and they will help you sorting out the mess of Italian laws, and such.

Stay safe

Like most developed countries, Italy is a very safe country to travel. There are few incidents of terrorism/serious violence and these episodes have been almost exclusively motivated by internal politics. Examples include the 1993 bombing of the Uffizi by the Italian Mafia. Almost every major incident is attributed to organized crime or anarchist movements and rarely, if ever, directed at travelers or foreigners.

Petty crime can be a problem for unwary travelers. Travelers should note that pickpockets often work in pairs or teams, occasionally in conjunction with street vendors. The rate of violent crimes in Italy is considered "moderate," and while a portion of violent crimes are committed against travelers, it is normally not a problem. However, instances of rape and robbery as a result of drugging are increasing. Travelers should be careful when going out at night alone.

Travelers should also be sure to ask for prices before making transactions with most vendors. Taking pictures with jovial, high-spirited costumed mascots will be followed up with a demand for payment. Some other examples are when gelato is purchased or a shoe shine is desired, prices should be asked for beforehand, since reports of extreme price gouging has occurred.

Beware of being tricked on prices even in restaurants, bars, and hotels. If they see you are a tourist, it's somewhat common to give you a higher bill than you're supposed to pay, and you MUST complain to get the right price or even getting your change back!

Out of the restaurant, you might occasionally be asked to show your bill and your documents by Guardia di Finanza agents (a police specialized in tax subjects - sometimes in uniform, sometimes in civilian clothes); whatever they show you, ask for the badge, and if uncertain, immediately try to call #113 (similar to America's 911 - English spoken) and ask for policemen in uniform to help you, as it could be a trick to pickpocket you. This type of tax agent activity is frequent (they want to know if the owner regularly recorded your payment) and completely legitimate, but pickpocketers find it a good excuse to approach their victims. Call 113 or enter the first shop.

There are many bars in Italy that cater to tourists and foreigners with "home country" themes, calling themselves such things as "American bars" or "Irish pubs". In addition to travelers, these bars attract a large number of Italians who, among other reasons, go there specifically to meet travelers and other foreigners. And while the motivation for the vast majority of these Italians is simply to have a good time with new friends, there can be one or two petty criminals who loiter in and out of these establishments hoping to take advantage of travelers who are disoriented or drunk. Traveling to these places in groups is a simple solution to this problem.

When entering with a car into a city, avoid restricted areas (ZTL [24]) or you could be fined about €100.

Like in other countries, there are East European gangs known for tampering with ATM's by placing "skimmers" in front of the card slot and get a clone of your card. Check carefully the machine and in doubt, use another one.

For emergencies, call 113 (Polizia di Stato - State Police), 112 (Carabinieri - Gendarmery), 117 (Guardia di Finanza - Financial police force), 115 (Fire Department), 118 (Medical Rescue), 1515 (State Forestry Department), 1530 (Coast Guard), 1528 (Traffic reports).

[edit] Stay healthy

Italian hospitals are public and offer completely free high standard treatments for EU travelers. However emergency assistance is granted even to non-EU travelers.

The US Center for Disease Control recommends two vaccines for people traveling to western Europe: Hepatitis A (even though Americans are not at an increased risk) and Hepatitis B.

When engaging in sexual intercourse, adoption of normal means against STD is recommended. HIV/AIDS/HBV rates are similar to those of EU countries.

Prostitution in Italy is not illegal though authorities are taking a firmer stance against it: brothels are illegal and pimping is a serious offence, considered by the law similar to slavery. In some areas, it is an offence even to stop your car before a prostitute to contract.

Italy has a small incidence rate of "Mad Cow" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)) disease--about 14 cases per million head of cattle. Since 2001, when Italy had its high of 48 cases of reported BSE, the reports have dropped to 38 (2002), and 29 (2003). Travelers concerned with this should visit the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) website for information on how to limit their exposure.

Respect

Italians are uncommonly friendly and laid back, as well as very used to interacting with foreigners; if you are polite and civil you should have no problems, but don't expect that the average italian speaks or even understands English.

[edit] Contact

Internet Access

The Italian government has recently passed a law requiring all public-access internet points to keep records of web sites viewed by customers, and even the customer's ID. Hotels providing Internet access are not required to record ID's if the connection is provided in the guests room, meanwhile if the connection is offered in the main public hall then ID's are required.

Publicly available wireless access is forbidden unless the provider has a special government license. This has caused only major phone-like companies to be able to afford that, so wireless access is generally expensive.

Internet Scams

There have been several people recently who have been the victims of elaborate scams through Amazon.co.uk as the media agent. The scam involves using Amazon standard reply to the buyer which requests a MoneyGramme to be sent to: colanders.shop@gmail.com Catrin Mora, Via Mosca 58, Rome, 00142, Italy.

Avoid trading with this person/email address as you are likely to end up being a statistic with little or no backing from either Amazon or the Police.

[edit] Telephone

The telephone system is well diffused in all parts of Italy. Both the wire and mobile systems are widespread.

Telephone numbers used to have separate prefixes (area codes) and a local number. In the 1990's the numbers were unified and nowadays, when calling Italian phones you should always dial the full number. For historical reasons you can still hear of prefix and local number. The number of land lines start with 0. The number of mobile lines start with 3. Numbers starting with 89 are high-fee services. If you don't know somebody's phone number you can dial a variety of recently-established phone services, the most used are 1240, 892424, 892892, but nearly every 12** combination has a different service. Note that most of them have high fees.

To call abroad from Italy you have to dial 00 + country code + local part where the syntax of the local part depends on the country called.

To call Italy from abroad you have to dial international prefix + 39 + local part Note that you should not skip the starting zero of the local part if you are calling an Italian land line.

The Italian calling code is 39. To phone another country, dial 00 followed by the calling code and subscriber number.

In case of emergency call the appropriate number in the list below. Such calls are usually free and calls to 112, 113, 115, 118 can be made from payphones for free without the need of inserting coins. 112 (standard emergency number in GSM specification) can be dialed in any case for free from any mobile phone (even if your credit is empty or if you are in an area covered by a different operator)

* 112 Carabinieri emergency number - general emergency

* 113 Police emergency number - general emergency

* 114 Blue Phone emergency number - children-related emergency (especially various forms of violence)

* 115 Fire Brigade emergency number

* 117 Guardia di Finanza - for custom, commercial and tax issues

* 118 Health emergency number - use this if you need an ambulance, otherwise ask for the local Guardia Medica number and they'll send you a doctor.

* 1515 State Forestry Department

* 1518 Traffic Information

* 1530 Coast Guard

* 803116 A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club) - road side assistance; this is a service provided to subscribers to ACI or to other Automobile Clubs associated to ARC Europe; if you're not associated to any of them you'll be asked to pay a fare (approx. €80).

Note: this list is not complete (please help us to expand it) Always bring a note about the address and the number of your embassy.

If you are in an emergency and do not know who to call dial 112 or 113 (out of major towns, better to call 113 for English-speaking operators).

Payphones are widely available, especially in stations and airports. The number of payphones has consistently reduced after the introduction of mobile phones. Some payphones work with coins only, some with phone cards only and some with both coins and phone cards. Only a limited number of phones (just a few in main airports) directly accept credit cards.

People use mobile phones extensively. The main networks are TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile, part of Telecom Italia, formerly state controlled), Vodafone, Wind, and 3 (only UMTS cellphones). Note that cellphones from North America will not work in Italy, unless they are Tri-band. Nearly all of the country has GSM coverage, and as of 2007 most of it has UMTS coverage. Inside buildings you will find signal strength reduces significantly, first UMTS being lost and finally, GSM. If you arrive from abroad and intend making a lot of calls, buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card (termed prepagato for "prepaid" and ricaricabile for "rechargeable") and put it in your current mobile (if compatible and if your mobile set is not locked). Please note that, as a measure to counter crime and terrorism, you need to provide a valid form of identification, such as a passport or other official identity, to be able to purchase the SIM card. Unless you already have one, you will also be required to obtain a Codice Fiscale (a tax number) - the vendor may generate one for you from your form of identification. Subscription-based mobile telephony accounts are subject to a government tax, to which prepaid (prepagato in Italian) SIM cards are not subject. Sometimes hotels have mobile phone for customer to borrow.

Call costs vary greatly depending on when, where, from and where to. Each provider offers an array of complex tariffs and it is near impossible to make reliable cost estimates. An example Vodafone prepaid tariff charges 9 euro cents a minute to call Italian Vodafone numbers, 19 cents to call other Italian numbers, about 60 cents per minute to call Europe, USA, Canada, and 240 cents per minute to call the rest of the world. It can cost you 24 cents per minute to receive a call from outside Italy. Sending a text message can cost 15 cents to an Italian destination, and 30 cents otherwise. However, the provider may offer you diverse promotions from 1 to 2 days after each recharge (ricarica). The provider sends you text messages with the details. An example is "Vodafone Infinity 2000" offer which charges only the first minute of any call to another Vodafone number, up to a total of 2000 minutes (details vary).

The cost of calls differs considerably if you call a fixed-line phone or a mobile phone. Usually there is a difference in cost even for incoming calls from abroad. If you can choose, calling the other party's land line could be even 40% cheaper than mobile. Beware of premium rate calls (prefix 892, 899, 12) which can be very expensive. Many companies are shifting their customer service numbers to fixed-rate number (prefix 199), this numbers are at local rate, no matter where are you calling from.

According to national regulations, hotels cannot apply a surcharge on calls made from the hotel (as the switchboard service should be already included as a service paid in the room cost), but to be sure check it before you use.

Calls between landlines are charged at either the local rate or the national rate depending on the originating and destination area codes; if both are the same then the call will be local rate. Note that local calls are not free.

NEBRASKA

2009-08-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

Sidney is a great stopping en route to the many historic destinations, especially along the scenic byways.

A perfect example is the Fossil Freeway is a corridor between the Nebraska Panhandle and the Black Hills that holds a rich history beneath the earth’s soil.

The Fossil Freeway is a span of road that begins in Kimball and goes north. Sites include the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Site and Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering, Agate Fossil Beds in Harrison, Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson State Park in Crawford, Toadstool Geologic Park and Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed in Chadron, and Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, S.D.
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This route has uncovered a vast array of fossils, most found in the Wildcat Hills near Gering.

“Few places in the world can boast about so many fantastic fossil discoveries covering such a huge range in ancient history, all located in a tight geographical group,” Mark Harris, co-chair of the Fossil Freeway Coalition and associate director of the University of Nebraska State Museum said.

He said for those interested in natural history, the Fossil Freeway is the route to go.

“It’s pretty amazing to have seven world class fossil sites with a few hours drive,” he said.

First Homestead

While some tourists still venture to the famous Yellowstone National Park, others are choosing to keep vacation dollars in the state. The Fossil Freeway is a perfect example of that.
The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument near Kearney, NE. Picture taken by Mike Marshall.
The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument is a museum of and monument to Nebraska's and the Platte River valley's role in westward expansion. The Archway Monument is directly over Interstate 80 three miles (5 km) east of Kearney, Nebraska.
* The lobby escalator is the longest in the state of Nebraska.
* 360 ft (110 m). of fiber optics is utilized in the entry movie.
* 24 life-size cast figures appear in the show.
* Faces on the cast figures were cast from real people.
* Total of 89,000 blades of grass appear throughout the show.
* An authentic 1914 Ford Model T is featured in the Lincoln Highway scene.
* An authentic 1927 Oldsmobile is showcased in the Lincoln Highway scene.
* An authentic 1961 Cadillac convertible is showcased in the drive-in theater scene.
* The Archway Monument is featured in the movie About Schmidt.
* This wagon shows the size and contents of the typical Conestoga Wagon on the Oregon Trail.

List of historic houses in Nebraska

* Arbor Lodge
* Bowring Ranch
* Charles Storz House
* General George Crook House
* George H. Kelly House
* Gerald R. Ford Birthsite
* Havens-Page House
* Joslyn Castle
* Keirle House
* Lizzie Robinson House
* Malcolm X House Site
* Mayhew Cabin
* The Sherman
* Thomas Kilpatrick House

According to Nebraska’s division of travel and tourism, $3.7 billion was spent in Nebraska on overnight stays for paid accommodations in 2008.

Landmarks of the Nebraska :
Audubon Spring Creek Prairie
Rock Creek Station
Oak Grove Station
Simonton-Smith wagon train attack site
Spring Ranch
Susan Hail Grave
Fort Kearny (Fort Childs)
Midway Station
Cottonwood Springs
Fort McPherson
O'Fallon's Bluff
Beauvais Trading Post (Starr Ranch)
California Crossing
Windlass Hill and Ash Hollow State Historical Park
Rachel Pattison Grave at Ash Hollow Cemetery
John Hollman Grave
Courthouse and Jail Rocks
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Rebecca Winter's Grave site
Scottsbluff National Monument
Mitchell Pass
Pierre D. Papin Grave
Robidoux Trading Post

Trail name Near Location
Fontenelle Forest Bellevue Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
Scott Lookout Halsey Nebraska National Forest
Wilderness Park Lincoln Lincoln
Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail Norfolk Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Trooper Trail Chadron Nebraska National Forest
Meadowlark Trail Ft. Calhoun United States Fish and Wildlife Service

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New Zealand

2009-08-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

New Zealand is the country's biggest 'export' earner with two million tourists visiting per year. New Zealand is marketed as a "clean, green" adventure playground, with typical destinations being nature areas such as Milford Sound and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, while activities such as bungee jumping or whale watching exemplify typical tourist attractions.

Popular destinations include Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Milford Sound and Queenstown.

New Zealand is a popular destination for a number of countries in Asia and worldwide. New Zealand was also named the best overseas holiday destination in a The Daily Telegraph poll, the United Kingdom's largest such poll. Since the start of a 2000 advertising campaign by Tourism New Zealand, there has been a 61% increase in the number of Britons coming New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand, the country's official tourism agency, is actively promoting the country as a destination worldwide. Recent activities include a NZ$7 million campaign in China, concentrating on Shanghai, and cooperating to produce a New Zealand tourism layer for Google Earth, the first country to receive such a treatment.

Whanganui River

Popular tourist activities in New Zealand include sightseeing, adventure tourism, tramping (hiking) and camping. To support active travel, New Zealand has created numerous walking and hiking paths (often created and maintained by the DOC), some of which, like the Milford Track, have huge international recognition. There is also a walking route the length of the country, Te Araroa Trail, which is in the process of being finished as of the late 2000s, and a proposed New Zealand Cycleway.

Direct flights from Australia to Queenstown have also boosted overseas winter tourism. Ecotourism is also become an increasing segment of the tourism market, and both tourism spends and trip duration are relatively high, due to the remote location of the country attracting few short-trip visitors.

Bogoria, Vida, The Tonle Sap

2009-07-05T00:03:00.000-07:00

Kenya

Having holiday, explore the beauty of world and the unique lakes in the world must be a very great time and great adventure.

If you have a trip to Kenya, you must not miss this place : Bogoria Lake is a very special lake , because this is place of Flamingos. You can not see flamingos as many as in Bogoria Lake.

To reach Bogoria Lake, you can have way through Nakuru street - Baringo via Marigat.

Like a great painting with thousand palettes that would pleasants every eye's watching. Start with the almost-blue color which came from hills surrounding. The green of forest color and the grass , and also the pink color which is Flamingos.

The other unique lake in the world is, Vida Lake in Antartica. It has been isolated under the ice layers for years. This place just known by people at 2002. In this lake, you may found small creature which known as ancient microbe which has been frozen for more than 2000 years. Many experts has tried to make it live again so people can see how is it look, and derivatio of this long time hidden small creature.

The taste of this lake water is 7 times more salty than sea water.

If you want to adventure this lake, you must use very thick jacket for ice surrounding and it's temperature which is under 0 celcius degrees.

The last unique lake in the world that i post for right now is The Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. This lake can change it's flow direction every year. In Cambodia, Autumn start from November untill Mei, and the flow direction of this lake move towards Mekong river near Phnom Penh. And when it is rainy season In June, this lake becames very wide lake, thus sometimes it's been called Great Lake. The water of this lake is so clear. And it becames the greatest fresh lake in south-east asia. To reach this lake, you may go along 10 km way from Siem Reap.

Do not forget to take pictures if you reach that places ^^ as unforgettable adventures memories.

ISRAEL

2009-05-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

The State of Israel Hebrew:מדינת ישראל‎, Medinat Yisrael) was established on May 14, 1948 after nearly two thousand years of Jewish dispersal, and after 55 years of efforts to create a Jewish homeland (Zionism). The 60 years since Israeli independence have been marked by conflict with neighbouring Arab states and the Palestinian-Arabs.

There have also been many negotiations, and peace has been achieved with Egypt and

Jordan. Israel's democracy has survived under difficult circumstances and the country

has prospered despite war, ethno-religious conflict, boycotts, mass immigration and terror attacks. Since the creation of the Jewish state, the percentage of the world's Jews in Israel has grown; at present, about 40% of the world's Jewish population are Israeli residents.

Evidence of Jewish presence in Israel dates back 3,400 years, to the formation of the religion.

The name "Jews" derives from their origin in Judah. Over the course of this long history, the Jews have several times been dispersed and then returnedfrom exile, buttressed by the power and influence of their holy book, The Tanakh (the Old Testament).

Tourism in Israel includes a rich variety of historical and religious sites in the Holy Land, as well as modern beach resorts, archaeological tourism, heritage tourism and ecotourism. Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world. In 2008, Israel welcomed over 3

million foreign tourists with the most popular paid site being Masada.

The largest groups of tourists visit from the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Jerusalem : The capital and largest city of Israel. The holiest city in Judaism, the ancient capital of the United Monarchy and then of the Kingdom of Judah. The site of the Temples in Jerusalem. The four quarters of the Old City. The site of some of Jesus's teaching and entombment; Christians believe he was crucified on a nearby hill, Golgotha.

Western Wall (Islam). Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque

City of David, including Hezekiah's Tunnel

Tel

Aviv :

The city's greater area is the largest with 3 million inhabitants. It is Israel's second-largest city and a cosmopolitan, cultural and financial world city.

Golan Heights

Hermon mountain. Skiing and snowboarding during the winter.

Archaeology in Katzrin, Gamla, Nimrod Fortress,

Gilgal Refaim

Safed

A holy city in Judaism, where much of the Jerusalem Talmud was written and kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) was developed. Famous for its artisans. The grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in nearby Meron.

Acre

(Bahá'í) Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, resting place of Bahá'u'lláh.

Haifa

Carmel

(Bahá'í) Shrine of the Báb, its associated terraces, and the Bahá'í World Centre and the buildings.

Tiberias

A holy city in Judaism, on west bank of the freshwater Sea of Gallilee.

Saint Peter’s house and the Mount of Beatitudes.

Nazareth

Jesus's hometown and site of many of his acts and miracles

Bet She'an

One of the largest archaeological sites in the Middle East.

Bethlehem

Burial place of the matriarch Rachel and birthplace of King David.

Birthplace of Jesus

Please note that Bethlehem is not in the State of Israel but is under the control of the Palestinian Authority and almost surrounded by an 8-meter high wall, The Separation Barrier. Visitors from Israel will pass through a checkpoint and are required to show their passports.

Hebron

The second-holiest city in Judaism and the place where the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs is located. According to Jewish tradition, this is the burial place of the great patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah). The capital of the Kingdom of Israel before David moved it to Jerusalem.

Please note that Hebron is not in the State of Israel but is mostly under the control of the Palestinian Authority, except for a small area where Israeli citizens live. Visitors from Israel will pass through a checkpoint and may be required to show their passports. Travel to Hebron entails leaving the State of Israel and passing through the West Bank.

Masada

Masada became famous for its significance in the First Jewish-Roman War (Great Jewish Revolt), when a siege of the fortress by troops of the Roman Empire led to a mass suicide of the site's Jewish defenders when defeat became imminent.

Beersheba

Its settlement attributed to the patriarch Abraham. Regional capital of the Negev desert.

Eilat

Southernmost city. Year-round vacation destination.

Kibbutzim

A network of once socialist communes which dot the countryside. They are undergoing a process of modernization and re-organization. Well known in Israel for great contributions to Israeli history, politics, army, and Zionism.

Caesarea

The old city includes Roman and Crusader ruins, such as the amphitheatre (where concerts are frequently held), as well as the harbor from which St. Paul was taken as a prisoner to Rome.

The grassy golf club and villas are newly developed in this coastal city, which has become increasing popular to tourists.

Ein Gedi

Desert spring.

Seas and lakes :

The Dead Sea

The lowest point on the Earth's surface and the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, famous for its buoyancy and medicinal qualities

Sea of Galilee

Important Christian holy sites such as Mount of Beatitudes

Thailand

2009-04-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

People know that visit Thailand was suit for adult people. Specially for them loves shopping, party time, or water sports. But nowadays, this smiley Thailand ready to welcome kids also not only adult people as usual.More place for kids. More place for adventure time.

Bangkok.

In this city, we can see gigantic house and throw some snow in Dream World. Dream World has Giant's house, and Snow House.

Siam Ocean World.

Siam Paragon Mall. Amazon forest in a aquarium.

Phi Phi island.

Chok Chai garden in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Nakhon Panthom has Samphran Elephant Zoo

Wonders in Thailand :

Spa, Krabi (fantastic beach)

, Siam Niramit Show (high class

entertainment)

, Ayutthaya,

Phi Phi island (great view), Festival : Loy

Krathong Chiang Mai

Major Destination :

Phuket,

Ko Samui ,

Central

Thailand, Bangkok, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Northern Thailand,

Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai, North-eastern Thailand, Khao Yai National Park, Phimai historical park, Mahya Beach at Ko Phi Phi Lee

culture : Wat Suthat, a Bangkok goldleaf and lacquer

Thailand offers a great variety of attractions : diving sites, sandy beaches, hundreds of tropical islands, varied night-life, archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, exceptional flora and bird life, palaces and World Heritage sites. Many tourists follow courses during their stay in Thailand. Popular are classes in Thai cooking, Buddhism and traditional Thai massage. Thai national festivals range from the fun-for-all water splashing Songkran to the almost fairytale like quality of Loy Krathong. Many localities in Thailand also have their own festivals. Famous are the "Elephant Round-up" in Surin, the "Rocket Festival" in Yasothon and the curious "Phi Ta Khon" festival in Dan Sai.

Thai cuisine has become deservedly famous worldwide with its enthusiastic use of fresh herbs and spices. From an inexpensive plate of delicious Som tam at a simple street stall upcountry to a modern take on Thai cuisine in the gourmet restaurants of Bangkok, it's very difficult not to eat well in Thailand.

Only the most austere ascetics can resist shopping when in Thailand. Bangkok is renowned for its main shopping malls down town (with CentralWorld being the biggest shopping mall in South-east Asia), offering an astounding variety of international and local brands.

Towards the north of the city, and easily reached by Skytrain or underground, is "Chatuchak Weekend Market". It is possibly the largest market in the world, selling everything from household items to live, and sometimes endangered, animals. The "Pratunam Market" down town, is nearly totally specialised in fabrics and clothing. The night markets in the Silom area and on Khaosan Road are mainly tourist orientated, selling items such as T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and sunglasses. In the vicinity of Bangkok one can find several visually stunning "Floating markets".

The "Sunday Evening Walking Street Market", held on Rachadamnoen road inside the old city, must be the shopping highlight of a visit to Chiang Mai up in Northern Thailand. It attracts many locals as well as foreigners. The "Night Bazaar" is Chiang Mai's more tourist orientated market, sprawling over several city blocks just east of the old city walls and moat.

--source : Flame , wikipedia, googling

AUSTRALIA

2009-03-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

Tourism in Australia is a large sector of the economy. In 2003/04, the tourism industry represented 3.9% of Australia's GDP at a value of approximately A$32 billion to the national economy.It should be noted that tourism's share of GDP has been slightly decreasing over recent years. 1.1% of total exports of goods and services. Check out these :
Lasseter Highway, Greater Blue Mountain, Gold Coast, The Rock House you can see how sydney in ancient time, Sydey, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Captain's Cook house, Harbour bridge , Yulara an isolated town in Northern Territory of Australia,Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,Protected areas of the Northern Territory-Conservation Reserves * Annas Reservoir* Blackmore River* Caranbirrini * Connells Lagoon* Corroboree Rock* Devil's Marbles* Ewaninga Rock Carvings* Fogg Dam* Henbury Meteorites * Illamurta Springs* Kuyunba * Mac Clark (Acacia Peuce) * Native Gap * Newhaven Reserve * Rainbow Valley * Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) (aboriginal)
Historical Reserves: * Alice Springs Telegraph Station * Arltunga * Attack Creek * Barrow Creek Telegraph Station * Central Mount Stuart * Chambers Pillar * Channel Island * Gregorys Tree * Heavitree Gap Police Station * John Flynn Memorial * John Flynns Grave * Ryan Well * Stuarts Tree * Tennant Creek Telegraph Station * Victoria River Depot
Hunting Reserves : * Howard Springs.
Management Agreement Areas : * Junction Reserve
National Parks: * Barranyi (North Island) (Aboriginal) * Charles Darwin * Davenport Murchison * Djukbinj (Aboriginal) * Dulcie Ranges * Elsey * Finke Gorge * Garig Gunak Barlu (Aboriginal - formerly Gurig National Park & Cobourg Marine Park) * Gregory * Jabiru (Commonwealth) (NOTE: it is not clear if this is a separate NP or if it is incorporated in Kakadu NP) * Kakadu (Commonwealth) * Keep River * Litchfield * Mary River (proposed) * Nitmiluk (Aboriginal) * Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Commonwealth) * Watarrka * West Macdonnell Nature Parks Holmes Jungle Nature Park * Butterfly Gorge * Cutta Cutta Caves * Emily And Jessie Gap * Flora River * Holmes Jungle * Howard Springs * Katherine Low Level * Kintore Caves * Leaning Tree Lagoon * N'dhala Gorge * Ruby Gap * Trephina Gorge * Umbrawarra Gorge * Douglas Hot Springs (Tjuwaliyn) (aboriginal) . Other Conservation Areas : * Adelaide River Foreshore * Alice Springs * Alligator Lagoon * Annaburroo Delta Block * Berry Springs Access * Black Jungle / Lambells Lagoon * Casuarina * Daly River * Darwin * Douglas / Daly Esplanade * Harrison Dam * Indian Island * Knuckey Lagoons * Manton Dam * Mary River * Mary River Crossing * McKinley River * Melacca Swamp * Olloo Crossing * Point Stuart * Purta * Shady Camp * Swim Creek * Tree Point * Vernon Islands * Wildman River * Territory / Berry Springs (combined Wildlife / Nature Park) Protected Areas * Alice Springs Area * Joint Geological / Geophysical Research Station * Longreach Waterhole-datas from wikipedia

EDO CASTLE AND JAPAN

2009-03-08T08:21:00.000-07:00

Japan will be always in heart of real traveller..

TOKYO
OSAKA
NAGOYA
TOKYO DISNEY RESORT
IMPERIAL PALACE (EDO CASTLE)
YADO RIVER
OSAKA which has 808 bridges in it, which every bridge has its own name.
NAGOYA CASTLE
and see many interesting places in Japan.

Millau Viaduct

2009-03-06T06:34:00.000-08:00

Have u ever see, bridge like this??

THE MILLAU VIADUCT is part of the new E11 expressway connecting Paris and Barcelona and
features the highest bridge piers ever constructed.
The tallest is 240 meters high and the overall height will be an impressive 336 meters,
making this the highest bridge in the world.

Old England

2009-02-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of old england you may never see before.
You can search and type in above search box to find more about old england and origin of it's cities. Have a fun time and enjoy your exploring time. Here we go..

Heritage Cities in England
* Bath: A spa, famous for its Regency architecture and crescents, and also for its Roman baths.
* Brighton: Brighton is a seaside resort which includes two piers, West Pier and Brighton Pier, and also has the Royal Pavilion.
* Bristol: Brunel's Clifton suspension bridge is a famous landmark, and the ship, the SS Great Britain is another of Brunel's famous constructions, which is now in dry dock in Bristol.
* Cambridge: A famous university town.
* Canterbury: Renowned for its cathedral.

* Dover: A major port with access to the continent. Also well known for its white cliffs, and to a lesser extent for its castle, Dover Castle.
* Haworth: where the Brontë Sisters lived, is very popular with Japanese tourists, as Wuthering Heights has a cult following in Japan.
* Liverpool: A major port and World Heritage Site, with two cathedrals, plus the most listed buildings in the UK outside of London. There is also an orchestra and art galleries.
* Oxford : now a busy commercial city, which also has a famous university.

Robin Hood Statue, Nottingham.
* Nottingham : The city and Nottingham Castle are famed worldwide for their links with the legend of Robin Hood. Sherwood Forest is nearby.
* Portsmouth: Portsmouth is a naval dockyard, and has some famous ships on display, including the Mary Rose, and HMS Victory, all within its Historic Dockyard. Also home to Gunwharf Quays retail centre, with its iconic Spinnaker Tower.

* Salisbury: Salisbury cathedral is well known, and has the tallest spire in the country. Nearby is the pre-historic site of Stonehenge, which is administered by English Heritage.
* Stratford-upon-Avon: Shakespeare's birthplace is probably the most visited place in Stratford
* Wells: best known for Wells Cathedral
* York: Famous for York Minster. Also the location of the National Railway Museum and a wealth of preserved medieval streets and buildings, such as the Merchant Adventurers' Hall and the Shambles

Other places in England are also of historical interest. The cities of Manchester and Birmingham are the two cities receiving the most foreign tourists after London. Many foreign tourists also visit the neighbouring countries Scotland and Wales – see tourism in Scotland and tourism in Wales.

Domestic tourists, and foreign tourists who have specific interests in art, music, history etc, also visit the following:
* Birmingham: A major city, with an orchestra, major exhibition venues (NEC, ICC) and art galleries. Of historical interest for its significant role in the industrial revolution. Also the childhood home and inspiration of Tolkien
* Hadrian's Wall: The Roman wall built by order of the Emperor Hadrian.
* Hereford: A cathedral city, famous for the chained library in the cathedral, and the Mappa Mundi
* Ironbridge: The cradle of the industrial revolution and the site for the legendary Iron bridge.

* Manchester: A major city, famous for the Hallé orchestra and many museums and art galleries, a classic example of buildings from the Victorian era. Also well known for the Manchester Ship Canal. Home of Manchester United F.C., world famous football club, the host city of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Manchester is also known for being the world's first industrialised city. Also noted for its shopping, cuisine and nightlife.
* Leeds: A base to explore the historic county of Yorkshire. It is popular for shopping, nightlife and museums, including the Henry Moore foundation.

England also has some unique natural environments, and has a significant Ecotourism industry:
# The Lake District, a national park with hills and lakes, including Windermere, the largest lake in England.
# The Peak District, a national park in Derbyshire.
# Dartmoor and Exmoor, national parks in Devon.
# The New Forest, a rural forest park in Hampshire.
# The Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site in Dorset and Devon
# The National Forest, covering parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
# Center Parcs, a number of rural holiday parks.
# Plus various National Nature Reserves, Heritage Coasts and other protected areas.

information of heritages taken from www.wikipedia.com

Japan

2008-10-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

Sakura Sakura (Instrumental with Shakuhachi and Shamisen) - Rin
Tourism in Japan comprises both a vibrant domestic sector and over eight million entries each year by foreigners.
Today, sites such as Nikko World Historical Site, various attractions in Tokyo and Kyoto, Mount Fuji, world-class ski resorts such as Niseko in Hokkaidō, Okinawa, as well as aspects of tourism including the shinkansen and well-developed hotel and onsen network are enjoyed by natives and foreigners alike.

KYOTO
KYOTO graveyard

MOUNT FUJI

NISEKO

NISEKO

OKINAWA
OKINAWA

SHINKANSEN

The exact origins of early traditions of visits to picturesque sites are lost to history, but perhaps one of the most famous early sight-seeing excursions was Matsuo Basho's 1689 trip to the then "far north" of Japan, which occurred not long after Hayashi Razan categorized the Three Views of Japan in 1643.
During the feudal era of Japan, from ~1600 to the Meiji Restoration in 1867, travel was regulated within the country through the use of shukuba or post stations, towns in which travelers had to present appropriate documentation. Despite these restrictions, porter stations and horse stables, as well as places for lodging and food were available on well-traveled routes. During this time, Japan was a closed country to foreigners, so little to none foreign tourism existed in Japan.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the building of a national railroad network across Japan, tourism became more of an affordable prospect for domestic citizens and visitors from foreign countries could enter Japan legally. As early as 1887, government officials recognized the need for an organized system of attracting foreign tourists; the Kihinkai (貴賓会, Kihinkai?), which aimed to coordinate the various players in the tourism, was established that year with Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi's blessing. Its early leaders included Shibusawa Eiichi and Ekida Takashi. Another major milestone in the development of the tourism industry in Japan was the 1907 passage of the Hotel Development Law, as a result of which the Railways Ministry began to construct publicly-owned hotels all throughout Japan.

Tourism today remains a vital part of the Japanese economy and society. Schoolchildren in many middle schools see the highlight of their years as a visit to Tokyo Disneyland or perhaps Tokyo Tower in the city. High school students may visit Okinawa or Hokkaidō. The extensive rail network together with domestic flights sometimes in planes with modifications to favor the relatively short distances involved in intra-Japan travel allows efficient and speedy transport from many points within the country.

TOKYO DISNEYLAND

TOKYO TOWER

HOKKAIDO

See also

* World Heritage in Japan
-Gusuku
-Kyoto
-Byōdō-in
-Daigo-ji
-Enryaku-ji
-Futarasan Shrine
-Gangō-ji
-Ginkaku-ji
-Gokayama
-Gusuku
-Heijō Palace
-Himeji Castle
-Hiroshima Peace Memorial
-Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
-Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama
-Hokki-ji
-Hongan-ji
-Hōryū-ji
-Itsukushima Shrine
-Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
-Kamo Shrine
-Kasuga Shrine
-Katsuren Castle
-Kii Peninsula
-Kinkaku-ji
-Kiyomizu-dera
-Kōfuku-ji
-Kōzan-ji
-Kumano Hongū Taisha
-Mount Kōya
-Naka Castle
-Nakijin Castle
-Nara, Nara
-Nigatsu-dō
-Nijō Castle
-Nikkō Tōshō-gū
-Nikkō, Tochigi
-Ninna-ji
-Mount Ōmine
-Ōtsu, Shiga
-Ryōan-ji
-Sacred Nagi Tree of Kumano Hayatama Taisha
-Saihō-ji
-Seifa-utaki
-Shirakami-Sanchi
-Shirakawa, Gifu (village)
-Shiretoko National Park
-Shōsōin
-Tamaudun
-Tenryū-ji
-Tō-ji
-Tōdai-ji
-Tōshōdai-ji
-Uji, Kyoto
-Ujigami Shrine
-Yakushi-ji
-Yakushima
-Zakimi Castle
National treasures of Japan

Horyu-ji Golden Hall and Pagoda	Horyu-ji Yumedono	Himeji castle Grand Tower	Byodoin Phoenix Hall
Kiyomizudera temple Main Hall	Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace	Five Story pagoda in Tō-ji	Itsukushima Shrine Main Hall
Todai-ji temple Golden Hall	Yakushi-ji temple Eastern Tower	Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon Gate	KongouZanmaiin Tahoto

traditional music of japanese : KOTO

Egypt

2008-10-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

Egypt - Hossan Ramzy and Enta Omri

Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner in Egypt, with 9,990,000 foreign tourist arrivals in 2007.
Tourism figures in Egypt grew by 20% in 2007 with roughly 10 million tourist arrivals according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The Egyptian government plans to have 14 million visitors by 2011.
The greatest tourist attractions in Egypt are the antiquities for which Egypt is known worldwide. Principal attractions include the pyramids and Great Sphinx at Giza, the Abu Simbel temples south of Aswan, the Valley of the Kings, and the The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Cairo.

Valley of the king

The mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha.

Passports and visas are required of foreign visitors except natives of several Middle Eastern countries. Transit voyagers, however, that travel by ship or plane are not required to obtain visas. Travellers native to most of Africa must have proof of cholera and yellow fever vaccination.

Marina

Marsa Matruh

siwa oasis is vast, extending beyond the horizon

Siwa Oasis has many mud-brick buildings.

Siwa Oasis and the Great Sand Sea in the Sahara Desert, Egypt.

Stay in the Siwa Villa. Traditional on the out side...

Located in the heart of the old city (Siwa Villa on the left with three arched windows).

Out adventuring in the desert during the day...

...back in time for drinks and dinner on the roof terrace prepared by the house keeper.

Nuweiba, The story of Exodus

These are most popular tourism location in Egypt :
Arish
Aswan
Dahab
El Alamein
El-Gouna
Elephantine
Hurghada
Luxor
Marina, Egypt
Marsa Alam
Marsa Matruh
Nuweiba
Philae
Port Safaga
Ras Muhammad National Park
Red Sea Riviera
Rosetta
SS Thistlegorm
Shadwan
Sharm el-Sheikh
Siwa Oasis
Soma Bay
Taba, Egypt

Enjoy your holidays
Have a great adventure (^^).
(article, taken most from Wikipedia)

Pangandaran, West Java, Indonesia

2008-10-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

Bubuy Bulan - Nining Meida

Pangandaran is a small town and a subdistrict in southern Ciamis regency, West Java, Indonesia.

It is located on the southern coast of Java. Pangandaran is a popular tourist destination, having a beach which is considered to be one of the finest in Java and which offers excellent surfing.

A kite-flying festival is held on the beach in July each year. Locals regularly use kites in the evenings to catch bats,which are either eaten or used in Chinese remedies. There is a local belief that wearing any green garment in this area will anger Loro Kidul, the Javanese guardian spirit or goddess of the southern sea, and will bring misfortune.

The Penanjung Pangandaran nature reserve is nearby on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. About eighty percent of the nature reserve is secondary rainforest. The flora of the nature reserve includes the Rafflesia.

South Korea

2008-10-04T22:37:00.000-07:00

Size of this preview: 800 × 326 pixels

Tourism in South Korea refers to the tourist industry in the Republic of Korea. Over six million foreign tourists visited South Korea in 2006.Foreign tourists spent $2.92 billion on sightseeing that year and foreign spending on business trips came to $2.31 billion.South Korea ranked 31st in tourism revenues in 2006. Most non-Korean tourists come from Japan, China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong. The recent popularity of Korean popular culture in these countries has given international tourism a boost. Seoul is the principal tourist destination for non-Korean visitors.

JUMP TO SOUTH KOREA

KOREAN STYLE (FASHION)

CHEAP HOSTEL IN SEOUL

KOREA TRAVEL SOURCE

JOB IN SOUTH KOREA

GO TO KOREA

TOUR TO KOREA

FLY TO KOREA

HOW TO GO TO SEOUL

KOREAN POP MUSIC

The restored Cheonggyecheon flows through the center of Seoul.

The restored Cheonggyecheon at night.

Luxurious Police cars

cr pics : kr.kpost.yahoo.com

Popular tourist destinations outside of Seoul include Seorak-san national park,

Seoul , the capitol of South Korea, find map here

Seoul nowadayas become one most popular place to be visit in the world . The most contribution for their tourism is their Korean Wave, as known as Hallyu wave. Which is spreaded fastly accross the ocean to USA, Europe, Asia, Australia, and even in Saudi Arabia.

Here are some popular Korean Pop culture icons
most known as K-Pop.
Click here to listen the song or to buy it.

,

The historic city of Gyeongju

Here are some most popular Korean dramas :
most known as K-drama

and semi-tropical Jeju Island.

Travel to North Korea is not normally possible except with special permission, but in recent years organised group tours have taken South Korean nationals to Kŭmgang-san mountain.

The majority of the South Korean tourist industry is supported by domestic tourism. Thanks to the country's extensive network of trains and buses, most of the country lies within a day's round trip of any major city. Every major city in South Korea has an airport and some cities, such as Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Jeju, have airports serving international routes.
Incheon Bridge
Incheon Port
Incheon Tower
Incheon Munhak Stadium

Busan Night View
Lotte tower
Busan

Daegu

Gwangju
Jeju

South Korea's most famous historical tourist attractions include the ancient capitals of Seoul, Gyeongju and Buyeo. Most international tourists come to Seoul, to experience both the classical and modern aspects of Korean culture.

A number of natural landmarks are important tourist attractions. The biggest of these are the peaks of the Baekdudaegan, particularly Seorak-san and Jiri-san. In addition, the caves of Danyang and Hwanseongul, and beaches such as Haeundae and Mallipo are popular attractions.

Apart from Jeju, South Korea's many smaller islands also play an important role as tourist attractions. Excursion ferries are quite common along the south and west coasts, and also to Ulleung-do off the east coast. Limited tourism to the Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) has grown in recent years.

Most local districts hold several annual festivals to bring in tourists from elsewhere in the country. Some famous examples include the Boryeong Mud Festival and the Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival.

The hosting of large international events has played an important role in raising South Korea's profile for international tourists. These include the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 2002 World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Korea and Japan, as well as the 2005 APEC conference and the 1993 Taejon Expo.

MUSIC

PAINTING

DRESS

GAMES

TRIPITAKA KOREANA AND HAEINSA

HWASEONG

Find Jeju island here
http://aroundtheworldmore.blogspot.com/2009/10/jeju-island.html

BEIJING

2008-08-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

The tourist attractions of Beijing are rich in history. The most well-known ones include the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall of China, the Tian'anmen and the Forbidden City.

The city also has plenty of temples, hutongs and parks, relics of ages gone by.

Buildings, monuments, and landmarks
* Forbidden City (World Heritage Site)
* Tiananmen Square, The largest square in the world.
o Tiananmen (The Gate of Heavenly Peace)
o Great Hall of the People (National Legislature)
o National Museum of China
o Monument to the People's Heroes
o Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

* The Summer Palace (World Heritage Site)
* Ruins of the Old Summer Palace
* Bell Tower and Drum Tower
* Pagoda of Cishou Temple
* Pagoda of Tianning Temple
* Historic Hutongs and Siheyuans in many older neighborhoods
* Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge)

* Eight Mile Bridge (Ba Li Qiao)
* Prince Gong's Mansion (Gong Wang Fu)
* Zheng Yici Peking Opera Theatre

* Liulichang Culture Street
* Beijing Ancient Observatory
* Geological Museum of China
* National Centre for the Performing Arts
* Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

Temples, cathedrals, and mosques
* Temple of Heaven (World Heritage Site), situated in the southern area of urban Beijing
* Temple of Earth, located in northern Beijing
* Temple of Sun, situated in the eastern area of urban Beijing
* Temple of Moon, located in western Beijing
* Tanzhe Temple
* Jietai Temple
* Yunju Temple
* Yonghegong (Lama Temple)
* Guangji Temple
* Confucius Temple

* White Cloud Temple
* Great Bell Temple
* Fa Yuan Temple
* Miaoying Temple
* Zhen Jue Temple
* Wanshou Temple
* Five Pagoda Temple
* Zhihua Si Temple
* Dongyue Temple
* Temple of Azure Clouds
* Temple of Recumbent Buddha
* White Dagoba Temple in Beihai Park
* Badachu
* Immaculate Conception Cathedral

* Holy Saviour Church
* Niujie Mosque

Parks and gardens

* Beihai Park
* Shichahai
* Jingshan Park
* The Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan)
* The Grandview Garden (Daguanyuan)
* Beijing Botanical Garden

* Taoranting Park
* Beijing Zoo
* Beijing World Park
* Beijing Olympic Forest Park

Shopping and commercial districts
* Wangfujing
* Xidan
* Silk Street
* Beijing CBD

* Beijing Financial Street
* Zhongguancun
* Yizhuang

Outside the metropolitan area, but within the municipality
* Sections of the Great Wall (World Heritage Site) at:
o Badaling
o Juyongguan
o Mutianyu
o Simatai
o Jinshanling
o Jiankou
* The Ming Dynasty Tombs (World Heritage Site)
* Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (World Heritage Site)
* Shidu

Flights to Beijing land at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK),

which is located about 20 km from downtown Beijing. From there, your best bet is take a cab to your hotel, which usually costs between 70-120 RMB. There's also an additional toll of 10 RMB for the airport expressway. It's recommended that you ask your travel agent to write the name of your hotel down on a piece of paper that you can show to the driver, because he probably won't speak English and you probably can't speak Chinese. Make sure the driver turns on the meter! Otherwise, you could be stuck paying whatever the driver feels like charging you.
Getting Around

Buses
Bejing's bus system is called a "hidden treasure," unfortunately for those who don't speak Chinese, it will remain hidden. It's cheap, convenient, and provides transportation to many places, but the drivers speak no English, signs are often unintelligible due to vandalism, and you'll have trouble understanding maps and routes if you don't speak Chinese. If you decide to go for it, they run from 5:30am to 11pm daily, and charges start at 1 yuan. Buses can range from luxurious coach buses to dilapidated pieces of junk with broken seats.

Subway
As an English speaker, the subway is a better bet for getting around. There are four lines: Line 1 runs from Pingguoyuan in west Beijing to Sihui East in east Beijing, serving 21 stops.

Taxis
There are three classes of Taxis in Beijing. The first and nastiest class charge 1.20 yuan per km, but are gradually being phased out and replaced with second-class Hyundai Sonata taxis, which are 1.60 yuan per km. There are also more luxurious 2.00 yuan per km taxis, still affordable on an average Western budget.
Keep in mind that your driver probably will not speak English. Some phrases that are handy to know are "Qing da baio" (Run the meter, please), to make sure you are not overcharged, and you can get a receipt for complaining or reimbursement purposes by saying "Fa Piao."
What to See

Forbidden City -
The best spot to learn about the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power. You'll want to get there when the gates open at 8:30am to escape the crowds, and there's actually a Starbucks in there, too.

Tiananmen Square -
the largest square in the world, and home to Mao's mausoleum. There's also a flag raising and lowering ceremony at dawn and dusk respectively.
Summer Palace - gardens and palace ruins of the Qing emperors.

Temple of Heaven - surrounded by a public park where you can observe the locals practicing tai chi in the mornings.
Zoo - reportedly one of the worst in the world, but the aquarium is something to write home about.
Great Wall - located about 1.5 hours out of the city, complete with ski lifts to take you up so you can walk on it. It's possible to rent a taxi to take you there. However, it gets rather windy, so you may want to bring a jacket.

Where to Shop
Xi Zhi Men - the clothing market where the Chinese themselves shop. It's located next to the Zoo.
Silk Street - Reopened in March 2005 as a five-story air conditioned building, still infamously selling the counterfeit goods that popularized the original Silk Street. You probably won't be able to tell the difference between the intricately designed fakes and the real thing.

The Malls at Oriental Plaza - East of Tiananmen Square, next to Wangfujing Street is an expensive shopping area where you can buy diamonds, CDs, food, and cheap DVDs.
Wangfujing - Higher-end shops.
Golden Resources Shopping Mall - Located by West Fourth Ring Road in Haidian District. At 680,000 square meters, it's the largest mall in Asia, offering countless shopping opportunities.
SanLiTun YaShou Clothing Market - 58 Gong Ti Bei Lu. It's basically a cheaper version of Silk Street.

Where to Eat
Quanjude Roast Duck - offers the local speciality, Beijing roast duck, at expensive prices for tourists. It's located right at the Hepingmen subway stop. For the real thing, walk south from the subway until you see some restaurants on the left side of the street.

You'll also want to try the lamb meat steaks, available from vendors on the street at all hours of the day.

If you're not feeling adventurous, Beijing is home to many McDonald's and KFC restaurants. There's also a number of Pizza Huts, the newest of which is in Chaowai. You can also get English food at the John Bull Pub near the Jianguomen subway station.

Drinking
Beer - the most popular beer in China is Qingdao, which costs 10 yuan, and Yanjing, which costs 2 yuan and has 11% alcoholic content.

Don't forget to try some tea! Chinese tea is considered to be the best in the world.

Where to Stay
Cheap - try Qiao Yuan Fandian near Beijing South train station. There's a 200 yuan deposit, but you'll enjoy an air conditioned room with four beds for just 31 yuan per night. There's also a youth hostel directly across from Beijing Zahn train station.

Mid-range - The Xinxing Hotel is a short walk from the Gongzhufen subway stop on Line 1. Rooms are 180-320 yuan per night, staff will clean your room twice a day, and there's free Internet access if you ask for it.

High-end - Grand Hyatt Beijing is a five-star hotel; it's simply a Hyatt in Beijing. Rooms are $150 a night. The Beijing Hotel is owned by the state but cheaper; Swissotel Beijing is dirt cheap for an "expensive" hotel; and Great Wall Sheraton even has a rotating restaurant.

Travel Tips
Beijing is a very safe city, but beware of scammers. A popular tactic is for "art students" to trick tourists into buying "art", or worse. Strange but true. When traveling to the Great Wall, make sure your driver actually drops you at the wall and not earlier, and only pay him after he has done this. Don't take tours advertised in Tiananmen Square.

Counterfeit money is rampant in China. If someone tries to give you a 100 yuan note in change by either lowering the price in your favor or another scam, reject it. Rejecting bills isn't considered rude. 50 and 100 yuan notes are the most commonly counterfeited. Inspect your money carefully.

Traffic - It's best to cross streets only when street signs permit. It isn't uncommon for wilder drivers to run red lights or drive generally recklessly.

Understand that sunken toilets are common in Beijing, which may pose a problem to some women. If you're not familiar with squat toilets, it's best to go in your hotel, and if you decide to go for it be extra careful to avoid accidents.

The Internet in China is heavily censored. BBC News and The New York Times news websites are generally unavailable, but Reuters is usually unblocked.

DUBAI

2008-07-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

Tourism in Dubai is an important part of the DUBAI government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign dollars into the emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, but also on its possession of other ancient and modern attractions.

Dubai is the second most populous emirate of the seven emirates of United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi. It is distinct from other members of the UAE in that revenues from oil account for only 3% of its gross domestic product. A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) and now, increasingly, from tourism.

Dubai’s location at the cross-roads of Europe, Asia and Africa makes for easy accessibility. Most capitals and other major cities have direct flights to Dubai. More than 120 airlines operate to and from Dubai International Airport to more than 260 destinations, making it one of the worlds busiest. Dubai is also the home base of Emirates Airline, international airline of the UAE, which operates scheduled services to more than 100 destinations.

Dubai’s location at the cross-roads of Europe, Asia and Africa makes for easy accessibility. Most capitals and other major cities have direct flights to Dubai. More than 120 airlines operate to and from Dubai International Airport to more than 260 destinations, making it one of the worlds busiest. Dubai is also the home base of Emirates Airline, international airline of the UAE, which operates scheduled services to more than 100 destinations.

Most travelers need to obtain a Visit Visa prior to entering Dubai. However, citizens (and some residents) of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC) and citizens of a number of states in Europe and elsewhere (including Australia and New Zealand) can get an entry permit stamped in their passport upon arrival, good for up to 90 days. Visitors from other nationalities require the sponsorship of any U.A.E. resident or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the U.A.E. and are limited to a 30-day stay. Citizens of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, USA, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong may stay for up to 30 days without a visa.

Dubai has been called the "shopping capital of the Middle East."[2] The city draws large numbers of shopping tourists from countries within the region and from as far as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. Dubai is known for its souk districts. Souk is the Arabic word for market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged. Traditionally, dhows from the Far East, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargos and the goods would be bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks.[3] Dubai's most atmospheric shopping is to be found in the souks, located on either side of the creek, where bargaining is part of the buzz.

Modern shopping malls and boutiques are also found in the city. Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport offers merchandise catering to the multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport.

shekh zayed road dubai

Chillout Ice Cafe in Dubai’s Times Square Mall - Photo by Fahad Al Mamood at www.fahad.com

Ski Dubai Description:

Located in the Dubai Emirates Mall, the Ski Dubai structure is the worlds third largest indoor ski slope. This structure was open to the public on December 2005 using 6000 tons of snow. (3000 tons of fresh snow produced nightly)

The temperature is held at a constant -1 degree Celcius to -2 degrees Celcius except when making snow where they take the temperature down to -7 degree Celcius to -8 degrees Celcius.

There is also a snow park winter playground for the kids to ride carpet sleds, play in the tunnel and even take a toboggan down the luge like run.

There is also an insane plans to construct a much larger "Ski Dome".

Sightseeing usually comes as a poor second for most visitors, who are lured by Dubai's reputation as a shopping paradise.

Aspects of Dubai's old culture, while occasionally overshadowed by the boom in economic development, can be found by visiting places around the creek, which splits Dubai into two halves, Bur Dubai and Deira. The buildings lining the Bur Dubai side of the Creek provides the main flavor of the old city. Heritage Village offers a simulacrum of old Dubai. The adjoining Diving Village offers exhibits on pearl diving and fishing. The Diving Village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire "Shindagha" area into a cultural city, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by.

Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai

Other attractions include the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House; the Dubai Museum in the restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was erected around 1799; and the Heritage Village of Hatta, situated 115 kilometers southeast of Dubai City in the heart of the rocky Hatta Mountains. The history of the village can be traced back 2000 - 3000 years. It consists of 30 buildings, each differing in size, interior layout and building materials used. Great care was taken to use the same materials as those used when originally built during the renovation such as mud, hay, sandalwood and palm fronds. The Sharia Mosque is an old mosque built around 200 years ago using the same building materials and consists of a large prayer hall, a court and courtyard, minaret and other utility rooms.

Tourist accommodation in Dubai is plentiful and relatively expensive with all the major chains having a presence. One increasingly popular alternative is for visitors to rent apartments and villas on a short term basis

Sightseeing usually comes as a poor second for most visitors, who are lured by Dubai's reputation as a shopping paradise.

Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai

New York

2008-06-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Tourism in New York City includes nearly 44 million foreign and American tourists each year.[1] Major destinations include the Empire State Building,

Photograph by Kathleen Campbell/Stone/Getty Images

The Empire State Building rises majestically from the heart of Manhattan. The building's 86th floor observatory, 1,050 feet above the street, has dazzled visitors since 1931.

Ellis Island,

Ellis Island is only about 27 acres (11 hectares), but it used to be even smaller. It was built up with boatloads of rocks and dirt.

Broadway theatre productions,

A helluva town ... Photograph: Alan Schein Photography/Corbis

museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art,

and other tourist attractions including Central Park,


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Washington Square Park,

Rockefeller Center

, Times Square,

No better place to ring in the New Year than Times Square, New York.

the Bronx Zoo,

New York Botanical Garden

Brooklyn

, luxury shopping along Fifth and Madison Avenues

, and events such as the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village,

Greenwich Village

the Tribeca Film Festival, and free performances in Central Park at Summerstage.

Last edited by iron : 07-10-2006 at 07:45 PM.

The Statue of Liberty is a major tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable icons of the United States.[2] Many of the city's ethnic enclaves, such as Jackson Heights

, Flushing

, and Brighton Beach are major shopping destinations for first and second generation Americans up and down the East Coast.

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Bathing at Brighton Beach, NY

New York City has over 28,000 acres (113 km²) of parkland and 14 linear miles (22 km) of public beaches.Manhattan's Central Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is the most visited city park in the United States. Prospect Park in Brooklyn, also designed by Olmsted and Vaux, has a 90 acre (36 hectare) meadow. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, the city's third largest, was the setting for the 1939 World's Fair and 1964 World's Fair.

New York's food culture, influenced by the city's immigrants and large number of dining patrons, is diverse. Jewish and Italian immigrants made the city famous for bagels, cheesecake and New York-style pizza. Some 4,000 mobile food vendors licensed by the city, many immigrant-owned, have made Middle Eastern foods such as falafels and kebabs standbys of contemporary New York street food. The city is also home to many of the finest haute cuisine restaurants in the United States.

Tourism in New York City is a large industry. According to NYC & Company, the top producing countries for international visitors to New York City in 2005 were the United Kingdom (1,169,000), Canada (815,000), Germany (401,000), Japan (299,000), Italy (292,000), France (268,000), Ireland (253,000), Australia (235,000), Spain (205,000), and the Netherlands (147,000).[9]

Spearheading the city's tourism efforts is NYC & Company, the city's official convention and visitor bureau currently headed by George Fertitta. It has offices in 14 countries, including Argentina, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Korea and China.[10] NYC & Company is the official source of tourism statistics for the city. The research department develops and distributes comprehensive information on NYC domestic and international visitor statistics and monitors the travel industry's impact on New York City's economy. The department also produces 14 official New York City tourism marketing publications that feature information on member hotels, museums, attractions, theaters, stores, restaurants, meeting venues, and service providers.

Many visitors investigate their genealogy at historic immigration sites such as Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Other tourist destinations include the Empire State Building, for 40 years the world's tallest building after its construction in 1931, Radio City Music Hall, home of The Rockettes, a variety of Broadway shows, the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, housed on a World War II aircraft carrier, shopping districts like Fifth Avenue, and city landmarks such as Central Park, which is one of the finest examples of landscape architecture in the world. New York City has encouraged tourist shopping not applying its 8.375% sales tax to clothing and footwear items under $110.

The World Trade Center was an important tourist destination before the September 11, 2001 attacks, which devastated the city and its tourist industry. The city was nearly devoid of tourists for months,[dubious – discuss][citation needed] and it took two years for the numbers to fully rebound with fewer international, but more domestic visitors. Now the World Trade Center site has itself become an important place for visitors to see.

Aerial Photography New York City

Aerial Photography New york City World Trade Center

Aerial Photography World Trade Center New York City NY