Friday, April 8, 2011

Greece - Meteora



Information about Meteora

Meteora means suspended in air. Hermit Byzantine monks in the ninth century first inhbited these mountains, living on fissures and caves along the rocks to spend time with God. In the 14th century, these hermit monks built 20 different monastaries to get away from Turkish occupation. The tall cliffs were the perfect escape for these monks. At first only ladders and ropes were the only way to reach these monestaries. During the 1920s steps were carved out making it more accessible. Today only six monestaries remain.

Best times to go May and June, it has the most comfortable weather. Acquaint yourself with Greek Orthodoxy to get the most enjoyment.

How to go: use buses from Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Trikala, and Athens. Lots of lodging options in Kalampaka at the base of Meteora.


*Are you kidding me?! Buildings on top of huge mountain rocks?! This is like the coolest thing ever anyone can imagine! I wonder if I live on top of that rocks. I wonder what`s it like to wake up every morning feeling you`re on top of the world, and seeing all those beautiful nature. I would love to live there for a week. Oh, it`s the perfect house:)

Amsterdam - The Netherlands


Information about Amsterdam

Amsterdam, world-renowned for its romantic canals and the imposing architecture of the 17th century, a period often called as the "Golden Century". Amsterdam is the sparkling heart of Holland and will definitely get your blood pumping.

Amsterdam is a party town 365 days a year, with a harmonious co-existence of the historical and the modern, in a melting pot of nationalities that have only further contributed to the city's charms.

Amsterdammers are deservedly proud of their city and the gorgeous centre. Whatever it is you are looking for it can be found here, in a laid-back atmosphere that is exclusive to this monumental metropolis.



*Of all the greatest places I wanna visit, this is probably the one I`m most excited about. Maybe it`s because of its large metropolis and beautiful sightseeing, or maybe it`s because of green herbs they got there. :) And if ever, if ever I`m gonna settle, this would be the perfect place for me. I don`t know why but I feel it. I feel that this place is for me. Anyways:) iamsterdam!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Colosseum; Anfiteatro Flavio - Rome, Lazio, Italy


A bit of information about the Colosseum

The Colosseum is probably the most famous landmark in Rome. Built in the 1st century AD, this great arena could seat 45,000 spectators and was the largest Roman amphitheater in the world.

It hosted gladiatorial combats, spectacles with wild beasts and possibly the execution of early Christians. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was believed to be a place of martyrdom and was therefore regarded as a sacred place.

History

Construction on the Colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian (69-79) and was completed under his son Titus (79-81) in 80 AD. It was built on the site of an artificial lake created by Nero in this valley between Rome's many hills, in front of his Domus Aurea palace.

The arena was then known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the family name of the emperors who built it. The name "Colosseum" was not used until 7th century, and derives from the colossal statue of Nero that once stood here. After Nero's death, the statue was transformed into a representation of Helios, the sun god. It remained standing until the Middle Ages, when it was probably melted down for its bronze.

The amphitheatre was used for gladiatorial combats, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The inaugural festival of the Flavian Amphitheatre, which was the largest amphitheatre in the world, lasted 100 days, during which over 5,000 wild beasts were killed in the arena.

The arena was restored in about 230 AD by Emperor Alexander Severus (222-35). The statistics of those who met their deaths at the Colosseum during another festival, held in 240 AD, are staggering: 2,000 gladiators; 70 lions; 40 wild horses; 30 elephants; 30 leopards; 20 wild asses; 19 giraffes; 10 elks; 10 hyenas; 10 tigers; 1 hippopotamus; and 1 rhinoceros.

The Flavian Amphitheatre was damaged by fire and earthquake several times but was continually restored until the end of the 5th century. Gladiatorial combats were outlawed by the Christian emperor Honorius in 407 and fights with wild beasts were banned in 523. After this, the arena went out of use.

According to the bishop and church historian Theodoret, Honorius was moved to ban the bloody spectacle of the gladiators because of a simple monk named Telmachus:

A certain man of the name of Telemahus had embraced the ascetic life. When the abominable spectacle was being exhibited, he went himself into the stadium, and, stepping down into the arena, endeavored to stop the men who were wielding their weapons against one another.

The spectators of the slaughter were indignant, and inspired by the mad fury of the demon who delights in those bloody deeds, stoned the peacemaker to death.
When the admirable emperor was informed of this he numbered Telemachus in the army of victorious martyrs, and put an end to that impious spectacle.
(Theodoret, Ecclesiastical History 5.26)

Telemachus is the only Colosseum martyr of whom there is any evidence. The long-held belief that scores of Christians met their deaths here in the 1st to 3rd centuries has no evidence to support it and may only be a legend.

However, it is perfectly possible there were martyrdoms here, since Christians are known to have been executed in other Roman amphitheatres, such as the one at Lyon and in the Circus of Nero on Vatican Hill (see St. Peter's Basilica).

The belief that Christians were martyred here was a fairly early one, as reflected by the response of Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) to the Byzantine emperor's request for some Roman relics: among the relics given was a bag of sand from the Colosseum floor.

The Colosseum fell into disrepair shortly after its closure in 523. In 526, the barbarian Totila and his forces destroyed parts of it in order to take the valuable bronze clamps that held the stones together. After that, Romans freely helped themselves to the great arena's stones in order to build their houses.

In this period the Colosseum was also used as a Christian burial ground. Early Christian tombs have been found in three areas around the amphitheatre: in the foundations on the north and east sides and on the exterior ground near the present entrance.

In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was situated on the most important pilgrim route in Rome, which led from St. Peter's to the Lateran, and a small suburb grew up around it. In this period the great arena was thought to be a Roman temple to the Sun because of the Colossus statue of Nero-turned-Helios that stood next to it.

In the 13th century, the Colosseum was fortified and occupied by the Frangipani family and the suburb around it became a prosperous area of Rome. However, the area later fell prey to malaria and was abandoned.

Looting of the stone continued on-and-off until the 18th century, when Pope Benedict XIV (1740-58) declared the Colosseum sanctified by the blood of early Christian martyrs and added Stations of the Cross to the arena. After this it was restored and excavated, a work that continues to the present day.

Romantic travelers of the 18th and 19th centuries were smitten with the great ruin of the Colosseum. Among these were Charles Dickens, who wrote in 1846:

It is the most impressive, the most stately, the most solemn, grand, majestic, mournful sight, conceivable. Never in its bloodiest prime can the sight of the gigantic Colosseum, full and running over with the lustiest life, have moved one heart, as it must move all who look upon it now, a ruin. God be thanked: a ruin!

What to See

The exterior of the Roman Colosseum is made entirely of travertine, stretching 527 m around and four stories high. The arches of the second and third stories were originally filled with statues. There were 80 entrances, with the two principal ones reserved for the emperor and his entourage.

The interior is made of brick, tufa and marble; little of the marble survives today. The central area, the arena, was covered with a great wooden floor and canvas to make it waterproof. Over this was a layer of sand to absorb blood - in fact "arena" derives from the Latin word for sand. The floor is now exposed down to its underground passages, where beasts and gladiators awaited their fate, and crossed by a modern walkway.

The arena was surrounded by a 5m-high wall to protect spectators from attacks by wild beasts. At the top of the wall was the podium, on which the imperial party and other VIPs had their seats.

Near the site of the imperial box is a cross, which replaces an earlier one set up to commemorate the Christians who were believed to have been martyred here.

Above this was the cavea, or seating area. This was divided into three tiers: the lowest for knights; the middle for wealthy citizens; and the top for the general population. In total the Colosseum could hold up to 45,000 spectators.

The base of the Colossus statue of Nero, after which the amphitheatre is named, can be seen between the Colosseum and the nearby Temple of Venus and Roma.


*Ohhhhh... I just can`t wait `till I visit this beautiful sight. There are actually two things I wanna do when i visit the Colosseum. One is, I know that it`s in this Colosseum where Roman kings bring the slaves and their prisoners to fight to death with lions and tigers, so I wanna go on top of the Colosseum, imagine the fight and see for myself what it really feels like. The other one is, I have a hobby called Parkour/Freerunning, and I really wanna go out there and do vaults, precisions and just jump from rock to another rock(if they would allow me to) LOL
.....I really hope they do! `Cause if not, I`m still doing it:)

Seoul, Korea


(That is actually me. Yes, I`ve been to Seoul, Korea!)

Information about Seoul, Korea

Encircled by mountains, containing a population of 10-million, and with more than a million registered motor vehicles inching through its congested streets, one would imagine the metropolis of Seoul, capital of South Korea, to be a polluted nightmare. The city fathers, however, have made a concerted effort in recent years to clean and green this thriving, prosperous city, also ensuring that the mushrooming of gleaming skyscrapers has not meant the neglect or destruction of centuries-old palaces and shrines. The result is a bustling, but organised, city filled with fascination, where old and new co-exist happily.

A great deal of the credit for the well-ordered urban planning of Seoul can be given to the ancient Joseon Dynasty, which used great foresight when crafting the city into a capital way back in the 14th century.

The old Joseon Dynasty city with its central main palace is now the traditional downtown heart of Seoul where many of the most popular sights, hotels and markets are to be found. One of the most popular areas for visitors to explore is Insa-dong, filled with antique shops, art galleries, traditional teahouses, restaurants and bookshops.

Across the Han River the modern city is dominated by Korea's World Trade Centre, and the Coex Mall, a shopper's delight. Even the island, Yeouido, in the middle of the Han River is densely packed with high-rise buildings; this is also the base for the Korean National Assembly, and the world's biggest Presbyterian church.

Interspersed through the urban landscape are several lush, green parks, the most central being Namsan Park, encompassing the mountain of the same name just to the south of downtown Seoul. Namsan Park is also home to the iconic Seoul Tower, which offers spectacular 360 degree views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Nightlife in Seoul is lively and legendary with something to suit all tastes, from a 'booze-cruise' through the raunchy red light district of Itaewon, or a sedate sit-down at a traditional teahouse. Eating out, too, is a feast for the senses in Seoul, with an enormous international variety to choose from, whether it is succulent steak, perfect pizza, multi-course gourmet, tasty tandoori or even perhaps classic Korean.



*Yeah, this blog is about the places I`m planning on visiting in the future. And yes, even though I`ve been to Korea once, I wanna go there again! We only stayed there for 4 days but, it was those days I`ll probably never forget. What I liked there was their subway. Because of that, you can pretty much go anywhere you want even though you don`t speak Korean language. I also love the markets! Compare to US dollars, they`re so cheap and in a good quality. I didn`t really like the food because spicy foods are just not for me. But overall, I would definitely recommend it if you`re just planning on a winter vacation. Yes, winter. Even though it`s kind of cold outside, it`s probably the best time to visit Korea and have some of their Yakiniku (grilled meat) and street foods!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Great Pyramids of Giza - Egypt


Major tourist sites and attractions :Once you are in the valley of Giza, you won’t need to search for places to visit. The pyramids are calling you to explore them. On your travel to Giza you will get a chance to visit the following places

* The three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure.
* The Sphinx
* The Step Pyramid of Djoser
* The Queen’s Pyramid
* The Solar Barque Museum


The Great Pyramid of Giza stands on the northern edge of the Giza Plateau, located about 10 miles west of Cairo. It is composed of over 2 ½ million blocks of limestone, which weigh from 2 to 70 tons each.

It's base covers over 13 acres and its volume is around 90,000,000 cubic feet. You could build 30 Empire State buildings with its masonry. It is 454 feet high which is equivalent to a modern 48-story building. There are currently 203 courses or steps to its summit. Each of the four triangular sides slope upward from the base at an angle of 51 degrees 51 minutes and each side has an area of 5 1/2 acres. The joints between adjacent blocks fit together with optical precision and less than a fiftieth of an inch separates the blocks. The cement that was used is extremely fine and strong and defies chemical analysis. Today, with all our modern science and engineering, we would not be able to build a Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid is thought to have been erected around 2600 BC during the reign of Khufu (Cheops). Next to the Great Pyramid stands 2 additional large pyramids. The slightly smaller one is attributed to Cheop's son and successor , Kephren. The other, still smaller, is attributed to Kephren’s successor, the grandson of Cheops, Mykerionos. To the south-east of the Great Pyramid lies the Sphinx. The total number of identified pyramids in Egypt is about 80

The Pyramids are more than 4500 years old, the only surviving monuments of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. An Arabic saying is that "man fears time, but time fears the pyramids".

Accommodation Options: In Giza you will find accommodation in all ranges and styles. The Conrad Sharm El Sheikh Resort Giza is a luxury resort in the sea coast area of Egypt. The Cataract Pyramids Resort is another option you have. The suits to suit your need, the hairdresser to give you a stylish look and a nightclub to party – you will get everything here. The Les 3 Pyramids Giza, Sheraton Royal Palace and Zoser Partner Hotel, are also some of the good hotels in Giza.

Food and Wine: The hotels provide a good option for the tourists to take a bite of their favorite food before venturing to the journey of your lifetime. You can gulp down Tower burgers along with a sip of coke. However, there is one place you can try out to have a special lunch or dinner, the Khan El Khali.

Shopping: There are a very few places in Giza where you can go for short shopping expeditions. There is a small village just near Giza, called Kerdassa where you can pick up Arabian scarves, weaving's, rugs and many other things. The Wissa Wassef Art Center houses a museum and artisan’s workshops who sell their products as well. The items, which these artisans sell, include tapestries, batik fabrics beautifully done and ceramic products.


*One of the Seven Wonders of the World:) Maybe this will be the first one I will visit out of the Seven Wonders. I really didn`t believe on pyramids when i was little. I thought you can only see them on TV, which people just made up. But now, knowing that there are really pyramids out there which are built a very very long time ago, I am so eager to see them! I wonder if there are really "golds" in them:) I guess I will find that out one day when I`m rich enough to travel the world. *cough cough*

Eiffel Tower - France


Information about Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) is the symbol of Paris, one of the most visited tourist attractions and the best known tower in the world.

The Eiffel Tower is 300 meters (984 ft) tall and was designed by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exibition of 1889 and stirred great controversy among the Paris citizens. After its opening the intellectuals of Paris gathered to protest against the grotesque Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world until 1931 when the Empire State building in New York was built. Gustave Eiffel also constructed the framework of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

The Eiffel Tower is made of iron and has three observation levels, all accessible by elevators. The first level is at 57 meters (187 ft) and has a post office. The second level features a restaurant and is at 115 meters (376 ft) and the third level is at 276 meters (905 ft) and has observation deck that can hold 800 people. During the summer it gets very crowded and the wait can be as much as an hour per level.

One curious fact – every seven years the Eiffel Tower is painted using 60 tons of paint

History of Eiffel Tower

The tower was being built from 1887 to 1889 as the entrance arch for Exposition Universelle or World Fair. This event was to mark the centennial celebration of the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution. About 18,038 pieces of puddled iron were put together with millions of rivets. Gustave Eiffel was assisted by architect Stephen Sauvestre and design engineers Émile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin. Ironically, when the tower was constructed, it was considered an eyesore by a lot of art enthusiasts. Several members from the arts community condemned and said it only ruined the empty skyline of the Paris city. French novelist Guy de Maupassant who was vocal about his hatred for the tower, ate lunch every single day at the Tower's restaurant. His explanation was that it was the one place in Paris where one could not see the structure. Whatever may have been the bouts of anger about the structure, the fact remains that it became an object of intrigue the world over. Read more on facts about Eiffel Tower.


*Eiffel Tower is not only the symbol of Paris. It is also an amazing structure, graceful and beautiful. It is very funny when you read the stories how the people of Paris were outraged by the project and thought it ugly and uninviting. Climbing the Eiffel Tower was on the top of my to do list when in Paris. The lines are long but it is worth it! I`ve heard there`s a cute cafe on the first floor, too! You may think it`s cheesy, but one of my to do things while in Paris is, kiss the love of my life under Eiffel Tower. Oh! I also heard that your legs will feel "jelly" once you made it up there. We`ll see one day! :)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Gold Coast - Australia


Information about Gold Coast

The spectacular long, golden beaches of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, are great for surfing, diving, fishing and water sports. Apart from beach life, there is plenty to see and do in the theme parks, museums, and shopping malls of the Gold Coast. In the many popular bars and clubs of the Gold Coast you can party until the early morning hours. Hiking and other outdoor activities are very popular in the national parks of Gold Coast Hinterland, consisting of rain forests, valleys and waterfalls.

Apart from beaches, the rich and diverse nature of the Gold Coast's Hinterland with mountains, rain forests, valleys, waterfalls and three national parks inland is perfect for hiking on Gold Coast. Burleigh Heads National Park, among others, is a popular place for walks and wildlife viewing. Those interested in golf on Gold Coast have several excellent courses to choose from.

Gold Coast is not all about beaches and sports. Those interested in history, art and culture will find plenty of see and do in the region. Visit for example the Gold Coast Art Gallery which has a remarkable collection of works by Australian and international artists. In the Gold Coast Historical Museum you can take a closer look at the early inhabitants and historical buildings in the region. You can also take a elevator trip to the spectacular skyscraper Q1 Observation Deck. There are breathtaking views over the city from the skyscraper.


*Gold Coast, this is one of my dream place. I`ve always wanted to go here since I fount out about it. If ever I`m gonna settle one day, this is probably the place. No doubt. Even though I`ve never been here, I know for some reason that this place will be the best place for me to live in. I can imagine laying down the shore, having one of their rare tropical juice and just relaxing. Oh it will happen one day. And I can`t wait!

Here is a quick tourism video for Gold Coast :)




If you`ve ever been to Gold Coast, I would love to hear your stories and experience. And maybe recommendations of the things you must do while in there.
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