World Travel

Tuesday 27 December 2011

hong kong pictures and wallpapers

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong's population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese and 5 percent from other groups. Hong Kong's Han Chinese majority originate mainly from the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.

Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Originally confined to Hong Kong Island, the colony's boundaries were extended in stages to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and then the New Territories in 1898. It was occupied by Japan during the Pacific War, after which the British resumed control until 1997, when China resumed sovereignty. The region espoused minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism during the colonial era. The time period greatly influenced the current culture of Hong Kong, often described as "East meets West", and the educational system, which used to loosely follow the system in England until reforms implemented in 2009.

Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has a different political system from mainland China. Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions under the common law framework. The Basic Law of Hong Kong, its constitutional document, which stipulates that Hong Kong shall have a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign relations and military defence, governs its political system. Although it has a burgeoning multi-party system, a small-circle electorate controls half of its legislature. An 800-person Election Committee selects the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, the head of government.

As one of the world's leading international financial centres, Hong Kong has a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade, and the currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the eighth most traded currency in the world. The lack of space caused demand for denser constructions, which developed the city to a centre for modern architecture and the world's most vertical city. The dense space also led to a highly developed transportation network with public transport travelling rate exceeding 90 percent, the highest in the world. Hong Kong has numerous high international rankings in various aspects. For instance, its economic freedom, financial and economic competitiveness, quality of life, corruption perception, Human Development Index, etc., are all ranked highly.

hong kong

Monday 26 December 2011

Moscow Red Square Feel It..:)

Moscow Red Square is the heart of Russia. It's the historical, cultural, and political center of the country.
The Red Square is more than 500 years old. It was set up by Ivan Groznyi in 1493,and was initially used as a marketplace.
Gradually, the Russian governments began to use it for ceremonies. This tradition has lived until today.

By the way, it's called "Red" not because of the color. The word "red" used to mean "beautiful" in Russian. And beauty it is.
The first thing I felt when I got there was how tiny and insignificant I am. The feeling was not accidental.
The Red Square reflects the difference between the East and the West. It symbolizes the state, its reign over man.
It sends you that famous Orwellian message - "The Big Brother is watching you".

All the power is concentrated here. The Kremlin is right behind the wall. These days, it is the only real authority in the country. Just like the old times.
Lenin's Tomb is located on the Moscow Red Square as well. There was time when thousands of people came daily to their beloved leader

Since 1945, the military parades were held there annually. They were cut down during Perestroika and gradually restored.
The first parade was held at 1941, just before the War. It had to show the strength of Russian troops to the Germans. Apparently, the Nazis were not impressed.

The choice of place is not accidental. During the Communist regime, the Red Square parades stressed the power of Kremlin.
Thousands of soldiers stomping the pavement made Soviet people proud and loyal, reminding them who was the boss.

There is another symbol of power on the Red Square. In the past, it used to house several cathedral. Two of them, Kazan Cathedral and Iverskaya Chapel, were demolished.
Now the only one remaining is Saint Basil's Cathedral. These churches were reminding the people about the God-given right of their kings.
You see how it's coming together? Moscow Red Square blends the military, politics, and religion into a unique energy that represents Russia.
But it has changed a lot.
The Red Square has become much friendlier. It's open to everyone. People come to celebrate their wedding, shop at boutiques and even ice-skate!
Popular artists, such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, come to Red Square to throw performances.

Thursday 22 December 2011

The Cultures of China

The Culture of China (simplified Chinese: traditional Chinese: pinyin: Zhōngguó wénhuà) is one of the world's oldest and most complex cultures. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces. Today there are..........
56 distinct recognized ethnic groups in China. In terms of numbers, however, the pre-eminent ethnic group is the Han Chinese. Throughout history, many groups have been assimilated into neighboring ethnicities or disappeared without a trace. At the same time, many within the Han identity have maintained distinct linguistic and regional cultural traditions. The termZhonghua Minzu has been used to describe the notion of Chinese nationalism in general. Much of the traditional cultural identity within the community has to do with distinguishing the family name. Traditional Chinese Culture covers large geographical territories, where each region is usually divided into distinct sub-cultures. Each region is often represented by three ancestral items. For example Guangdong is represented by chenpi, aged ginger and hay. Others include ancient cities like Lin'an (Hangzhou), which include tea leaf, bamboo shoot trunk and hickory nut. Such distinctions give rise to the old Chinese proverb

China Culture

Travel To Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia. Hawaii’s diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches and oceanic surrounding, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu.

The state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main islands" are (from the northwest to southeast) Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. The last is by far the largest and is often called "The Big Island" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.

Hawaii is the 8th least extensive, the 11th least populous, but the 13th most densely populated of the 50 United States. Hawaii's coastline is approximately 750 miles (1,210 km) long, which is fourth in the United States after Alaska, Florida, and California.

Hawaii is one of two states that do not observe daylight saving time, the other being Arizona.

Hawaii

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Indigo Pearl Hotel Luxury Resort, Phuket, Thailand

This unique, chic and contemporary resort basks in spacious grounds with a feast of dining venues and a wide range of facilities. Indigo Pearl blends traditional Thai decor with sleek and trendy design elements, offers great value for money and is particularly popular with our clients.

From the 15th of May to the 31st of October the guest rooms at Indigo Pearl will be undergoing refurbishment but all of the facilities will remain open and disturbance will be kept to a strict minimum.

There are three swimming pools (including two for adults only), and a choice of eight bars and restaurants with menus from Thai to tapas. Other fantastic facilities include a pampering spa, fitness centre, dive centre, Thai cookery school at Moo's Kitchen, weekend market and a kids' club.
Accommodation

177 luxurious and recently refurbished rooms and suites overlook gardens, each with air-conditioning, minibar, television, walk-in wardrobe, complimentary Wi-Fi access, tea and coffee facilities, bath and/or shower and a balcony or terrace.

Pearl bed suites (56m²) feature two private terraces.
Premium pearl bed suites (65m²) have an expansive terrace with queen size daybed and bath.
Elegant D-Buk suites (76m²) feature a separate living area and two private terraces with a spa area for exclusive treatments.
Pool pavilions (112m²) feature a private courtyard with plunge pool, daybed and sun loungers.

Sumptuously spacious Private pool villas (550-2,500m²) are available on request.

Indigo Pearl Hotel Luxury Resort

Monday 19 December 2011

Travel To Malaysia :)

Malaysia is a country of contrasts, bathed in the warm tropical sun, endowed with 3,000 kilometers of coastline, several historic cities, a unique cultural mix, a string of cool hill resorts, the world’s oldest rain forest and even Southeast Asia’s highest mountain. Add to this a delightful fusion.

Geographically, somewhat oddly, Malaysia comprises two distinct bodies of land, politically joined in 1963 after independence from Britain. The Malayan peninsula is the historic home of the Malay people, today’s heart and the population center of the dynamic modern nation. East Malaysia claims the northern edge of the huge, wild island of Borneo. Ethnically and culturally, Malaysia is a fundamentally Malay country overlaid with Chinese, Indian and British influences, and possessing several indigenous tribal peoples such as the Iban, Penan and Negrito.
Yet it preserves many traditional cultural aspects—dress, religion, food and architecture—and retains great natural beauty in beaches, forests, rivers and mountains. Visiting Malaysia provides a step into a special and distinctive world that can be done with ease and comfort via high modern standards of transportation and accommodation.
Malaysia

Holidaymakers love to head for the beach first and forget their workday cares. Malaysia offers a huge range of seaside relaxation running from luxurious total-comfort resorts to deserted away-from-it-all beaches. On the northwest coast of the peninsula sits the holiday island of Langkawi, set on the Andaman Sea. In its myriad coves and inlets, beside palm-fringed golden sand beaches, Langkawi offers international-standard resort hotels and simple chalet accommodation. For a bit of action, there are water sports of all kinds, a fine golf course and duty-free shopping. Especially easy to access, Langkawi has its own international airport.

Farther down the coast lies Penang Island and Batu Ferringhi’s resort hotel-lined beach with little offshore islands ideal for snorkeling and diving, or cruising around. Penang has long been popular with international tourists, as the large island offers many attractions, including a hill resort, botanical gardens, rainforest, typical Malay villages and the historic port city of Georgetown. Farther south, in the Straits of Malacca, lies the island of Pangkor, a popular getaway for Malaysians with its many sandy bays and all kinds of accommodation and diversions.

On the east coast, in an archipelago of 64 volcanic islands, sits Tioman Island. Blessed with miles of soft white sand and swaying palms, with a forested, mountainous interior where wild flowers grow in profusion and cool waterfalls cascade down rocky slopes, Tioman affords a paradise for everything from nature walks to sea sports, or just plain lazing in the tropical sun. The states of Pahang, Terengganu.

East Malaysia also boasts beach resorts such as at Damai, near Kuching, with its brilliant white sands and the Sarawak Cultural Village—a museum of Sarawak’s ethnic cultures. The real highlight, however, comes from diving in the waters off Labuan Island, famous for underwater shipwrecks, and Sipadan Island, in the state of Sabah.

With its wealth of natural environments, Malaysia offers a plethora of adventure opportunities: jungle trekking, white-water rafting, mountain and rock climbing, great cave exploration, scuba diving, kayaking, mountain biking and more. Throughout the country the settings provide ideal adventure activities—dense forests, rapid rivers, craggy mountains, huge cave systems, bountiful seas and kaleidoscopic coral reefs plus abundant wildlife and ancient indigenous peoples.

Malaysia truly Asia

Twin Tower Malaysia

Amalfi Drive Italy Review

If you really want the thrill and want to view the beauty of nature then Amalfi Drive is the stretch that you can never afford to miss. The Stretch of the Amalfi Drive is next to the coastline of Sorrento and is known for its beauty. This is a one way road and thus experiences a lot of traffic. While on your way to the Amalfi, one would pass through Pasitano, which is a place that is close to the mountains, and you can view the sea on the other end. On the way there are a lot of villages also.
The life in Amalfi is very active and busy. That is the reason a lot of time is consumed if one wants to just cross the streets next to the harbor or go uphill. While going uphill can be big fun, coming down is not very interesting as it does not offer much as the path is extremely narrow. The best part to do in places like Amalfi is to find out places that are not meant for visitors as in some interiors, hence difficult to locate however, offer better and more personalized services.

Tourists can also go in for a boat ride along the harbor. The view from the water to the mountain is just splendid. Tourists must plan how to go to this place if hiring taxies or going by buses because the parking space in Amalfi Drive is so narrow, the buses have a specific time slot of entry and exit. One can hire a private Limousine with an English speaking driver who would drive you along the coast. The place has some worth restaurants that offer seafood to seafood lovers.

Many beach towns are located on the Amalfi Coast, including Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Ravello, Scala, Atrani, Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Praiano and Positano.