Saturday, July 31, 2010

Cuzco, Peru - Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas is the center of the Historic section in Cuzco.

Plaza de Armas is a beautifully landscaped plaza that includes a mixture of patterned trees and benches. The abundant shade, benches, sitting walls and steps make the plaza a popular lunchtime destination. The steps at the entry of the two Spanish Churches are also great for sitting, and are often used for elevated speaker platforms. Historically, the Plaza has served as the city’s primary meeting place. There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and stores spilling out into the Plaza. Many of the restaurants have outdoor tables, and there is constant entertainment throughout the day and night.

People often cross through the Plaza as a short cut away from traffic or to avoid the curvy roads of Cuzco. The Plaza is most accessible by foot, but people often arrive by car. The most common meeting location for tourist groups is at the entrance stairs of La Cathedral in the Plaza. The Plaza is located at the center of the City and is accessible from all directions, making it a great meeting location.

At first you’ll observe the high velocity of people circulating throughout the Plaza. This is comforting for persons new to the area. Vehicles tend avoid the street adjacent to the plaza and also yield to pedestrians. The Plaza is well lit and offers various nooks and crannies to socialize in or to just be alone in.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bangkok, Thailand - Wat Phra Keaw

Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the adjoining Grand Palace together form perhaps the greatest spectacle for the visitor to Bangkok. Despite the fact that the whole compound is so full of tourists you spend half the time trying to avoid getting in people's photos, it's still a pretty amazing place to visit.

It consists of over 100 brightly colored buildings, golden spires and glittering mosaics, and dates back to 1782, when Bangkok was founded. When you enter the compound, you first of all see Wat Phra Kaew and the nearby attractions, and then move on to the Grand Palace afterwards.

Wat Phra Kaew itself, generally known to the Thais as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is perhaps the main attraction. This is Thailand's most important and sacred temple, so you're expected to act with due respect inside it. It houses the tiny (between 60 and 75 cm) Emerald Buddha, which is located high above the heads of the worshippers and tourists. Not much is known for certain about the statue, except that it isn't actually made of emerald but rather of green jade or jasper. Getting a good look at it is difficult as photography is forbidden inside the temple, and it's perched so high up inside it's glass box that it's difficult to really see.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Cusco, Peru - Iglesia La Compañía de Jesús (Jesuit Church)

Near Cusco Cathedral is the Church of the Society of Jesus (Iglesia La Compañía de Jesús) which rivals the cathedral in grandeur and prominence on the main square.

La Compañía de Jesús is said to be one of the best examples of colonial Baroque architecture in the Americas. Inside, it's rather gloomy, but the gilded altar is stunning, especially when illuminated. The golden altarpiece, decorated with wreathed columns, features an old image of the Virgin and a panel of the Transfiguration attributed to the Flemish Jesuit Diego de la Puente.

La Compañía possesses several other important works of art, including a picture of Saint Ignatius de Loyola by the local painter Marcos Zapata, and a Crucifixion by Cristo de Burgos near the main altar.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Bank of China, Central Hong Kong

The Bank of China Tower is one of the most recognized skyscrapers in Central, Hong Kong. It houses the headquarters for the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited.

If Hong Kong is a city of jade during the day, it becomes a luminous pearl with a sea of lights twinkling in the streets after dark. Where is the best place to enjoy the multi-colorful night scene that encompasses Hong Kong and Victoria Harbor? Victoria Peak is a good location to view its night scene. Being 554 meters above sea level, Victoria Peak is the highest point within Hong Kong and occupies the western part of the island.

Viewing Hong Kong at night is a must! The panoramic vista is one of the most beautiful night scenes in the world so a visit to the Lion Pavilion on the peak is a must. Standing upon the pavilion and overlooking the Victoria Harbor and the Kowloon Peninsula, a spectacular night view will unfold in front of your eyes. The Victoria Harbor is one of the world's busiest harbors and has a constant ebb and flow of shipping all year round. With row upon row of skyscrapers stand prominently on the Central District which is Hong Kong's financial and economic hub. The most spectacular are the Bank of China Tower and the Central Plaza. The Bank of China Tower, with 72 stories soars skyward and is designed by an American-born Chinese architect Ieoh Ming Pei; with the bamboo-shaped outlook of the tower symbolizing that the Bank of China aspires to get better and better.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Puno, Peru - Viewpoint

Puno city is the capital of the department of Puno. It was founded with the name of "Villa Rica de San Carlos de Puno" in 1668, by the Viceroy Count of Lemos, to end with the problems of possession of the silver mines of Laicacota of the brothers Gaspar and José Salcedo.
Lake port beside the Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. It have landscapes of indescribable beauty, it has been the origin and cradle of big pre-Hispanic civilizations as Tiahuanaco, Collas and Aymaras, and of the mythical legend of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo who emerged of its waters and went to Cuzco to found the capital of the Inca empire.

Lving Culture: The Uros, famous and ancestral town that live in floating artificial islands, or the indigenous communities of Taquile and Amantani that maintain their customs and rites without changes in the course of the time, amid unique landscapes.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

La Paz, Bolivia - Apocalyptic day @ The Death Road aka "The World's Most Dangerous Road"

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The Death Road is a 61-kilometre road leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road".

One estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where vehicles have fallen. Because of the extreme dropoffs of at least 600 metres, single-lane width – most of the road no wider than 3.2 metres and lack of guard rails, the road is extremely dangerous. Further still, rain, fog and dust can make visibility precarious. In many places the road surface is muddy, and can loosen rocks from the road.

The danger of the road ironically made it a popular tourist destination starting in the 1990s, drawing some 25,000 thrillseekers. Mountain biking enthusiasts in particular have made it a favourite destination for downhill biking since there is a 64-kilometre stretch of continuous downhill riding with only one short uphill section. There are now many tour operators catering to this activity, providing information, guides, transport and equipment. Nevertheless, the Yungas Road remains dangerous. At least 18 of these cyclists died on the ride since 1998.

Monday, July 19, 2010

La Paz, Bolivia


La Paz, Bolivia
Originally uploaded by GlobeTrotter 2000
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia. It is located at an elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level, making it the world's highest capital city. The city sits in a "bowl" surrounded by the high mountains of the altiplano. As it grows, La Paz climbs the hills, resulting in varying elevations from 3,000 meters to 4,100 meters. Overlooking the city is towering triple-peaked Illimani, which is always snow-covered and can be seen from several spots of the city, including from the neighbor city, El Alto.

La Paz is an important cultural center of Bolivia. The city hosts several cathedrals belonging to the colonial times, such as the San Francisco Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral, this last one located on Murillo Square, which is also home of the political and administrative power of the country. Hundreds of different museums can be found across the city, the most notable ones on Jaén Street, which street design has been preserved from the Spanish days and is home of 10 different museums.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Paris, France - Notre Dame de Paris

The Gothic loftiness of Notre-Dame dominates the Seine and the Ile-de-la-Cité as well as the history of Paris.

Notre-Dame de Paris is a church, a place of Roman Catholic worship, where Christians come together to pray. It opens its doors to people to participate in services or to freely visit the cathedral all year long.

Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern.

For a look at the upper parts of the church, the river, and much of Paris, climb the 387 steps to the top of one of the towers.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Cuzco, Peru - Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas is the center of the Historic section in Cuzco.

Plaza de Armas is a beautifully landscaped plaza that includes a mixture of patterned trees and benches. The abundant shade, benches, sitting walls and steps make the plaza a popular lunchtime destination. The steps at the entry of the two Spanish Churches are also great for sitting, and are often used for elevated speaker platforms. Historically, the Plaza has served as the city’s primary meeting place. There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and stores spilling out into the Plaza. Many of the restaurants have outdoor tables, and there is constant entertainment throughout the day and night.

People often cross through the Plaza as a short cut away from traffic or to avoid the curvy roads of Cuzco. The Plaza is most accessible by foot, but people often arrive by car. The most common meeting location for tourist groups is at the entrance stairs of La Cathedral in the Plaza. The Plaza is located at the center of the City and is accessible from all directions, making it a great meeting location.

At first you’ll observe the high velocity of people circulating throughout the Plaza. This is comforting for persons new to the area. Vehicles tend avoid the street adjacent to the plaza and also yield to pedestrians. The Plaza is well lit and offers various nooks and crannies to socialize in or to just be alone in.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Hi David,I couldn't finish my reply. Do you have your Ask Me enabled? This box only allows 200 characters:( I have started following you back tho. ~lynn :)

Hi Lynn, thanks for your reply. My "Ask Me" is now enabled. Thanks for the advice.

Ask me anything

Pisac Ruins & Teraraces, Peru

The Pisac ruins are some of the finest and largest in the entire valley. Despite the excellent condition of many of the structures, little is conclusively known about the site's actual purpose. It appears to have been part city, part ceremonial center, and part military complex. It might have been a royal estate of the Inca emperor (Pachacútec). It was certainly a religious temple, and although it was reinforced with the ramparts of a massive citadel, the Incas never retreated here to defend their empire against the Spaniards (and Pisac was, unlike Machu Picchu, known to Spanish forces).

The best but most time-consuming way to see the ruins is to climb the hillside, following an extraordinary path that is itself a slice of local life. Trudging along steep mountain paths is still the way most Quechua descendants from remote villages get around these parts; many people you see at the Pisac market will have walked a couple of hours or more through the mountains to get there.

From a semicircular terrace and fortified section at the top, called the Qorihuayrachina, the views south and west of the gorge and valley below and agricultural terraces creeping up the mountain slopes are stunning.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Martian Landscape (Peruvian coastal desert near Arequipa)

From the Peruvian–Ecuadoran border south to northern Chile, the west coast of South America has one of the Earth’s driest climates. The National Geographic Society considers the coastal area of southern Peru to be part of the Atacama desert, including the deserts south of the Ica Region.

On the road to Arequipa, I drove through spectacular desert scenery. The coastal desert which extends south into the Atacama, one of the driest spots on earth, owes its existence to the cold Humboldt current. This stunning desert scenery combined with the huge cliffs overlooking the ocean made the drive along the Pan American highway seem much more scenic than its counterpart in N. America.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Sydney Harbor Bridge & Opera House @ Blue Hour - Australia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's most well known and photographed landmarks.
The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia.
It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge (Sydney's greatest tourism icon) - on a par with San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, New York's Statue of Liberty, London's Tower Bridge and the Eiffel Tower in Paris - took eight years to build and opened in March 1932. Once nicknamed the 'coathanger' it is now simply called 'the bridge' by Sydneysiders.

Linking the city with North Sydney, it carries eight lanes of road traffic and two railway tracks which form part of the city's rail suburban network.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has a pair of granite clad pylons at each end, they are actually there for show and do not support the great arch which is 530 metres (1650 feet) long and connected to huge hinges tied to bedrock at either end - technically Dawes Point in the south and Milsons Point in the north.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Nazca, Peru - The Colibri

There are many theories regarding the purpose of these lines. Were they built for the gods to see? Or for shamans who “flew” over them in drug induced dreams?
Or did their creators already have means to actually leave the ground, such as balloons?
In any case, from the ground there hardly is anything to see: the area is mostly flat and the figures are of a size that makes it impossible to see them whole from this perspective.
From an airplane, however, they are clearly distinguishable. There are a monkey, a spider, a colibri, even a human figure (often called the “astronaut”).

Of course, over time, erosion must have taken a toll on the lines which are believed to be more than 2000 years old.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Paris, France - Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is the largest national museum of France, the most visited museum in the world, and a historic monument. The Louvre Palace is an almost rectangular structure, composed of the square Cour Carrée and two wings which wrap the Cour Napoléon to the north and south. In the heart of the complex is the Louvre Pyramid, above the visitor's center. The museum is divided into three wings: the Sully Wing to the east, which contains the Cour Carrée and the oldest parts of the Louvre; the Richelieu Wing to the north; and the Denon Wing, which borders the Seine to the south.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Japan - Yokohama Skyline

Yokohama lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo. It is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area.
The highlights points of interest are the Landmark Tower which is the tallest building in Japan, Queen's Square Yokohama (a shopping mall) and the Cosmo Clock 21, which was the largest Ferris wheel in the world when it was built in 1989 and which also doubles as "the world's biggest clock".

Japan's second-biggest city, Yokohama is just a short distance south of Tokyo. Yokohama has long been the capital city of the Kanagawa Prefecture and is considered part of the sprawling Greater Tokyo area.

Once a maritime town and standing on Japan's eastern coast, Yokohama has grown into a thriving port city and is filled with its own unique character and tourist appeal. Yokohama makes a pleasant contrast to the somewhat more hectic lifestyle in nearby Tokyo and is full of interest, with highlights including the restaurants around its buzzing Chinatown district, and the particularly tourist friendly seafront development known as Minato Mirai 21.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Paris, France - The Louvre Pyramid @ Blue Hour

The Louvre Pyramid is a large glass and metal pyramid, surrounded by three smaller pyramids, in the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace in Paris. The large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum. Completed in 1989, it has become a landmark for the city of Paris. The construction of the pyramid triggered considerable controversy because many people felt that the futuristic edifice looked quite out of place in front of the Louvre Museum with its classical architecture.

The Louvre Pyramid is the work of American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. His architectural works are characterized by the search for a certain purity of form combined with functional efficiency. The use of abstract forms and the use of cold materials such as stone, concrete, steel or glass are accompanied by a strong propensity for theatrics and technology challenges.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Sydney Harbor Bridge & Opera House @ Blue Hour - Australia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's most well known and photographed landmarks.
The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia.
It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge (Sydney's greatest tourism icon) - on a par with San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, New York's Statue of Liberty, London's Tower Bridge and the Eiffel Tower in Paris - took eight years to build and opened in March 1932. Once nicknamed the 'coathanger' it is now simply called 'the bridge' by Sydneysiders.

Linking the city with North Sydney, it carries eight lanes of road traffic and two railway tracks which form part of the city's rail suburban network.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has a pair of granite clad pylons at each end, they are actually there for show and do not support the great arch which is 530 metres (1650 feet) long and connected to huge hinges tied to bedrock at either end - technically Dawes Point in the south and Milsons Point in the north.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Bangkok, Thailand - Golden Wat Arun

The famous Wat Arun, perhaps better known as the Temple of the Dawn, is one of the best known landmarks and one of the most published images of Bangkok. It consists of a massive elongated prang (Khmer-style tower), and is surrounded by four smaller prangs.
The Wat really looks better from a distance than close up, and you're not missing out too much even if you only view from across the river. The grounds are fairly pleasant and peaceful though, with good murals and a main Buddha image supposedly designed by King Rama II.
It is possible to walk a limited way up the (very steep) stairs of the main prang, which gives a reasonable view of the Chao Phraya river.

Despite it's name (coming from Aruna, the Indian god of the dawn), the best views and photos of Wat Arun are in the evening with the sun setting behind it. There are some restaurants on the opposite side of the river that are good for watching this, though you'd be lucky to see the image of Wat Arun that's on all the postcards - that of the red sky sunset with the sun setting directly behind the temple. Sunset is around 6pm - 7pm all year round in Bangkok.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Altiplano, Peru


Altiplano, Peru
Originally uploaded by GlobeTrotter 2000
The Peruvian Altiplano is the area of the Andes above about 3500m in Peru. The altiplano stretches into neighbouring Bolivia and also Argentina, The Puno region & Lake Titicaca are considered to be the cradle of the Inca civilization.