Bank Office – Hannover, Germany
Friday, September 2, 2011
Dubai Ovel Tower
As you can see from the graphic, (supplied courtesy of Gulf News), there are six towers that will hover above 100 floors, Burj Dubai (130 Floors), Marina 101 (101 floors), Al Burj (180 floors?), Burj Al Alam (108 floors), Princess Tower (107 floors) and Pentominium (120 storeys) will complete the six.
BUT, Dubai is not all about the biggest and the largest. Dubai is becoming iconic as you can see from the recent announcement of the Oval, which only boasts 19 floors, however, it is set to become just as iconic as Dubai’s big booming towers!
The Ren Building
This is the Ren Building, proposed to be built for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. I'm not sure if they have actually started building it. My guess is they have, and it's probably in the Pudong district where it will beat other iconic buildings such as the Jin Mao (where Grnd Hyatt is) and the Pearl Tower buildings. I'm told the skyline of Pudong changes every month or so with the completion of yet another futuristic building.
'Ren' means people in Chinese and the shape of the building is the Chinese character for people. I'm sure one day they can even build a building in the shape of the Chinese character for love, or any character they want. Structural engineers will have to stretch their innovative and creative limits to keep up with the architects.
'Ren' means people in Chinese and the shape of the building is the Chinese character for people. I'm sure one day they can even build a building in the shape of the Chinese character for love, or any character they want. Structural engineers will have to stretch their innovative and creative limits to keep up with the architects.
I was in Beijing 7 years ago and that's a city I want to visit again. The historic palaces and structures are simply awesome, and made me so proud of my Chinese roots. Now there's even more reason to visit Beijing, with several iconic buildings up for the Olympics. The most famous building is of course the 2008 Olympics Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest. I'm told by an architect that despite the experts contributing to the fantastic design and structure, the building has a major 'flaw'. With all the twists and turns, it would be a huge challenge for TV crews to film the activities in the stadium because when the sun is overhead, there are shadows everywhere in the stadium. I suppose one way to overcome it is to not hold any event around mid day. Whatever the problems, I think most of us will be awed by the buildings in Beijing come 8.8.2008. I'm already counting down: 27 days to go!
The World's Most Famous Buildings, in LEGO
The Smithsonian National Building Museum is currently exhibiting LEGO Architecture: Towering Ambition, a collection of scale models of famous buildings and structures out of Lego bricks. Curated/built by former architect Adam Reed Tucker. "Piece by piece, brick by brick, this LEGO Certified Professional (one of 11 worldwide) creates large-scale artistic models of some of the world's most famous structures including the Empire State Building, St. Louis' Gateway Arch, and Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece Fallingwater. The simplicity and nostalgic quality of LEGO affords viewers a new, detailed look at familiar buildings. Visitors can lean in close to see the complexity of a building's intricate design and engineering or take a step back to appreciate its stunning sculptural form in full."
Commercial cityscapes in the world
For most, the Old West conjures images of towering sandstone buttes, deep red rocks jutting out over vast chasms and of course the inevitable cowboys that complete the scene. What gap year in the USA would be complete without experiencing that childhood dream of the Old West, solid beneath your feed and in front of your eyes?
Adventure tours across Western America can capture all the most stunning scenes the country has to offer, from massive sandy dunes to stop-offs in some of the most brightly-lit commercial cityscapes in the world.
Perhaps the most iconic landscape in our minds when we picture the Old West, Monument Valley embodies the essence of cowboy films. Sandstone buttes looming over the valley create the atmosphere so sought after not only by directors of Westerns, but scene-hunters from other film genres seeking a dramatic landscape to give their picture the edge.
This makes Monument Valley an ideal place to begin your adventure travel across America. Walking tours are available throughout the valley; however, only one route – the Wildcat Trail – can be walked without the aid of a Navajo guide. For those who want to experience the Monument Valley of the movies, horseback tours are also available to give you that cowboy feeling.
Not content with just offering breathtaking tours, it also gives you the opportunity to spend the night gazing at the stars and sleeping in a rustic Hogan – the traditional housing of the Navajo people. The option of a hot air balloon trip can complete your dream-like visit.
If you love aerial tours, a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon should be next on your list. This wonder of the world is an essential stop on any gap year in the USA and is perhaps the most iconic landmark in America. The magic and sheer awe of your visit can be enhanced by the time of day you visit – travel gurus often recommend an early start to view the sunrise, or staying a bit later to catch the sunset.
The city of Tucson, known as the Old Pueblo, in Arizona boasts four mountain ranges surrounding its metropolis. Visiting this blend of ancient and modern, it’s hard not to feel that the sense of the Old West lives on here, melding with contemporary living. Exploring the outskirts of this city can be an exhilarating adventure; perfect for mountain biking, the landscape is home to cactuses as well as its mountains.
National parks, although on the face of it not the raw wilderness of the valleys and canyons, are also a great way to experience the West. These actually often comprise vast areas designated wilderness, parks only in that they are protected as heritage sites.
Once such park is Death Valley, infamous for its seemingly endless stretches of desert, the driest, lowest and hottest area of Northern America. Equally impressive but incredibly different is Yosemite Park – over 90 per cent wilderness consisting of granite cliffs and waterfalls galore. Its striking views attract hordes of visitors year on year, making it another essential to add to your adventure tour.
Tours of the Old West allow you to experience more than the cowboy scene of so-called Real America, so if you are looking for some culture to contrast the rocky planes, why not stop off in some America’s most vibrant cities?
Las Vegas will catapult you back into the modern world with a vengeance. This neon metropolis boasts some of the most dazzling sights in America – a city seemingly made of light and glamour. You can indulge in a helicopter tour completely contrasting the scenes of the Grand Canyon, or delight in the array of shows and infamous casinos.
Not to be outdone by its dazzling counterpart, San Diego also offers itself as an amazing city to explore at the end of your Old West tour. Its beautiful weather complements the gorgeous Mission Beach perfectly – a great place to relax and recharge your batteries before a night out in the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter.
Travel across America really feels complete when it incorporates Monument Valley and the Old West. While modern American cities are iconic in their own right, it’s often the rocky scenes and desert horseback rides that capture the imagination of the nation’s visitors. Incorporating vibrant Western cities into your adventure tour means a more complete experience of this wonderful area of America, allowing you to experience the country’s contrasts back to back in all their glory.
The most important monuments in Lyon
This ancient amphitheatre is one of the most important monuments in Lyon and every tourist wants to visit this place. Believed to be built around 19 AD under King Tiberius, an inscription found in 1958 is can be seen in the Gallo-Roman Museum. The amphitheatre was meant for entertainment, special sports activity such as Gladiator fights, federal activities and many other social purposes. It was originally built for staging and tragic fights and plays and it had a capacity of approx 11,500 people. This amphitheatre was also used for early martyrs as sacrificial site.
Fort Saint-Jean (Rue de la Poudrière)
It is an old and beautiful fort built in 1660 by Louis XIV in Marseille. This fort was used as a prison during the French Revolution. This fort guards the entrance of the port and we can see another fort on the other side as well. This fortification was done mainly to protect the old town. There are regular exhibitions and visits to the Roy Rene tower now a days.
Jardin archeologique St-Jean (Rue Mandelot)
This is an old church built around 4th century (early Christian era) and it was uncovered during the excavations work done between 1973 – 1977. One of the oldest parts of the Church building is Manécanterie.
Parc archeologique de Fourviere (rue Cléberg)
This monumental building called Fourvière hill is favourite for all tourists. Various archeological remains have been found in the past and the park near the Gallo Roman Museum has Odeon theatre as well. It is believed that many treasures have been found on this spot and has been a refuse for many years now.
Place Antonin Poncet (Quai de docteur Gailleton)
Place Antonin Poncet is a beautiful public square tucked between place Bellecour and the Rhone banks, which is a new addition to the Lyon’s urbanisation. This park has lot of greenery, benches and water fountains. In 1934 Hospital de la Charite was demolished to make the building of the post office.
Place Bellecour (Lyon Center exit)
There are few Royal Squares left in France and Place Bellecour is one of them. The statue of Desjardins erected in 1691 was destroyed during French Revolution that took at this square. The statue of Louis XIV was made by sculptor Lemot in 1828. This square is huge measuring 310 by 200 meters. Various rallies or public demonstrations start from this square.
L D Sharma is a frequent traveler to UK, Europe & India with deep interest in Rail and Air Travel. If you are planning to travel to Europe, you are invited to read information regarding Lyon Attractions and Cheap Eurostar Tickets in details so that you can plan your holidays with much better knowledge about your travel.
Taj Mahal is a very obvious one
India is a beautiful, big and a diverse country. The rich culture, heritage, natural beauty, historical buildings and the yummy food are some of the reasons why this country is becoming a very popular tourist destination.
There are way too many places you must see in India. In this post I am going to write about the top places for a history buff. Here are top 6 must see places in India (history focused ones):
1. Taj Mahal: This is a very obvious one. It is an absolutely captivating monument and make sure Taj Mahal is on your list – It is one of the natural wonders of the world and so do I need to say more…
2. Khajuraho Temples : These temples are located in Central India. There are around 85 temples and were built around 950 AD. The architecture is simply superb. Khajuraho is a World Heritage site. The fascinating temples of Khajuraho is India’s unique gift of love to the world,
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