Lake Baikal – Panoramic Beauty
Photo by: Sergey Gabdurakhmanov, Creative Commons

Lake Baikal is located in Southern Siberia between Buryat Republic and Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. The Lake Baikal is known as “Blue Eye of Siberia” containing more water than the Great lakes in North America.

Lake Baikal measures 1642 meters deep, it is the world’s deepest freshwater lake. The lake was first formed as a rift valley and covers an area of 31,722 square kilometers, in addition, the lake is home to over 1700 species of plants and animals. It is world’s oldest lake and in the year 1996 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Lake Baikal is referred in some Chinese records as the “North Sea”. The lake is entirely encompassed by mountains containing 27 islands and a national park; in addition, the lake is fed by 300 small rivers.

Lake Baikal is rich in biodiversity and home to 1550 animal species and 1085 plant species. The famous fish here is the Omul fish, which is widely sold in the local markets here. Other denizens of Lake Baikal include fresh water seals and golomyankas fish, that, when exposed to sunlight breaks down into oil and bones.

Lake Baikal is a major holiday spot. It features a number of resorts and a seven story hotel. Delicacies here are the fish dishes.

7 Wonders of the Underwater World

Mogao Caves and a carved-in statue of Buddha
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Art lovers will benefit from viewing the Ancient Buddhist statues and paintings housed in the Mogao Caves. Along with the Longmen and Yungang Caves, the Mogao Caves complete the sculptural destinations a visitor must go to when in China. The Mogao grottoes, also known as the Dunhuang Caves and Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, holds a collection of various art preserved over a period of many years.

As local legend has it, the origins run back to 366 AD. When a Buddhist monk, Le Zun, was inspired to construct what he saw from a vision, that of a thousand Buddhas. The monks and faithful Buddhists find shelter in the caves for meditation.

The Mogao Caves are found at the eastern part of Dunhuang’s Mount Mingsha and enjoy a strategic location along the Silk route. The 492 cave sanctuaries and cells in Mogao holds paintings and statues from different art influences during the silk trade, which included religion, culture, and Chinese knowledge.

Usually, the paintings and architecture are visual aides especially to illiterate Chinese Buddhists. Buddhist monks would take writings from traders who pass along the Silk routes and the pilgrims would paint murals on the cave’s walls.

The Silk Route contributed to the vast collection of artifacts. Traders would make a stop and would trade for art and paintings.

The Mogao caves was recognized in the several arenas, like the Japanese film “The Silk Road”, a Chinese animation: “A deer of Nine Colors”, and Olympic games 2008 where one of the mascots Huanhuan was inspired by the fire art in one of the caves.

The grottoes await you in China.

Mount Taishan – Azure Temple
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“The First of the Five Sacred Mountains”, Mt Taishan is held with high regard by the Chinese people. This mountain is known as a sacred place where the emperors offer sacrifices and conduct meditation during the Zhou Dynasty. Seventy-two emperors were recorded to have visited this mountain. The peak is at 1,545 m above the sea level. Because of the frequent visits of various royalties, several artifacts including literary poetry, paintings, and other cultural relics are found in the mountain.

Mt. Taishan is located at Taishan City of Shandong, China. The sacred mountain is said to influence sunrise, renewal, and birth. Pilgrims frequent this place for meditation over the years.

A visitor can also see an example of a fault block mountain. The broken faults are due to bedrock misalignment. These are visible on the mountain’s side creating astounding vistas. Natural bridges formed by the overlapping of large rocks are great examples of natural landscaping.

The Taishan temple is found at the mountain’s foot. The Azure Clouds Temple is at the mointain top. Both showcase magnificent architectural compositions made from wood, bricks, metal, and stone combination. The temples hold ancient stone tablets with inscriptions. The pathway connecting the 2 buildings offers great scenery and different views of the place. In addition, there are 22 temples, 11 gates, 14 kiosks, 14 archways, and 4 pavilions that are within reach.

For more scenery and less artifacts, a visitor can opt to follow the west route of the mountain.

The 7,000 steps from the South Heaven Gate give a feeling of nostalgia after reaching the tip of the mountain. Mt Taishan is a great tourist destination housing important monuments and artifacts. The caretakers of Mt Shian did a great job of preserving the history of their culture.

Dionysus Theatre
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Now that you have plans to go to Greece with your family, there are several places to go to once you reach the place. Greece is known for their artifacts, ruins, and beaches and of course, their food but there seems to be one thing you need to include in your checklist. That is the Theatre of Dionysus. You may have heard about this when you had your Greek history class years back but did you know it is one of the visitor destinations in Greece?

Of course you vaguely can remember that this place is the world’s first Theatre since it was erected in the 6th Century. What you need to know is that the Dionysus Theatre is considered as the father or mother of ancient drama. Greek drama is different from the Roman kind since the latter was held in a semi-circle form of orchestra like in theaters now. The Greeks on the other hand was just an oval to a semi oval piece of space where no levels or seats are placed. It’s like one big bonfire where everyone gets to dance and sing with each other.

Another reason why visitors seem to head to the Dionysus Theatre is because they would want to breathe the same air that Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes when they did their world-renowned performances. One thing you would appreciate when you go here is that there are some destinations that seem to be overflowing with visitors that you can’t even have a single spot for yourself. In these grounds, you will have that spot just for you as long as you visit it when the sun is high. The lower it goes, the more visitors come.

Athens Famous Landmarks

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A trip to Greece would not be complete without a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. There, every visitor from different parts of the world converge and experience the richness of the history of Greece that dates back a long time. Since this is a museum, there are house rules to be followed and as visitors to the museum, do follow them and make sure you do not set these guides aside.

You see, the artifacts and other proofs of archeological worth is revered and taken cared of by the locals of Greece. They open it and share it with the visitors since the world has to know so much too. There are times when visitors fail to keep the rules and they take photos where is it prohibited, throw thrash where it is not allowed to litter. Well, small things that could sometimes turn locals a little red.

This also speaks for the National Archaeological Museum of Athens where the contents of the place is heavily guarded and revered by people since this is the only place they could see the history of Greece that is very documented, unfold in front of their eyes. Just imagine filling up 8,000 square meters of bare land with all the treasures of Greece dating back to 1800 B.C. surely that is one spectacular site to visit.

You may head to the beach, rappel down cliffs and even recharge your soul’s batteries by visiting monasteries but in order for you to appreciate why everything you have visited and appreciated over the days you have been in Greece, you definitely have to visit the National Archaeological Museum of Athens for you to understand that Greece is definitely one place that is unforgettable.

Athens Famous Landmarks

Todai-ji Temple
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Do you find eastern architecture and their history intriguing? If your answer is yes, you should visit the Todai-ji Temple located in Nara, Japan. Nara was a capital of Japan, from 710 to 784 AD. It is located in the Kansai area where historical and religious structures are located. You will see some of Japan’s original architecture in the Kansai area, especially in Kyoto and Nara.

This is actually a Buddhist temple complex that houses several other buildings. But the greatest among all the structures inside the Todai-ji Temple complex is the Great Buddha Hall or Daibtsuden. The name might ring a bell because it is the largest wooden structure in the world. If you go inside the largest wooden building, you will also see Daibutsu, the largest Buddha Vairocana statue in the world.

The great statue is 14.84 meters tall and weighs 500 metric tonnes. And it is made of pure bronze. Other statues can be found inside the Daibutude, and in other parts of the temple such as the Lotus Hall or Hokkedo and Ordination Hall or Kaidan-In.

Because of its historicity, the Todai-ji has been included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, which also includes seven other shrines, temples, and structures in Nara, Japan.

When you enter the compound, you will find Sika deer’s roaming freely on the grounds. The place is safe for these animals to do that. Sika deer’s play a role in the Shinto religion.

Todai-ji is serene and peaceful. It is not unusual to see wild animals roaming inside the complex. When you go there, you will marvel at the contrasting features of Japan—a combination of modernism and tradition.

Tate Modern
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Tate Modern in London is a popular art gallery with over 4.5 million visitors every year. The collection in Tate Modern consists of works from international modern and contemporary art dating from 1990 onwards. The collection is displayed on the third and fifth levels of the building. When they first opened in the year 2000, the collections were not displayed in chronological order, it was displayed in thematic order instead.

The collection was classified into four groups: History-Memory-Society; Nude-Action-Body; Landscape-Matter-Environment and Still Life-Object-Real Life. You can enter Tate Modern for free except for major exhibitions or events. They are open from Sunday to Thursday, 10:00am until 6:00pm; Friday and Saturday from 10:00am to 8:00pm. They are closed December 24, 25, 26 and resumes on January 1.

Level three focuses on abstract, expressionism and abstract expressionism. Claude Monet, Barnett Newman, Anish Kapoor, Tacita Dean, Mark Rothko and Henri Matisse are the artists whose work is displayed here. Level three also has a sexually explicit drawing, which was made by a French artist called the Proper Man. This painting attempts to explore the tension between old and new attitude to sexuality within the urban environment.

Level five on the other hand focuses on Cubism, futurism, Vorticism and Pop Art. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol have their works displayed. They have also included photographic art by Eugene Atget.

Level one, also known as the Turbine Hall, was used to house the electricity generators for the old power station. Now it is five-story tall with 3,400 square meters floor space and is used to display large commissioned works by contemporary artists between October and March of each year.

For more info, you may visit the official Tate Modern website.

London Famous Landmarks

City of the Dead
Photo by: Charlie Phillips, Creative Commons

City of the Dead (Cairo) is a place that has a strange practice: the residents live with the dead. The four-mile area occupied by piles of tombs and mausoleums also holds a thriving community of live people. Known as El Arafa or “the cemetery” by its residents, City of the Dead is an example of cemetery-cum-city dwelling place. For the modern mind-set, this practice might seem bizarre. For some of its inhabitants, this is their own way of being close with their ancestors. For others, they live here because other places offer harsh accommodation rates. Most of the residents earn their living by being tomb keepers.

This place will give you a taste of Egypt’s urban poor living. Approximately 5 million Egyptians live in the City of the Dead (Cairo) with scattered population in its five main cemeteries namely, Bab el Nasr Cemetery, Northern Cemetery, Southern Cemetery, el Wazir Cemetery and Cemetery of the Great. It is not a surprise that above almost every tomb lives at least one family.

The city is great for anthropological research since the separation of mostly urban poor population from the rest of the Cairo’s residents brings lessons on the different lifestyles. An empty tomb may serve as a family’s sleeping room. A grave marker is good as table for food or desk for belongings. The mausoleum serves as shelter from rain and sun. The people hung wires from gravestone to gravestone and use them to dry the clothes.

Every tourist will consider the immersion on this place as life changing especially in the Northern Cemetery. As you walk through the city/cemetery, you will bask in silence as if you have entered another dimension of enchantment. It is also recommended that you view the rooms holding the coffins of the dead from all generations.

Photo by: Wiiii, Creative Commons

The Kyoto National Museum or Kyoto Kokuritsu Kakubutsukan to the locals, is one of the art museums in Japan that has been imperially mandated. Found in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward, the museum focuses on collections of Asian and pre-modern Japanese art. The art museum’s construction was first proposed, together with the Imperial Museum of Nara (now Nara National Museum) and Imperial Museum of Tokyo (now Tokyo National Museum), in 1889. It finally opened in 1897, with its name going through a series of changes, from being the Imperial Household Museum of Kyoto to Imperial Gift Museum of Kyoto. Its legal name was finally settled only in 1952.

The layout of Kyoto National Museum is comprised of a number of buildings with the Special/Main Exhibition Hall as the most popular. Katayama Tokuma did its design in the year 1895 while the New Exhibition Hall’s design was created by Morita Keiichi in 1966. The regular exhibitions of the museum are displayed only in The Collections Hall while special exhibits are housed in the Special Exhibition Hall. Some parts of the buildings were considered as Important Cultural Properties of Japan like its Main Gate, the Main Exhibition Hall, and the Ticket Area.

As for its collections, the museum grounds of Kyoto National Museum are divided into three parts namely the Fine Arts section with paintings, calligraphy, and sculptures; the Handicrafts section with all the fabrics, lacquer wares, metal works, and potteries; and the Archaeology section with all the collections of items with archaeological and historical traces.

All in all, the museum possesses more than 12,000 art items with only 6,000 on actual display. Another pride of this art museum is their expanse collection of 200,000 photographic color transparencies and negatives. In the Fine arts section only, more than 230 items are tagged as Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures. The museum is also said to have the largest collection of Heian period items and also houses an exceptional collection of ancient Japanese and Chinese sutras.

Stratford-upon-Avon Town Centre
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Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town that has a civil parish in the south of Warwickshire, England. The town is a popular tourist destination because it is the birthplace of the playwright and the poet William Shakespeare. You may also see Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, which was once the home of Shakespeare’s wife’s family. Stratford normally receives around three million visitors per year and visitors came from all parts of the world. The town council regulates, and is responsible for crime prevention, public conveniences, cemeteries, river moorings, parks, litter, selection of town’s mayor and grants visa via Town Trust. The town is simply known as Stratford and is often confused with Stratford in the London Borough of Newham.

Major employers of these towns are companies like Mark and Spencer, AMEC, Tesco, Morrisons, Debenhams, B&Q and Pashley Cycles. There are three famous theaters here that are run by the famous Royal Shakespeare Company, which attract large numbers of audience and tourists. These theaters bring in huge income amount for the town.

Stratford has Anglo Saxon origin meaning the town grew up as a market town back in the medieval times. Stratford is close to Cotswold travelling around 10 miles or 16 km. Cotswold is known as the major sheep producing area or place.

Back in World War II when German invasion occurred, the town served as a temporary seat for the Parliament and the town also hosted many state servants. It has been said that in 2001, the reported population there was around 23,676.

Stratford-upon-Avon is close to UK’s second largest city, which is the Birmingham. It is accessible from junction 15 of the M40 motorway. You can also travel to Birmingham via train. The Stratford-upon-Avon railway station is known to have a good railway connection to Birmingham and train schedule normally operates until 8:30pm.

Colossi of Memnon
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When it comes to the task of reflecting the magnificence of the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, Colossi of Memnon does just that. Known to the locals as es-Salamat or el-Colossat, the site holds 2 colossal stone figures of the Pharaoh.

The statues were erected in 1350 BC in the Theban necropolis along the Nile River near the city of Luxor. Both figures are in a seated pose with hands on knees and a straight gaze eastwards. One of the figures aptly called the Northern statue has a smaller figure on the side resembling the Pharaoh’s mother Mutemwia. The Southern statue has smaller figures of Tiy, Pharaoh’s wife and one of his daughters. On the sides of the sculpture are depictions of Nile gods representing Upper and Lower Egypt.

The Colossi of Memnon is carved out of quartzite sandstone from el Gabal el-Ahmar. The two statues towers a height of 75 ft (23 m) and was originally built by Pharaoh Amenhotep III to act as guards to a Theban temple when he was considered as a living god on earth. The sculptures are heavily damaged due to weathering and human meddling albeit they are still worth the tourist’s visit. Modern travelers name the figures Tammy and Shammy (slang Arabic words for right and left, respectively).

There is a running legend with the sculptures claiming that long ago, a moaning sound can be heard when the sun’s rays hit them in an early morning. The moan was thought to be the sound of King Amenhotep III calling his mother. The sound is said to have disappeared when the Romans attempted to repair the pieces.

Aside from the huge statues, the site also has remaining artifacts. There are 2 headless lion bodied sphinxes and a crocodile tailed sphinx. With the efforts to preserve the remaining artifacts, may the pieces be available to tourists of the future generations.

On the Beach in Capri, this boat is waiting for you.
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Do you want a place where romance is in the air? Head off to your own secluded spot in Italy called the isle of Capri. This is located just outside Naples where it could be reached by visitors via taxi, ferry ride or even through a helicopter if you have all the means. What is so great about this visitor destination is its own rich history dating back to the 1600s. You can really find solace in such a place since it is so incredibly blessed with nature.

There are so many ways for you to enjoy, like dive in its pristine waters unlike any other place you’ve been to. The visitors that come to Capri find time to say “Voglio Rivederti” or see you again in Italian. The Piazzetta, Piazza Umberto I, which is considered the center of Capri, bars, restaurants and even coffee shops are scattered everywhere for you to revel in the isle’s fantastic view.

Capri is home to a former monastery named the Garden of Augustus. The breathtaking view takes you back to the 1300s when life was simple and true. Head back to the time of Tiberius, known as Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, the famous Roman leader who led the Roman Empire to freedom.

There are about a hundred things to do in Capri, so during your stay there, you’ll see that everything is all about going back into time. Pack light clothes because in this isle, everything is so laid back and all the visitors, especially nature lovers, can have the freedom to enjoy hiking.

On the grounds of Kiyomizu Temple
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The Kiyomizu temple, also known as the Kiyomizu-dera or Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, is considered as a sovereign Buddhist temple situated in the eastern part of Kyoto. The architecture was first constructed during the early part of the Heian period and is believed to date back to the year 778. The most remarkable thing about the construction of this temple is that not a single nail is used upon building it. Its name is derived from the waterfall inside its complex making, also known as clear water or pure water temple. The main hall of the temple houses a large veranda with tall pillars as its foundation that protrudes over the side of the building giving a beautiful view of the city. This style of having large verandas as well as main halls in temple designs was done in order to accommodate some huge numbers of pilgrims in it.

Just underneath the main hall is the famous Otowa waterfall where three channels of waterways fall together in one pond. Visitors of the Kiyomizu temple can drink these waters which are believed to possess some miraculous therapeutic powers. These waters are also said to be powerful enough to bring longevity, health, and wisdom to whoever drinks it. However, an ancient belief of the Japanese tells that it is morally right to choose only two of these options because people who are greedy enough to take three of the offered gifts will only cast misfortune upon themselves.

The Kiyomizu temple complex also houses some other shrines like the Jishu shrine is built in honor of the god of love, Okuninushi. Found inside a shrine is a pair of “love stones” set to ground 18 meters apart. Visitors looking for good luck in love matters can only walk between it with their eyes closed. If a person was able to reach the other stone, it means that he/she will soon find true love. Other offerings of the temple are talismans, omikuji, or paper fortunes and incense.

Katsura Imperial Villa
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The Katsura Imperial Villa is an estate built between 1620 and 1663. Located in the southwestern part of Kyoto, the building was an attempt to mix the architectural styles of the Heian period with the then popular innovations of designs from the tea ceremony. The paths found the villa were all leading to the central constructions as well as the gardens peppered with small enchanting pavilions and tea huts that give the place a picturesque view. The foundations of the main buildings were constructed according to the special landscape organized to follow the new theme with three additional structures following the shoin-zukuri style.

Some of the buildings and gardens to be found in the Katsura Imperial Villa are the Old Shoin, Middle Shoin, and New Palace which were each constructed following the shoin and irimoya kokerabuki style of roofs. The Old Shoin construction displays elements following the sukiya style in its various places like its verandas. One famous space in which the Old Shoin is well-known for is its moon-viewing platform. This clearly displays that fact that the central theme of the detached place of Katsura is for its visitors to glimpse beautiful views of the night orb. The Middle Shoin and New Palace, on the other hand, have their walls painted with ink paintings from the ancient school of Kana Tan’ya. The garden’s central pond has the Katsura River as its water source and is surrounded by tea houses, lanterns, bridges, sand, and hills.

The main Katsura Imperial Villa is situated in the western part of Kyoto and can be reached by taking the Karasuma Subway Line from the Kyoto Station to Shijo Station. After reaching the station of Shijo, have a transfer to go to Hankyu Kyoto Line to reach the Katsura station. Once you reach the station, a 15 minute walk is just needed to reach the main villa.

Herculaneum Ruins
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Arranging your whole itinerary of your Italian getaway is easy and fun to complete. You need to visit the most sought after visitor destinations for you to fully enjoy your stay and at the same get your money’s worth. Since you are going up to Naples, do visit the Ruins of Herculaneum to bear witness to that town that was literally buried in thick mud when the might Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Who could forget such a volcano when everywhere you go either it be the movies or read ancient books, you come across this little part of Italy’s history. There are various forms of recreation but mostly, it is all centered towards the slow walk across the entire Herculaneum for you to really take part in the molding of civilization in this remote town. Do not forget to pack some light lunch or snacks since the only vending machine in is for drinks. Nevertheless, no matter how difficult refreshments are in this place, visitors seem to not bother especially when they start to get a glimpse of the numerous ruins – to be one with the past is simply breathtaking.

The city is named after one of the Roman mythological heroes, Hercules. He is the roman demi-god believed to be the son of Mighty Zeus. You could really do some of the catching up on your Roman Mythology since knowledge would soon come pretty handy during your visit.

The Herculaneum is one of the links to a much more grandiose past in Italy which almost all the sights are known for. Do bring your camera since the ruins, relics and all those markings left behind by the people who did not survive Mount Vesuvius can still be found there. Indeed a photographer’s paradise.

Mycenae
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Capture the drama of Greece as the sunrises in Mycenae. This visitor destination, is a must-see for people who are interested about history, archeology and beautiful ruins. Never could a visitor forget the expression on their face at first site of the Mediterranean as well as the Adriatic Sea. What makes Mycenae special to Greece? This place happens to be where King Agamemnon ruled the people of Troy using a Trojan Horse.

One could just enjoy the breathtaking view just about anywhere since they have to trust the taste of the kings who ruled before – they have this wonderful and perfect preference to spots where they can have a majestic view of their territory. Did you know that when the sun casts a shadow during the day the colors of the countryside turns into this beautiful olive green and orange all due to the fact that the fertile soil has allowed several vegetables, herbs and spices to grow abundantly in Mycenae?

During summer, Mycenae is so fragrant that some visitors may become dizzy with all the beautiful smells they are experiencing. It is when the oranges are in full bloom. That happens to be such a wonderful sight to see in Mycenae. Most locals often give some tips to the visiting visitors that they should pack on some light clothes. Mycenae is indeed a place of the sun so people there are all bronzed up and ready to go.

Speaking of hotels, there are several cozy places for one to rest and they are priced very reasonably. The food is of course very mouthwatering. The only downside is having a peaceful night would be a little difficult since the whole of Mycenae is bursting with visitors who seem to not stop talking, dancing and laughing all through the night.

Rock Garden, Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
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Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The first owner of the estate was the Fujiwara family but after several years, the Hosokawa clan became its owner, specifically Hosokawa Katsumoto. After Katsumoto died, the estate was transformed to a Zen Buddhism temple complex. The tombs of the seven emperors of the Hosokawa clan are located inside the complex.

However, the main feature of this estate is the Ryoanji Rock Garden. It is a kind of karesansui or dry landscape. Many people from all over the world go here to see the famous rock garden.

The garden has 15 rocks that are placed on a wide expanse of land covered with white gravel. The rocks are covered with moss, which adds a green tinge to the whole landscape. However, even though the rocks are 15, you will only see 14 of them no matter what angle you look at it, except at the top view. If you go there and try to go around the boulders to see all 15, you will not succeed because the creator of this masterpiece strategically placed all 15 rocks so that people can only see 14 of them.

The creator, whoever he is, did not create this rock formation to make fun of the tourists or to have a good laugh, though. This is related to Zen Buddhism. In Buddhism, the number 15 signifies wholeness or completeness. In the rock garden, if you can see all 15, it means you have already attained enlightenment.

Although the rock formation is not as complicated or modern as the other more famous architectural designs and structures, its simplicity and brilliance made it one of the most visited places in Japan.

Ariel view of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Photo by: Mark Fosh, Creative Commons

St. Paul’s Cathedral is an Anglican Cathedral found in Ludgate Hill in the City of London. This cathedral has been generally reckoned as London’s fi St. Paul’s Cathedral. The cathedral is located on the highest point of London and is one of the most visited cathedrals in London. The cathedral was built using Portland Stone in late Renaissance Style or them. This style represents England’s sober Baroque. The dome was inspired by St. Peter’s basilica in Rome. You may also find three small chapels in two adjoining aisles. The Whispering Gallery has an approximate height of 99 ft from the cathedral floor.

The huge organ was created way back in 1694. It is the third biggest instrument in Britain. It has 7,189 pipes and 108 stops. The impressive case was created by Grinling Gibbons. The cathedral possesses a very substantial crypt. They hold over 200 memorials, and serve both the Order of the British Empire Chapel and the Treasury Department. Back in 1810, major robbery took place and almost all the precious artifacts were stolen. You will also find the tomb of Christopher Wren in this cathedral. Above his tomb, there was a message written as “Lector, si monumentum requires, circumspice.” This message means “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.”

St. Paul’s Cathedral was used for the marriage of Price Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Way back in 2001, a memorial service to honor victims of the September 11, 2001 attack was held in this very cathedral as well. The memorial service was attended by the Royal Family and US Ambassador William Farish. In 2004, Farish told The Times that this event showed the strong relationship between the United States and Britain.

The cathedral is open to the public for viewing. You may climb the 530 steps to the golden gallery; this is the perfect spot where you can see the fine view of London. Back in 2000, the cathedral has undergone a major restoration and was scheduled to finish on 2008 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of its opening.

For more info, you may visit the official St. Paul’s Cathedral website.

London Famous Landmarks

Colossus of Rameses
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Perhaps one of the most well preserved statues of a Pharaoh is the Colossus of Rameses II. A 33.8 ft (10 m) statue made out of limestone was found by the Italian Giovanni Caviglia in 1820.

It is presumed that the huge statue was an unfinished work of a skilled artist for Rameses II since the Pharaoh had a fondness of making sculptures of himself more than any other Egyptian royalty. This sculpture is just one of the structures he he’d erected along the entire stretch of Nile.

The tall structure is now housed in a mini museum in Memphis. The statue is cut at its knees but it is still magnificent to view with its original colors faintly intact. The marble surface is observed to have a finely finished cut, which can be only be accomplished through the hands of a skilled artist.

A look at the statue will make you conclude of how the Egyptian art pictures the anatomical features of Egyptian kings. The shoulders are always broad and the muscle and bone structures tend to be exaggerated.

The markings found at the shoulders and chest of the statue are inscriptions of the Pharaoh’s name as a sign of the statue’s ownership. Also noticeable are epithets with message of commendation for the king to the Egyptian gods.

Tall statues like this one are made to stand as “guards” to important places. In this instance, Colossus of Rameses II is one of a pair that was presumed to stand at Ptah monumental temple.

Aside from the tall statue, the open-air museum features other artifacts like the sculpture of Bes, god of Childhood and fertility, and other ancient statues.

Colossus of Rameses II was once offered by Muhammad Ali to the British Museum. However, the museum declined because shipping the whole figure to London is expensive and extremely difficult.

Heian Shrine
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Originally built in honor of the first and last emperors of the Heian dynasty, the Heian Shrine Garden consists of four sub-gardens surrounding the main shrine. The gardens are built following the four major directions of south, west, middle, and east. Totaling to a close approximate of 33,000 square meters of land, these gardens constructed in the stroll-style design were originally designated as a national scenic place that represents the design of the gardens of the Meiji-era.

The first of the gardens is the Nishi Shin’en or the West Garden. The main feature of this part is a serene pond called the Byakko-ike which is surrounded by irises during the summer. The pond and the ethereal beauty of the irises are emphasized by a tea ceremony arbor named as the Choshin-tei found in the southwest cluster of trees in the place.

The South Garden of the Heian Shrine Garden is called the Minami Shin’en which is constructed for the holding of aristocrat garden parties called the Kokusui-no-en. This garden is well-known because of the variety of flowers it houses. Cherry blossoms can be found here during spring, azaleas on early summer, and hagi or Japanese bush clover on autumn. The Middle Garden, moreover, is called the Naka Shin’en which contains the Soryu-ike pond surrounded by rabbit-ear irises and the Garyu-kyo. The latter is a walkway made out of stone pillars that were once used as foundation stones for the Sanjo Ohashi and Gojo girders.

The last part of the Heian Shrine Garden is the East Garden or the Higashi Shin’en. The pond Seiho-ike can be found in its center in which the ancient courtiers were said to have gone boating during the old times. The Higashi Shin’en has the Higashiyama hills as its backdrop lending the garden a peaceful and almost magical aura. It also contains the Taihei-kaku and the Shobi-kan buildings with their ancient and elegant styles.

Kasuga Shrines’ Bronze Lanterns
Photo by: Aschaf, Creative Commons

The Kasuga Grand Shrine, also known as the Kasuga Taisha is a popular Shinto shrine that can be found in the prefecture of Nara. The shrine has become increasingly popular to tourists and even the locals of Japan because of its breathtaking bronze and stone lanterns accessorizing almost all areas of the temple. The place is located at the far end, northeast of Nara Park and is just a 20-25 minute short walk from Toda-ji. The shrine is considered as one of the most valuable shrines in Nara prefecture and is a member of the Three Great Shrines in the entire Japan.

Officially built by the Fujiwara clan in 768, it has been rebuilt countless times during the many centuries that passed. However, despite the reconstructions, it is still considered as the official shrine of the family of the Fujiwaras. The Fujiwaras were one of the most powerful families during the ancient period and they used the shrine together with the Imperial court as a worship place. This made the history of the place to be filled with prosperity from the people living there. The style of architecture was called the Taisha-zukuri or Kasuga-zukuri where the name Kasuga Grand Shrine was originally derived. The place can be seen in the western part of Mt. Kasuga and Mt. Mikasa, which are considered as sacred mountains where the Shinto kamis or gods first descended to earth.

During the middle of the later Heian period, the Kasuga Grand Shrine was merged with the Kofukuji Temple in response to the then newly emerged Kami-Buddha Fusion of theological philosophy. This merging with the Kofukuji, however, only lasted until the Meiji restoration, which is a time when the government of the country ordered Shinto to be the religion of the whole state, separating it from Shintoism and Buddhism. Near the shrine is the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, which is one the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara as well as a member of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

Blarney Castle
Photo by: Heather Elias, Creative Commons

If there’s one place you should not miss on your visit to Ireland, it’s Blarney Castle, the perfect epitome of Irish culture and heritage. A historic edifice, built in 1446, found in Blarney Village, just 8 km northwest from Cork City in Southern Ireland.

Admission is affordable, although different rates apply for children, adults and students. Souvenir shops, gardens and refreshments can be found in this place, and it’s one of those places where you will enjoy taking pictures.

A reason not to miss Blarney Castle is the well-known Blarney Stone, which makes the castle a really popular attraction. You can’t enter the castle without viewing the stone, which is believed to do wonders for its visitors who take time to kiss it. Found at the top of the castle’s tower, legend has it that whoever kisses the stone will be gifted with an amazing eloquence that one will never be at a loss for words. No wonder it’s called the Stone of Eloquence!

Blarney Castle has stories that involve historical figures such as Cromwell and Queen Elizabeth. Visitors can read about them as they tour the castle and find out about its fascinating and intriguing history that includes battles and renovations on the structure.

Close to the castle is the Blarney House, which has a Georgian gothic look. Built in the 18th century, the house was actually destroyed by fire but its wings remain. Around the same time that Blarney House was built, Rock Close, a landscape garden. It had Druid-related structures that will bring you to some kind of a magical world like the Wishing Steps, the Fairy Glade and the Druids Circle. It looks quite suspenseful at night so you might want to visit it during the day.

Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall
Photo by: andybullock77, Creative Commons

When the coastlines of United Kingdom are mentioned, the Coast of Cornwall is definitely on top of the list. The picturesque cliffs, breathtaking estuaries, its fishing coves and harbors, to its magnificent line of surf beaches, enchanting creeks as well as an island with a captivating castle atop are only a few of the reasons why tourists flock this place.

The place has a lot of venue good for recreation and learning. This recently awarded World Heritage site’s climate is mild and temperate. Summer is warm while winter is not overly chilly. It’s definitely perfect for those tourists who take pleasure in walking along the beach coast or hiking. On top of the cliffs, you can take wonderful pictures and you’ll have a full view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding islands.

As with the accommodation, it is easy to find one in the area. Souvenir shops, retail stores and restaurants abound. There are several resorts in the area that allows guests to surf. Fishing villages sprawl along the Coast of Cornwall. Its diverse offering of sea creatures makes it more interesting to go to. Mountain climbing, trekking, cycling, etc are some of the activities that tourists enjoy in this place.

The advocates of Neptune Coastline Campaign, a crusade launched by the National Trust, which aims to conserve and protect the coastlines of England, Northern Ireland and Wales, maintain the beauty of the Cornish Coast. Hand in hand with the local authorities, the supporters of the said campaign are making efforts to preserve the beauty of the Coast of Cornwall.

This frequently visited spot in England is certainly a wonder to behold. So, be among those who have experienced what it has to offer. Book a reservation now and don’t be left behind. Coast of Cornwall is certainly a holiday getaway worth visiting.

Step Pyramid
Photo by: peifferc, Creative Commons

The Step Pyramid of Djoser (Zoser) is the earliest stone pyramid in Egypt, thus became an important milestone in Ancient Egyptian Architecture that laid the basis for future and more advanced pyramids in Egypt. The Step Pyramid was already an attraction for many centuries. Evidence has shown that travelers and pilgrims have come to see the pyramid from as early as the Middle Kingdom Period (2040 to 1640 BC).

The Step Pyramid of Zoser was built approximately 2649 to 2575 BC, during the 3rd Dynasty and under the rule of the pharaoh Zoser (or Djoser). The building was under the leadership of the pharaoh’s architect Imhotep. Because of Imhotep’s immense influence and contribution over Ancient Egyptian architecture, he was later deified and became god of the architects and doctors. Special permission from the Antiquities Inspectorate is needed to access the pyramid’s interiors. The original entrance in the north side was blocked; instead visitors access the interiors through a newer tunnel in the south side. Travelers must walk a 28-meter passageway to access the pharaoh’s burial chamber, which was heavily plundered by thieves during antiquity. On the northern face, there is a small room called the ‘Serdab’. You cannot go inside the room, although the sloping wall is drilled into two large holes so you can take a good peak of the statue of Zoser inside. The Ancient Egyptians worshipped and made offerings to their deified pharaoh through these two holes.

Imhotep certainly created revolutionary architectural designs for the pharaoh Zoser. Previous pharaohs were buried in rectangular mastabas, whereas Imhotep was able to design a pyramid by stacking six mastabas on top of the other, one mastaba smaller than the previous one. This innovative design would later evolve into the smooth-sided triangular pyramids in Giza and other pyramids in Egypt.

Nishi-Honganji Temple
Photo by: LordAmeth, Creative Commons

You probably know Japan for its technology and gadgets, good quality cars, unique sense of fashion, and its interesting culture. You must have heard that most of its people’s religion is Buddhism, though they admittedly say that they do not practice their belief in their everyday lives. If you go to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, you will see that there are several different Buddhist temples. One of them is the Nishi-Honganji Temple.

A long time ago, when the Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan, they divided the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) Buddhist sect into two factions, the Higashi Honganji (“The Eastern Temple of the Original Vow”) and the Nishi Honganji (“The Western temple of the Original Vow”). The shogun’s reason for dividing this sect into two is to decrease its growing power back then.

Today, these two great temples are both located in the central part of Kyoto. If you love Eastern architecture, you will fall in love with the outstanding showcase of Buddhist architecture in the Nishi-Honganji Temple. However, you can only see some parts of the structure, not all of them. You need to make a formal request to be able to take a glimpse at the other parts of the temple that are not usually open to the public.

Inside the main hall, you will see amazing paintings situated on a ground made of gold. There is also a statue of Amida n the main hall. If you go to the side room, you will find the life-like statues of Shotoku-taishi and Ho-nen. But among all the rooms and statues in the temple, you should not miss the Daishi-do or the Founder’s Hall. The room was named as such because this is where the sacred statue of Shinran, the leader of Nishi-Honganji, is located. There is a speculation that the statue was sculpted by Shinran himself, though it is not sure.