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Shillong seems to be God's own canvas, with natural decorations of waterfalls, pine trees, gardens, peaks and pleasant whether. It resembles the highlands of Scotland with its natural splendor and thus was named 'Scotland of the East' by the Britishers. It is one of the most visited hill stations of India and the best among the natural beauties of the north-east. QUICK FACTS: Location: Situated in the north-eastern state of India, Meghalaya, at an altitude of 1496 m. It is the political capital of the state. Shillong is around 104 km away from Assam's capital Guwahati and around 658 km from Darjeeling. Climate: Shillong experiences a very pleasant climate throughout the year, with temperature...

Ghent is Belgium's second-largest municipality with a 2008 population of 237,000. It is located at the confluence of the Rivers Lye and Scheldt. It has a rich commercial past and a bustling port, but Ghent is known mostly for its culture. Your camera will be fluttering away at the vast array of medieval architecture, as much of the medieval structures have remained intact. In fact, Ghent has more listed historical structures than the rest of Belgium put together. The most famous series of medieval buildings are the guild houses along the old waterfront known as Graslei. The Gravensteen Castle, known as the "Castle of the Counts" was rebuilt in 1180, and features quite a collection of torture...

Lake Michigan is one of those magical places that everyone should visit at some point in their lives. There are so many different things to see and do on the lake that most people don't even realize. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes and is the third largest of these five. With 22.400 square miles in surface area, the Lake is also the fifth largest in the entire world! This Great Lake is surrounded by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. If you are looking for assisted living in Illinois, living on the lake would be a great place to start. Lake Michigan has twelve million people living along its shores. There are also many large cities located on its shores. Chicago is one of the...

Istanbul is a unique part of the world where East meets West and where European culture is fused with Asian culture. You can see examples of this all over the city, from the spicy aromas which come from the Grand Bazaar and the splendid mosques encircling Sultanahmet but then contrastingly when you reach Beyoglu you can shop in some of the West's most fashionable stores. Crossing the divide is an edifying experience as the clash of Western culture with Eastern culture is suddenly revealed. The city has evolved greatly during its eventful history and with this its name has changed three times from Byzantium, to Constantinople to its present day name of Istanbul. Istanbul is located along the Bosporus...

The rich and varied history of Amsterdam occupies a former children's home built in the 17th century. The focus is largely on the 17th century and the trades that made Amsterdam the richest city in the world at the height of its Golden Age. The original children's home on the site dated from 1579, part of St Lucy's Convent, and was demolished when the current orphanage building was constructed in the 17th century. The building had been in use as a home for children until the 20th century. In 1975 the Amsterdam Historisch Museum moved into the premises. Paintings by well-known Dutch artists, including Rembrandt, portray the history of Amsterdam, including an interesting display of 14 portraits of the...

The last major activity in Halema`uma`u was in 1967- 1968, with shorter activity in 1981. These eruptions deposited ash, cinders and stones in the nearby area, including the region of the southwest rift zone. Some Hawaiians believe lava is the physical representation of the fire goddess Pele, making the volcano summit sacred. Hawaiians believe Pele migrated to Hawaii from her home in the South Pacific. When she arrived in Hawaii she traveled down the island chain from Kauai to Hawaii stopping at each island testing the ground for a new home. This story does seem to indicate that Hawaiians recognized the fact that the geological ages of the islands are older from Kauai to Hawaii, the youngest island...

Introduction After the cold and dreary days of winter, the Bluebonnets are here! Starting in mid-March, the wildflowers begin appearing heralded by these blue and white carpets on the roadsides. Soon to follow are Indian Paintbrushes, Mealy Blue Sage, Indian Blanket, Black-eyed Susan, Mexican Hat and more. Central Texas puts on an awe-inspiring display of spring flowers. Don't worry about trying to find wildflowers, just take a drive and you can't miss them. Our Texas Highway Department actually encourages and seeds wildflowers on the roadsides. Mowing along our roads is also delayed to be sure that the wildflowers bloom and re-seed every year. The Texas Highway Department even has a wildflower...

Are you planning a short trip to Japan and you wanted to spend a few day or even one day out of Tokyo? Japan has many things to explore, see, taste and hear, but if you only have a few days in Japan and you're stuck around Tokyo, you need to consider a day trip outside of Tokyo. Here are some of the best places to visit that are near Tokyo: Sanrio Theme Park This theme park is home to the famous and cute characters of Hello Kitty. Located in Tama City, Tokyo, this theme land has a lot of scenic rides and merchandise that you have not see anywhere. There are boat rides, ferris wheel, many roller coasters and rides, Hello Kitty Castle, game plaza and many other attractions perfect for the family...

While it is the fifth largest city in Los Angeles County, not a lot of attention is paid to the city of Pomona, California. Pomona has a little over 150,000 people living there and though it was founded in the late 1800s as a primarily agricultural community, it has grown to become more and more industrial over time. Here is a look at thirteen little known facts about the city of Pomona, California. 1. The Los Angeles County Fair, or L.A. County Fair, is held yearly in Pomona and is the largest county fair in the entire United States. 2. Western University of Health Sciences is located within the city and was founded somewhat recently in 1977, during its first year it had a total enrollment of 36. 3...

Despite named Centre, this region is not geographically in the centre of France. The name was chosen by the French government, but has been criticized as being dull and non-descript. There are suggestions to change the name to Val de Loire (Valley of the Loire) to provide it with a more romantic feel. It comprises of six departments, Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Loiret. Its capital is Orleans despite Tours being the largest city in the region. It is the ninth most populated region of France with some 2.5 million residents. Spread over the wide area of the six departments it contains, the countryside is certainly not hampered by habitations and towns. Property prices...

The history of Portsmouth pre-dates the emergence of the city as a harbour of strategic importance to the defense of the country. Whilst much is written of the city from the time of the Plantagenets, the name Portsmouth first appears in 286AD when a Roman sea captain 'Carausius' was sent by Rome to what was already the naval harbour of Portsmouth to suppress piracy. In 897 King Alfred was using Portsmouth as a naval base, launching attacks on marauding Danes along the south coast and Solent in particular. It was in 1194 that King Richard I gave Portsmouth a Royal Carter granting it city status, whilst waiting to set sail from Portsmouth for France with 100 ships. Despite being known now as the home...

Boasting of the world's largest natural harbour, Tianjin is a lesser known municipality of the Republic of China. Nevertheless this city of China is a great place to explore, if you wish to traverse the lesser trodden paths across the globe. With a history that dates back to the Warring States period, one of the best facets of Tianjin is the colonial architecture left as a remnant from its post as the Treaty Port in 1858. Tianjin is famous for its seafood, with an abundance of water sources surrounding most parts of their land, the oceans surrounding Tianjin are teeming with mackerel, prawn, yellow croakers, Spanish mackerel and chub mackerel are just to name a few. Some of the best things to find...

Piedmont Park is Atlanta's beloved green space. Originally a gentlemen's club for riding horses, the 185 acres is now a park located in the heart of the city. The grounds were transformed in 1895 when the Cotton States and International Exposition was held on the site. For almost a year previous to the exposition, workers leveled hills, built up low ground, enlarged a pond to form a lake, and constructed massive buildings to host the fair. Atlanta had hosted previous and smaller expositions, but the one in 1895 is the one commonly known as "The Atlanta Exposition" because of its magnitude - both literally and figuratively. It was this exposition that formed the layout of the park as it exists today...

Hong Kong is a fun, exciting and challenging place to live. In our new set of guides, we will outline the different aspects of living in this vibrant country. Areas The number one question on most peoples mind is: Where should Ilookfor housing? Hong Kong Island or Kowloon? What is a "New Territories"? I is it far? Well, the first thing you need to realize about this city: It is small. Very small. Nothing, I mean nothing is far. A 1 hour train ride takes you all the way to China. Public transport is great here, and you can get anywhere relatively easy. Every area does have it's advantages and disadvantages though, so hopefully this list will help you out. Hong Kong Island: The most known place, Hong...

When it comes to vacations, there are quite a large number of people these days that will often prefer to take some trips to see the Northern Lights which are in fact really amazing. These Lights, often called Aurora Borealis as well, are emitted and show up due to the sun's interacting with the magnetic field that is possessed by this earth. They look like a rainbow yet they are not really a rainbow. There are 3 main cities that people may want to pay a visit to in order to take the trips to see the Northern Lights. The cities are located at different countries. One of the very well known cities for the sightseeing of the Auroras is the arctic city of Tromso which is located in the northern part of...

Hyderabad, one of the most populous cities of India in line with Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad, is the capital of Andhra Pradesh state in India. In addition to administrative capital, Hyderabad is economical and financial capital of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is popularly known as - The city of Nizams and The city of pearls. Liberalization in India has made Hyderabad, rapid developing city in the field of Information Technology and Biotechnology. The city is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage and is a place of tourist interest. Not only for tourism, but Hyderabad is also a desired destination for international and national events, because of its modern and...

The Hanabanilla Waterfall (Hanabanilla is an aborigine name interpreted as a small gold basket) is the biggest of its type in Cuba, located in the Siguanea valley, in the heart of the Guamuhaya Massif or the Escambray Mountains. At 364 meters above sea level, it's the only intermountain lake in Cuba, and one of the most beautiful and captivating spots in the whole island. The lake (actually a reservoir seeming to be a natural lake) has a water mirror surrounding it, approximately 15 square kilometers and 30 or 40 meters deep. Fed by three rivers: Río Negro, Río Hanabanilla, and Río Guanayara, and with a storage capacity of around 300 million cubic meters, Hanabanilla is the third largest lake in...

One of the most secluded metropolises in the world, Perth which is the State of Western Australia (WA) is the fourth most populous city in the nation holding about more than 1.6 million people. Geographically, Perth is near the Asian countries like Singapore and Indonesia. Interestingly, it is perceptible that there are more British residents holding 28% of the population than the Australians holding 25%. Perth is the home to famous artists like Judy Davis, the late Heath Ledger, and Isla Fisher. It is boasts the famous WA Academy of Performing Arts which launched many famous actors' and broadcasters' career including Hugh Jackman and Marcus Graham. The Perth Suburbs hold wonderful coastal and Hill...

For first-time visitors to Tokyo, it can be hard to adapt to the unique mood and pace of life in the city. There's no way to describe it to anyone who's never been there, and most first-time visitors are surprised by just how strange and bewildering Tokyo can feel. In addition to being one of the biggest cities in the world, Tokyo is huge both in terms of sheer geographical size as well as in population density. In its vast and multifarious core, aside from a few glimpses of distant mountains, you may feel like Tokyo is a whole world unto itself-which is not far from the truth. That's why it's a perfect city in which to immerse yourself. While it has its shortcomings, especially for anyone...

Uxbridge, Greater London is a suburban section of Hillingdon. It is known for being a college town. As is the case most often with college towns, there are many stores, shops and places to eat. Uxbridge is the European home of many famous well known companies. Some of these include Coca cola, Price Waterhouse and General Mills, just to name a few. Uxbridge has been the filming location for many movies, including "A clockwork orange". Many of the towns historical buildings can be seen in some of these movies.. George Orwell lived in the Uxbridge area, and was a teacher at "Frays college. His experience here was the inspiration for his famous work "A Clergyman's daughter". The "Mall pavilions" is a...

The month of May is a great time to get out and experience the best that Austin, Texas offers. With cool weather firmly in the past, and the hot summer temperatures not yet present, Austin weather is often ideal. May is also the month of Memorial Day Weekend. In addition to the numerous visitor attractions Austin is known for, there are also quite a few annual events and festivals taking place this month. Here are three such fun annual Austin May events: #1. Pecan Street Festival Held each spring and fall, the two day Pecan Street Festival is Austin's largest art festival, drawing as many as 300,000 attendees each season. During the downtown festival, several blocks of 6th Street (originally known...

The strange rounded fingers of the holy Montserrat mountain, just under an hour's drive northwest of Barcelona, can be seen for miles around, as it rises to 1,235 meters. It's an iconic, sacred mountain for the Catalans, who come here to kiss the hand of the Black Virgin, a 12th century statue of the Virgin Mary. Supposedly this statue was found miraculously in a cave. She's now housed in a magnificent basilica. A special room is set aside for people to leave offerings, such as wedding dresses, photos, even cigarettes in the hope of, receiving a favor, such as having a baby, an illness being cured or giving up smoking. The other big draw is the famous Montserrat boy choir, one of the oldest in...

Touring Virginia's capital is a rare treat. Richmond, the state's fifth largest city, is a true gem. It has ties to the Revolutionary War, and was also a Confederate capital. The city retains an Old South atmosphere in a modern center of business and finance. The perfect place to start your visit is St. John's Church. This National Historic Landmark was built in 1741. As the first church in Richmond, it is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the state. Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech here in 1775. Notable Virginians are buried in nearby Hollywood Cemetery. Confederate President, Jefferson Davis and his family lived in the Southern White House (c. 1818). The...

Sometimes difficult to find and it might be different to what you are used to, but there's lots of things going on at night time in Venice. Walking around at night the city can seem a little dead and empty but if you know where to look and if you're prepared to opt for classical music, or settle for what back home would count as a fairly quiet night out - with the amazing scenery and air of romance, it might just be an evening you will always remember. Late Bars & Pubs Venetians tend to eat early then head to their favourite bar or pub for a laid back chat with friends. Usually the bars that are open late not in the tourist areas. Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro, or Fondamenta della Misericordia...

Paris, one of the most famous and historical capital cities, has much to tempt the discerning visitor. Here are ten of my favourite must-see attractions of the most romantic city in the world. THE EIFFEL TOWER If you're looking at an image of Paris, the chances are that you'll be seeing the world famous iconic tower that has become synonymous with the city. Over six million visitors annually make their way to the tower. If you are going to be amongst them, make sure you take the lift to the top, to enjoy stunning views of the city. THE LOUVRE This could possibly be the most famous art museum in the world, largely due to Leonardo de Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'. First opened in 1793, The Louvre is one of the...

One spot in Paris never fails to attract photographers - whether professionals or amateurs - and this is the terrace between the two wings of the semicircular Palais de Chaillot. Superb views from here extend over the Jardins du Trocadero, past the fountains and lake, and across the Seine to the Tour Eiffel. The palace was purposely built for the 1937 Exposition Universelle to an art deco-inspired design. Contemporary bronze statues are artistically placed between its elegant columns, enhancing the architecture. The purpose of the building was to house a number of museums, as well as the Theatre National de Chaillot, which at one time was the centre of cultural life in Paris. The most notable of the...

Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire is a small seaside resort town. Stroll along the promenade, where you will find shops selling fish and chips, pails and shovels and other items which you would expect to find at a beach which attracts tourists. Hornsea museum is a living, changing museum dedicated to the history and changing times and way of life in Hornsea. This lovely museum is housed in a late sixteenth century farmhouse which originally included a thatched roof. There have been updates since those days, but the original charm remains. There are many Victorian era pieces, as well as some of the original items that were used here to be seen, as well as the interesting history of this house. Here...

Cabaret Tropicana was born in 1939 in the farm Villa Mina of the Havana neighborhood Marianao. This was not its original name, and started as a ballroom for parties and gaming which little by little included musicals. It was actually the artistic director who suggested in 1940 that the name change to Tropicana, due to the sonority and the Caribbean concept that the melody of the flutist Alfredo Brito entailed while the group of dancers were rehearsing for a new choreography. Nowadays, the luxurious cabaret is the symbol of the Havana nights and few foreign tourists do not take a night from their time to go to the Tropicana. In 1992 the American Academy of the Restaurant Industry gave the cabaret the...

The Gleaming city of Mumbai is renowned for its beautiful features across the whole world. With the passage of time its beauty is even increasing. Though the city is not very big, still its internal structure is very complex and difficult to understand. To ease this difficulty, Mumbai maps are easily accessible which help us to get familiar with the dense structure of roads and railways in the city of Mumbai. These maps maybe used as a support while undertaking our journey through this city. The Mumbai maps are provided with an appropriate scale which further helps one in understanding and visualizing the actual pathways and places distant apart within the city. These are the best sources used to...

Weekend getaways around Chandigarh are found in aplenty providing the visitors ample opportunities to enjoy their weekends away from the chaotic city life. These destinations located in close proximity to the main city are well connected with rail and road networks and hence are ideal for a weekend getaway. Ranging from exhilarating adventurous sports to religious destinations your weekend packages for travel around Chandigarh provides a plethora of options for an exciting travel experience. Some of these popular destinations around Chandigarh are: Mata Mansa Devi Temple The temple situated at Panchkula it is dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi. Spread over a landscape of 100 acres the temple is located...

Sarawak, land of the Hornbill, is located in north-west of Borneo islands, the 3rd largest island in the world. Sarawak borders Kalimantan, Indonesia and Brunei, the oil rich state. Its land area is 124,450 km² Sarawak also contains large tracts of tropical rain forest home to an abundance of plant and animal species. The total population in Sarawak is over 2 million people. Kuching, with the highest population in Sarawak is the 4th largest city in Malaysia. Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak is one of the cleanest cities in the world and has received several awards like Healthy Cities Award in 2002, Good Practice of Healthy Cities and Alliance for Healthy City in 2006, ASEAN Environmentally...

The wonders of England's fine capital city cannot all be savoured in one visit, but London sightseeing experiences offer fantastic whistle-stop tours of its sparkling heritage and culture that continues to exist today. London sightseeing experiences are not just tailored to foreign tourists for once-in-a-lifetime visits, they are capable of providing a fantastic spontaneous day out fun for all the family. You can view London's most iconic sights by bus, boat, plane, and helicopter and even by amphibious vehicle - the English capital is a multi-faceted city which exudes energy and excitement for visitors of all ages. Purchase London gift vouchers suitable for any number of special occasions, such as...