13 reasons to savor 'Capital of Scandinavia'

Swedes are hardly braggarts, so it must have caught their neighbors in Norway and Denmark off guard when they decided to brand Stockholm as "the Capital of Scandinavia." But, really, why not? Stockholm, as its Web site points out, has the most multinational corporations, the largest stock market and, not incidentally, the most visitors.

I'm hardly unbiased in this matter - my heritage is 100 percent Swedish and there's a Nobel Prize in my family - but there are hundreds of reasons to savor Stockholm. Here are a baker's dozen of them:

The weather

Stockholm is cool, but it's not that cool. Thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, February is the only month when the temperature dips much below freezing. And Nobel laureates get their prizes in December, which speaks well of that month's weather.

Absolut Icebar

If you do crave cool, check out the year-round Absolut Icebar Stockholm. Sponsored by the Vodka company, the Stockholm bar is an offshoot of the Icehotel in Jukkasjrvi, a village in northern Sweden. Both hotel and the growing number of ice bars are fashioned entirely from ice made from the water of the river Torne, some of Europe's purest. Before you enter the bar, the staff packs you in parkas.

Water

Stockholm is built on 14 islands where Lake Mclaren flows out into the Baltic Sea. The islands are strung together by little bridges. Stretching out into the Baltic is an archipelago of over 24,000 more islands, mostly uninhabited. Wherever you go in Stockholm, you're surrounded by water and, in the warmer months, by people eating in waterfront cafes. It's actually possible to fish and swim in the waterways in the heart of the city. You can fish all day on one side of a bridge and at nighttime go to the opera on the other.

Ease with English

Everybody speaks English. Studying English is compulsory from the third grade on, although some schools begin even earlier. Television programs in English are never dubbed into Swedish, so "Law & Order" is a learning experience, too. All this means that lots of Swedes speak better English than you do, which is intimidating, because in even the most non-touristy establishments the waitstaff will explain it all to you. On the matter of food, try the reindeer; the herring; lingonberries, which are to Sweden what blueberries are to the state of Maine; and, of course, load up on the succulent fresh fish.

CIean and pristine

As plusses go, cleanliness might sound a bit of a bore, but after traveling to particularly filthy cities in other parts of the world it's a relief to arrive in one that is immaculate. And authentic. While Sweden was a bellicose power in the 17th century, going to war and taking over its neighbors, it remained neutral in the wars of the 20th century, which meant it didn't get bombed. So the architecture remained untouched.

Fewer crowds

The city's population of just around 750,000 - the same as San Francisco with half again as much room to spread out - means no jostling in the streets. If you're tired of elbowing people while choking on dust in the world's more crowded metropolises, try Stockholm. And if airports have become nightmares to navigate, try taking a domestic flight out of Arlanda. I checked into the city's airport, checked baggage and went through security, all in five minutes. Seriously.

In sum, when you arrive home from Stockholm, you won't need a vacation from your vacation.

Vasa Museum

The Vasa Museum houses a ship with a story every bit as dramatic as the Titanic's. King Gustav Adolf meant the Vasa to play a major role in his navy. But on her maiden voyage in 1628, she capsized and sank to the bottom of Stockholm's harbor, less than a mile offshore, possibly because there wasn't enough ballast at the bottom of the ship to support its enormous height.

The museum tells the story of the Vasa's rescue 333 years later, long after people had given up trying to locate her. In the 1950s a tenacious marine expert, Anders Franzen, began the search anew. Using a homemade core sampler, Franzen found a bit of black oak and knew he'd also found the Vasa, lying in silt.

The timing of Franzen's discovery was fortunate: Had the Vasa been located much earlier, the conservation techniques necessary to resurrect her wouldn't have existed. Today, she is the world's only preserved 17th century wooden ship, adorned with over 700 carvings.

You can't go onboard, but you can discover the Vasa through several stories of ramps that surround it, and there is a fascinating half-hour documentary film about the boat's rescue, offered in several different languages.

The Royal Palace

With 608 rooms, it's not exactly "cozy," a favorite English word in Sweden. It's atypically grandiose - and somewhat grubby until a scrub-down a decade ago.

A previous palace on the site burned down in 1697 with only one fatality - a man outside who was hit by a flying book while people in the building were trying to save the royal library by hurling volumes out the window.

The current gargantuan palace is in the Italian Baroque style. In addition to a throne room and state apartments, where distinguished foreign guests are still put up, the palace houses attractions including a treasury with the state regalia - crowns, scepters, keys and swords used at royal weddings, christenings, and funerals. The Royal Palace looms at the edge of Gamla Stan - Stockholm's old town, which has cobbled streets and narrow buildings painted ochre. Here are cafes, shops specializing in hand-knitted clothing, marine antiques and glass.

Drottningholm

Speaking of palaces, a 40-minute ferry boat ride from downtown Stockholm is this fairy tale world, tucked into dense woodland. You see the palace from the water first, and also see its reflection in the glassy lake. The lines of formal pyramidal topiary leading down to the water look like green soldiers.

This gracious 17th century building is the opposite of the Royal Palace in Stockholm: This one is cozy, at least as palaces go. It's like a mini-Versailles that doesn't drag on forever. No wonder that, since 1981, it has been the official home of the royal family.

Drottningholm is heated with Sweden's typical cylindrical tile stoves in the corners of the rooms. The rooms themselves are filled with Baroque ceiling paintings, brocaded walls, parquet floors, rock crystal chandeliers and separate suites of rooms for the king and queen, who had very little privacy. It was the ceremony in which gentlemen courtiers attended the king as he washed and dressed, whether or not his royal highness was a morning person who felt like having company at that hour.

The palace's outbuildings are exquisite fantasies. There's a Guards' Tent, billowing out at the bottom and adorned with tassels, fringe and braid, as a Turkish military tent made of fabric would be. Only here, it's all carved out of wood. There's a Chinese Pavilion, pink, gold and green, and about as authentic as the Chinese dance in "The Nutcracker." Inside is a dumbwaiter so large that an entire table could be lowered on it. In the downstairs kitchen the table was set and laid with food before it was hoisted back up to the royals. The idea was that servants never saw what was going on upstairs.

Best of all Drottningholm's outbuildings is the Slottsteater, one of the very few wooden theaters surviving from the 18th century. Other than electric lights, which flicker to mimic candles, the theater is completely as it was in the 1700's, down to sound effects including thunder, created backstage by rattling a box filled with stones. Period opera and ballet are still performed here.

The low-key monarchy

Since 1873, when there was a rumble of democracy in the air, Sweden's monarchs haven't been crowned at their coronations, which are modest affairs in comparison with those of other realms. To avoid the uppity attitude of some of their predecessors, they just stand beside the crown, which rests on a table.

Sweden's royal family, currently led by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Spanish-born Queen Silvia, has also avoided the tabloid headlines of the Windsors. The family averages an approval rate of 60 to 65 percent because, my guide says, "They're well-behaved. No scandals."

! Sdermalm

The trendiest island in the city, Sdermalm is a massive stretch of granite made accessible by Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite to blow a tunnel leading to it.

The island specializes in pottery, shops carrying chic designer wear and restaurants including one called Garlic & Shots, where the guiding principals are that everyone needs a shot of garlic every day, and that every dish is improved by the pungent flavor, ice cream included.

Stockholm City Hall

Nobel laureates dine in splendor every year at Stockholm City Hall. Constructed between 1911 and 1923, it is in the National Romantic style, which is an eclectic mix of Italian Renaissance, Moorish and Byzantine. The large inner courtyard is based on open ones in Italy, only it's sensibly covered over because of the climate.

The stone busts in the councilor's chambers aren't likenesses of former city councilors. Here Swedish egalitarianism kicks in: They're images of - and homages to - the master craftsmen who built the building. Faux medieval touches include tiny narrow windows, the kind used in fortresses to shoot arrows at the enemy. A lofty wooden ceiling in one room suggests Viking days, while The Golden Hall is covered with over 18 million tiny golden tiles.

Art and architecture

To choose a last reason is a toughie, because there's lots more to say about Stockholm, its rich array of over 75 museums, for instance.

My favorites are the National Museum, which includes the pioneering 20th century decorative arts that were dubbed "Swedish Modern" and influenced the entire world; and the splendid Architecture Museum, with its intricate models of Swedish buildings from medieval times to today.

One don't-miss will take you much less time than a whole museum: While walking around Gamla Stan, drop into the Storkyrkan ("The Great Church"), Stockholm's 700-year-old cathedral, where the decor includes a magnificent sculpture of St. George and the dragon. Created by Bernt Notke and unveiled in 1489, it is a fine example of Late Gothic art. Notke's materials skew the story, though. St. George is conventionally carved in oak. The dragon, however, is composed entirely of elk horns, which give the animal a mythic presence.

If you go Where to stay

The Grand Hotel, S. Blasieholmshamnen . Where Nobel laureates are put up, it's grand and within easy walking distance from almost everything you'd want to see in Stockholm. Rack rates start at $550 per night (try online discounters for lower rates.)

Cape Town targets cruise liners

Already famous for being one of the most beautiful tourist cities in the world, Cape Town has unveiled its ambition to become one of the best passenger cruise liner destinations in the world, in hope of securing a slice of the lucrative US$29-billion market.

The city seeks to benchmark itself against the likes of Miami, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne and even Auckland, which have all developed as favoured cruise liner destinations. "The time could be ripe to re-establish Cape Town as one of the great passenger liner destinations of the world by promoting itself and the southern African region as a base for destination cruises," said the city councillor in charge of economic development and tourism, Simon Grindrod.

He said he was disappointed, however, that Cape Town and southern Africa had largely failed to benefit from the fact that cruise liner operators were seeking new destinations. Areas such as the east coast of Australia and New Zealand have become popular cruise liner destination bases experiencing 28% annual growth between 2002 and 2004.

The advantage of cruise liners, Grindrod said, was that they could berth at ports with limited landside facilities as they were basically equipped like floating resorts. In addition, approximately 50% of passengers expected to return to places that they have visited while on a cruise. "Given this position, areas which have previously been fairly inaccessible to this type of tourists as well as the traditional nodes could also benefit," he said.

Grindrod said that at present, Cape Town and Durban featured on the schedule of "round-the-world" cruises and vessels that are on appropriate repositioning cruises, but that this was a limited market.

Multi-purpose terminals

Cape Town has been perceived to have the perfect opportunity to develop a multi-use cruise liner terminal, though Grindrod said cruise liner terminals were not profitable investments on their own, but "given this position trend worldwide, would construct a multi-purpose use facility" that can be used as a cruise liner terminal as well as for other use.

Durban is also planning to build a cruise liner terminal as part of the re-development of the Point. "If destination-based cruise liner business is to expand in this region, then terminals at the potential home-ports of Cape Town and Durban are probably essential," he said.

"It is stated that in the KwaZulu-Natal commissioned work that more than 85% of cruise passengers believe that cruising is an important vehicle for sampling destinations to which they may return."

Cape Town's executive director for economics, social development and tourism Mansoor Mohamed said a major challenge was that a few major players dominated the industry. "We need to contact the cruise liner operations to market the region to these countries to assess what is required to induce them so that Southern Africa can be included on their list of cruise destinations," he said.

"Our marketing bodies also need to be prominent at the relevant trade shows around the world to promote the region as a cruise liner destination." The cruise liner industry is the fastest growing global tourism sector and the average growth rate of the sector has been 8% per annum since 1980. Over 12-million people went cruising in 2006 and the number is expected to grow to 16-million by 2009. The industry is estimated to be worth about US$29-billion and it sustains approximately 559 000 jobs.

Visiting the state in the summer or early fall is one of life's great pleasures

If you don't like picturesque New England towns overlooking sparkling harbors with little piers and sailboat masts, you probably should not visit the coast of Maine. And if you don't like fresh lobster, crab, scallops or mussels, by all means don't go to the coast of Maine. It would be a big waste of time.

I know what you're thinking

Summer is over and I don't even have to consider another summer vacation for at least six months. And, of course, I'm not suggesting that you visit in winter. As Mark Twain is alleged to have said: Maine is cold, but it's damp.

Nonetheless, to visit Maine in the summer or early fall is one of life'spleasures that you owe yourself. And the sooner you start planning, the sooner you'll be sitting in your own postcard, washing down lobster and crab with a cold Sam Adams.

The key to any good trip is information. So, get your hands on the most up-to-date travel books to see which part of Maine's considerable coastline you want to explore. If you arrive in Camden, in the Midcoast region, you'll be struck by the authenticity of this old New England port. Sure, Camden is set up for visitors with various inns and a slew of quaint bed-and-breakfasts, but like most of the small towns along this coast, it hasn't surrendered its identity to tourism.

New Englanders love their towns, and their strong

traditions keep them from falling prey to bigger-is-better development. Still, you can stroll down to the harbor and hook a ride on an old-fashioned two-masted windjammer. You'll catch the breeze for a long reach past forested islands on Penobscot Bay before coming about and hauling back to the mainland.

Once your stomach has settled, you can drop anchor dockside for a cold refresher and select your own lobster from a tank full of the crawly creatures. Set your watch for 10 minutes and voil. Call it heaven. Call it Camden. What's the difference? There are a host of other great spots along Maine's Midcoast. The most notable is quaint Boothbay Harbor. It's reportedly quite busy in July and August. But after Labor Day and before the onset of New England's colorful autumn "leaf peeping" season, you can have the place pretty much to yourself.

Stroll, or ride a bike, along the rocky coast as the warm fog rolls in and out playing watercolor magic with harbor boats and gingerbread houses. It's New England at its intoxicating best. No tour of the Maine coast would be complete without an excursion Down East, where peninsulas and islands creep out into the cold North Atlantic. The most popular of these places is Bar Harbor near Acadia National Park on Desert Isle.

Once a gem, Bar Harbor is now, unfortunately, a tourist trap where bus after bus drops tour groups who choke the sidewalks and trinket shops. It's one of the few places along the coast that have given way to "Disneylandification" and where the food is overly expensive and decidedly mediocre. Enough said.

The more adventurous traveler will find Down East enchantment at little places like Castine, Blue Hill and Stonington. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, reservations at the few inns there are an absolute must.

After Labor Day, you could take a chance and, if you're lucky, get the last room in tiny Stonington on Deer Isle. If you like tranquility, this is the place for you. The historic hamlet is so quiet and beautiful that you may feel as if you're walking through a dreamscape.
Breathe deep, this is relaxation.

For a little excitement, you can wander out on the pier and watch the lobster fleet come in from 2 to 3 p.m., when you'll witness lobstermen weighing in their catch of the day. Later on, repair to the Fisherman's Friend restaurant - one of only three eateries in Stonington - and chow down on that catch as the big orange sun falls into the harbor.

If you don't like lobster, try the scallops and mussels. And if you're one of those rare birds who can't stand shellfish, you're not completely out of luck. The haddock and cod will have your endorphins doing backflips. A little self-discipline may be required here - if you're not careful, you could eat yourself into critical condition.

On the other hand, if you don't like fresh seafood at all, you're probably better off avoiding Maine altogether. That will leave more for us lobster and crab and mussel and scallop lovers. Did I mention Sam Adams?

Places to See and Things to do in Sydney

Sydney is one of the best places in the world that is worth exploring. It offers much tourist attraction that travelers shouldn't miss. Here are some of the things you can see and do in and around Sydney:

Sydney aquarium

Perfect for the whole family and friends, Sydney Aquarium lets you walk under water and see the sights of Australias rich and diverse marine life and habitats. Sydney Aquarium houses more than 650 species that includes over 6,000 individual fish and other aquatic creatures.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House never fails to mesmerize tourists with its splendid and elaborate fade and structure. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sydney Opera House is one of the most magnificent, unique and popular buildings of the 20th Century. However, what travelers see outside is, so to speak, just the tip of the iceberg.

Known as the venues of top performing arts in the world, it showcases outstanding art productions like theatre, ballet and musicals and is home of internationally renowned performing arts producers such as Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney Symphony.

The 1.8 hectares of land elevated 25 metres above sea level houses five spacious theatres, five rehearsal studios, two large halls, ten bars and restaurants, and a handful of souvenir shops.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Locally known as the Coathanger, Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks not just in Australia but across the globe as well. It links the city centre in the south and the residential north. Thrill-seekers are welcome to the BridgeClimb, a guided walk to the top of the world, or as high as 50-storey. The tour is available at Dawn, Day, Twilight or Night.

The foot of Sydney Harbour Bridge, known as The Rocks is a busy tourist spot consisting of various leisure destinations like art galleries, shops, cafs and restaurants. Above are just few of the many things that guests can experience in Sydney. Finding a place to stay while touring the rest of Sydney is recommended so one can relax and rejuvenate after a day packed with activities. For a fine hotel accommodation , one can count on Sovereign Inn Crows Nest . It offers cozy rooms and superb hotel services at very affordable rates. Plus, it is admired for having a strategic location where guests can witness the magnificent view of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Parramatta River.

Tanzania: The Goldmine in Heritage

When one mentions tourism in Tanzania, what beeps right into most people's minds is the rich menu of attractions like the Serengeti and Zanzibar. Zanzibar being a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose extravagance is reflected in their brass-studded, curved, and wooden doors; fragrant plantations of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Other attractions in Tanzania include internationally recognised six world heritage sites which are prime tourist attractions; Ngorongoro conservation area, Serengeti national park, Stone town of Zanzibar, Ruins of kilwa kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara. Apart from wildlife, Tanzania has world-class marine assets in Pemba, Mafia and Zanzibar.

Tourist circuits

Tanzania has many tourism circuits and has benefited from its principle of conserving its natural resources.There are wildlife viewing/photographic safaris in all parks and reserves but mainly in the Northern Circuit with famous National Parks.

Southern Circuit comprise of Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National park. Tourists can also visit the East where the famed Jane Goodall set base for her Chimpanzee research center. Access to this area known as Gombe Stream is strictly controlled. Most popular tourist circuits for Europeans are the beach resorts mainly in Zanzibar but they are also in addition to wildlife safaris. In Pemba and Mafia there are coral reefs and big game fishing. While Chumbe Island which won the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award in year 2000 is an ecotourism resort.

There is also bird watching mainly on photographic safaris to southern or northern circuits. Adventure tourism comes in when tourists opt to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Deep sea fishing takes place in Pemba channel and Mafia and inland fishing on Lake Victoria. One of the best places in the world for Scuba diving is Mafia, Pemba and parts of Zanzibar.

A variety of archaeological and historical sites make up for a larger percentage of cultural tourism. The most notable places are the Olduvai Gorge, Bagamoyo, Kilwa and the island of Kilwa Kisiwani, Laetoli, Isimila (near Iringa region) Tarangire not forgetting the stone town of Zanzibar.

Cultural attractions

Other cultural attractions are the people of Tanzania like maasai. There are also the stone town of Zanzibar and Bagamoyo. Bagamoyo, located north of Dar es Salaam, was once an important trading post in East Africa including slaves sold to Arab buyers in Zanzibar.

Bagamoyo was also the capital of German East Africa from 1887 to 1891.Hunting is also classified as a tourism activity because it thrives on wildlife and brings in foreigners and as it is, is among the highest expenditures made by any segment of tourists.

One of the major reasons why Tanzania is the best tourist destination is because of the favourable climate. Game viewing and bird watching is uninterrupted. Visiting the Northern circuit is all year round. Hunting seasons are best in July to December. In Zanzibar peak seasons for tourists are in August, December and January. The government needs to introduce more activities and tourist destinations that can attract more tourists in other parts of the country.

A large chunk of tourists who come to Dar es Salaam which is the business hub of Tanzania visit the National Museums that houses the country's cultural heritage, relics and antiquities. Dr. Paul Msemwa, the Director for the National Museums of Tanzania says that very few foreigners visit the museum as compared to the local people. He says that his department contributes very little to the tourism industry as a whole.

Currently the national museum of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam is being renovated at a cost of 5.5 billion Tanzania shillings by a Chinese contractor and the work is scheduled to take 21 months. Both governments of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar recognise that tourism apart from agriculture is a major source of foreign exchange.

The governments' tourism and vision 2000 - 2020 report calls for wise utilisation of available tourism resources and diversification of and improvement of assets in order to attract diverse tourism segments and markets.

The report also underlines the importance of improved infrastructure and better education and capacity building for Zanzibar.

Source:http://allafrica.com/stories/200708271305.html

A day in London

WHAT trip to the United Kingdom would be complete without visiting the vibrant capital of London? In addition to their stay at the University of Hull, the secondary grand-prize winners for the Campaign 4 Rewards (C4R) 2007 contest will also be treated to a overnight trip to London. 

Sponsored by the British Council and the Malaysian Students Department in London, the two teams and their teachers-in-charge will have the chance to explore the lively cosmopolitan city. With plenty of museums, theatres, shopping centres, historical sites and other attractions to choose from, they certainly will not be bored.

Ranging from modern art to fashion and history, there is a museum for almost everything in London. Entry to famous ones like the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Natural History Museum is free, and they are popular tourist destinations. The British Museum, rated one of the top three in the world, has exhibits on everything from prehistoric to modern times.

Among its most famous displays are the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, sculptures from the Parthenon, Sutton Hoo artefacts, Mildenhall treasures and Portland Vase. And the city itself, with over 2,000 years of history, is full of iconic sites to explore. Popular tourist spots include the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels kept, the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Big Ben. More modern attractions consist of the London Eye, Covent Garden with its street performers, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, Madame Tussauds and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Another usual must-do activity while in London is catching a West End musical or play. The Sound of Music, Chicago, Grease and even The Lord of the Rings are all on show at

London theatres.
During their visit, the 10 students and their teachers will spend the night at Malaysia Hall, sponsored by the Malaysian Students Department. The Malaysian High Commission will also be hosting dinner for the two teams.

The sponsorship by the British Council is in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of UK-Malaysia ties. With over 11,500 Malaysian students currently studying in the UK and more than 30,000 doing UK programmes in Malaysia, the educational ties between the two countries remain as strong as ever.

In Malaysia, the aim of the British Council is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and Malaysia, and to increase Malaysians appreciation of the UK s creative ideas and achievements. Its activities include the teaching of English, providing the latest information about studying in the UK, promoting British education and training, and demonstrating the innovation, creativity and excellence of British science, arts, literature and design.

The organisation has in-house educational counsellors to advise students who intend to further their studies in the UK, as well as a resource centre with relevant reference material and useful publications. It also organises twice yearly educational exhibitions that provide students with the opportunity to meet up with representatives from UK institutions and find out more about studying in the UK.

In addition, it also conduct annual pre-departure briefings for students, covering topics on visa and immigration issues, arrival in the UK, accommodation, settling into student life, banking, health and insurance.

Night of Culture in Copenhagen

More than 700 cultural events in one night

This year, more than 30 new venues are taking part in Copenhagen's Night of Culture. On 12 October, a total of nearly 300 museums, churches, exhibition halls, galleries, political institutions, and other venues all over the city will open their doors, reflecting the broad cultural landscape of Copenhagen. Special attention is paid to light, sound, and cross-cultural themes.

Visit the impressive building that houses Copenhagen Stock Exchange, walk around the city's pentagon-shaped citadel in the dark, and discover Copenhagen in a magnificent one night only light setting. Those are some of the many new events offered this year during Copenhagen's Night of Culture.

Reflection of Copenhagen's Cultural Life

On one particular night - 12 October - from 6 - 12 pm, museums, churches, exhibition halls, galleries, political institutions, and other venues all over the Danish capital will welcome visitors to discover the hidden sides of the city's cultural landscape. The broad selection of nearly 300 venues and more than 700 events is a reflection of Copenhagen's cultural life.

The whole city is an integral part of the Night of Culture, and the range of major and minor cultural institutions and venues - some are only open to the public on this particular night - mirrors how versatile Copenhagen culture is. We encourage all the cultural institutions and venues to show themselves in a new light. And it is a unique opportunity for Copenhageners as well as tourists to explore new and unknown sides of Copenhagen culture, says Project Manager Marie Myschetzky, Wonderful Copenhagen.

Light and Sound

This year, a lot of events have to do with light and sound, and many public places and spaces will be transformed into the artist's stage on this night. Many venues will have bands lined up and choirs, many of whom will sing acapella.

Visiting historic Bluff Oaks

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. - Gingerbread covered cottages painted a rainbow of colors sit in the historic Martha's Vineyard Campmeeting Association (MVCMA).

Visitors interested in architecture, history, religion or just wanting a quiet, peaceful escape will find it here. The island is filled with many other activities too - beaches, horseback riding, golf and more make this a family-friendly place to visit.

"It's a unique area," said William C. McConnell, MVCMA general manager. "Once you step on the grounds people say they enter another world. It's quieter. The atmosphere, the location, the people all combine to make it a unique area."

About 315 cottages are preserved from the mid to late 1800s in this small town on Martha's Vineyard. The cottages have a fascinating history. The grounds formerly known as Wesleyan Grove has a documented history with the religious "camp meeting" movement of the early 19th century and the layout of the grounds is like the post Civil War camp meeting sites.

"They started with tents and then to tents with a wood floor and later built a wood frame cottage on the camp sites," McConnell said. "That was during the 1860s. People came from off island, that's what we call it here when they come over on boats and such, to attend the meetings."

Visitors can walk around the campgrounds, looking at how different each cottage is decorated and how close they are to one another. It is almost like a miniature village but people live in the cottages, some year round, and others just for the summer. Visitors have the opportunity to see inside a cottage since one has been preserved as a museum.

"People get to see what the inside of a cottage looks like," McConnell said. "It's done in period furnishing. People can see just how small it is inside."

Visitors entering the Cottage Museum, find a small living room where an admission of $2 is paid. The room is filled with memorabilia and a scrapbook of photos from the early days. The kitchen houses the gift shop filled with unique items, not the usual souvenirs found in tourist shops.

After climbing a very steep, narrow staircase, two small bedrooms are found on the second floor. The rooms are tucked into the rafters under the 90-degree angle of the gable and offer a glimpse into a simpler lifestyle.

Visitors intrigued by cottage life may want to rent a cottage for their vacation but they are only available during the summer months because most are not insulated and few are ever for sale, McConnell said.

"Forty residents are full-time, some just use them strictly for cottages, and a few rent them out for a few weeks. Some cottages have been in the family for three or four generations. The kids come here and enjoy it so much they come back and buy a cottage then pass it down through the family," McConnell said.

The MVCMA cottages are the most perfectly preserved collection of Carpenter Gothic style architecture in the world. A new building type, the Martha's Vineyard cottage, was built between 1859 and 1864. The architectural form is unique. In 1979, the MVCMA was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors will find the cottages are built to resemble a tent. The wide double doors on the first floor resemble the tents opening. On the second level, a second set of double doors open onto a balcony. The doors were used to get furniture to the second floor because the steps are too narrow for furniture to go up them since the roof has a 45-degree pitch

The Victorian gingerbread cottages surround the famed Tabernacle that serves as the center of activities. Wrought iron arches and supports, dozens of colored glass windows and an octagonal cupola make the Tabernacle a unique structure. Built in 1879 by John W. Hoyt of Springfield, Mass., it is the spiritual and cultural center of the campground.

Visitors can attend the weekly services held during July and August or one of the many other events held throughout the year, McConnell said.

Whether visitors can spend a day or stay for a week, they will find Oak Bluffs weaves a spell that will draw them back to this small wonderland time and time again.

Egypt: Tourist Destinations the Latest Places

The tourist destinations of Sharm el-Sheikh and Luxor are the latest cities to get on board Egypt's fast-moving roll-out of Wi-Fi hot-spots.

Although prices in these places will be expensive, they are considerably cheaper than the current alternatives in local tourist hotels.

Under a USAID-sponsored project, "While in Egypt Stay Connected," tourist destinations in Sharm el-Sheikh and Luxor are serving as pilot cities for Wi-Fi deployments. In each city, sixteen Wi-Fi access points swathe tourist areas. Visitors purchase prepaid Internet access cards for about US$6.74 an hour.

In Luxor, Wi-Fi covers a 5 km stretch of the Nile Corniche, connecting users in outdoor cafes and on Nile cruise ships at 256K. Connectivity even extends into Luxor and Karnak temples, allowing the novelty of instant messaging while seated in a 4000-year-old monument. Also benefiting from Wi-Fi coverage, connected users can logon from pedestrian areas in Sharm el-Sheikh's Naama Bay, or even a chaise longue along a beach promenade.

Before this roll-out, there were only a very small number of hot-spots. The cost of rolling out the hot-spots has been paid for by different equipment vendors: SR Telecom in Luxor and Redline and Colubris in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Luxor hot-spots are run by Telecom Egypt's ISP TE Data and the Sharm el-Sheik operation by local ISP Egynet. Both ISPs paid the equipment installation costs.

There is no revenue split with site owners because the networks are outdoors and the ISPs have done all the aerial site leases themselves. However, they are selling the pre-paid scratch cards to vendors at a small discount.

Connected tourists, who travel with laptops or other Wi-Fi devices, have greater income and are bigger spenders when on holiday. According to research carried out by the project, 15% of UK tourists take a laptop and 30% of Germans.

This USAID project aims to boost tourism revenues by establishing Egypt as a "connected' destination, with Wi-Fi and 3G Internet attracting visitors who prefer to visit a country with fast and easy data access. It is part of a wider initiative to persuade local hotel owners to accept credit cards and put in place online booking procedures.

Hot-spots in these destinations will add to Egypt's already burgeoning hot-spot culture. In Cairo there are a great deal of places offering free access including coffee shops, Macdonalds and a local chain called Cilantro. In each of these places, you will see a mix of tourists, expats and locals working away on their laptops.

Interestingly, these include people using Skype with headsets as PC to PC calls are legal in Egypt. One local visitor reported that the bandwidth was of sufficiently high quality that he was able to use the SIP client on his Nokia N80 to call home for virtually nothing.

Further south, with the exception of South Africa, public hot-spots are still a relatively exotic offering. However, both pay-for and free hot-spots in hotels can be found increasingly widely in a range of countries. Perhaps public hot-spots will become the next wave of growth in the coming year.

Was Mumtaz really buried at Taj Mahal?

Even as the world excitedly talks about the recently discovered mummy believed to be of Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, in India the mystery surrounding Mumtaz Mahal's burial at the Taj Mahal has deepened with several Mughal historians asserting that her body was not mummified.

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the 17th century Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died delivering their 14th child in Burhanpur, a town in Maharashtra.

The queen's body was buried in Burhanpur itself but was believed to have been recovered for transportation to Agra where it was reburied in a grave in the Taj Mahal complex for at least 12 years to be again shifted to her final resting place in the basement of the monument.

As there is no detailed description or reference to any kind of treatment given to the body to keep it in recognisable shape for more than 12 years, two conjectures are now being offered.

One, the body remained buried in Burhanpur, only some symbolic relics were brought to Agra in a lead coffin. Two, the body decomposed and virtually vanished, leaving behind some bones and perhaps the bare skelton.

"Obviously the coffin was not opened, otherwise we would have had some account of what remained inside it," says R. Nath, a Mughal historian. "In any case, how does it matter what state the body was in."

Afzal Khan, a historian of Aligarh Muslim University, says, "It is possible that the body might have been thoroughly decomposed, given the long duration for which it was kept outside and the time taken to transport it from the south to Agra. Since there are no accounts of how the whole process was carried out, one can only guess what could have happened to the body of Mumtaz."

A senior guide, 75-year-old SK Tripathi, says the body is believed to have been placed in a lead and copper coffin, which was air tight and sealed. It was kept at the Taj Mahal premises for a little over 12 years and was shifted as soon as more than half the edifice was constructed. The real graves of the two are in the basement, totally sealed. "No one has gone there to see what state they are in now," he adds.

Archaeological Survey of India officials in Agra say they have no idea when was the last time someone had a close look at the basement and the foundation of the Taj Mahal, let alone the original graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. "We have no records of any such inspection," says one official.

The one little passage near the stair case leading to the main marble edifice was sealed more than a decade ago with a brick wall, which means there is now no way one can enter the sealed chambers below the Taj. RC Sharma, a historian, says the body of Mumtaz Mahal was buried in Burhanpur. "What came to Agra must have been just bones in a coffin which was again reburied in the Taj complex."

From historical records available this was a unique feat. "Mumtaz was buried thrice at three different places," says Amit Mukherjea, who heads the history department of St John's College in Agra. Most people do not know that the foundation of the Taj was actually laid in Burhanpur but because of the problems and costs involved in the transportation of marble from Rajasthan, Agra became the final choice.

"It was in Ahu Khana in Burhanpur on the bank of the Tapti river that her body was buried to be later transferred to Agra," according to KK Mohammed of ASI.

But the question relating to the technique of embalming and preservation remains unanswered. Afsar Ahmed, a media researcher deeply interested in Mughal history, told IANS, You might find it difficult to believe but there's a possibility that the body of Mumtaz Mahal is still preserved in the Taj Mahal in the same condition as she was when she passed away. Mumtaz Mahal was buried six months after she passed away in June 1631. She was, however, buried in Jan 1632."

The question that arises now is: how was her body preserved? Ahmed quotes a report prepared by Armanul Haq, the curator in the Museum of History and Medicine in the Jamia Hamdard University, who claims that Mumtaz Mahal's body was preserved according to Unani techniques. The process was used because cutting a body after death is prohibited in Islam. That is why when Mumtaz Mahal passed away in 1631 in Burhanpur, her body was kept in a tin box filled with such herbs as would stop the decay of flesh.

"The airtight tin box was filled with herbs like the ash of Babul tree (acacia), Mehendi (henna), Kapoor crystals (camphor), sandalwood ash, and then again camphor applied in layers upon layers. These herbs would have created a vacuum inside the box and prevented the decay of the body. A point to be noted here is that none of these herbs were put inside Mumtaz Mahal's body," says Ahmed.

Great wall of china

On my first visit to China as a tourist more than 40 years ago, I was followed around the streets of Shanghai by a mob of curious, Mao-suited Chinese, today I don't even rate a glance.

I'm just one of millions of western tourists who are finding China a fascinating destination. Within a decade China is expected to top the list of the world's most popular destinations.

Of course, China has changed beyond recognition. It has pulled down its bamboo curtain and embraced a new hybrid of capitalist communism.

The Great Wall of China, once built to keep people out of China, is now being used as a tool to bring tourists into China.

Today, Beijing, Xian, the Yangtze River, Guilin, the Li River, Yangshuo and Shanghai

China is not a place yet for the independent traveller: English is not widely spoken and internal travel isn't easy. Far better to take a package tour with an accompanying escort who can take care of the detail. 

Wendy Wu Tours is an experienced China hand and has a 17-day package called the Wonders of China which takes in the highlights. It is an ideal way to see the main points of interest in four-star comfort.

We enjoyed a cross-section of China from big cities to farmland and small villages; to Yangtze river life; to a home visit in Beijing and a close look at a farmer's country farmhouse.

Our tour began in Beijing, a city in the midst of a big makeover to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games. The Chinese see the Olympic Games as a coming out party and are sparing nothing to get the city ready.

A city of modern skyscraper buildings and freeways, it is, in that respect, much like many other cities except for the smog. It can give you a wrong impression of China. A third of the city's three million cars will be kept off the roads during the Games and many public servants given holidays to try to reduce the smog.

City fathers are also planting gardens and trees to try to soak up the smog. Police and taxi drivers are being given English language lessons and residents are being asked to take classes in how to behave at sports events. Spitting is banned and thousands of extra, portable toilets are being installed in Beijing streets.

Beijing's icons include the massive Tiananmen Square, with Mao Zedong's mausoleum (closed at present for restoration), the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall.

Be prepared for lots of walking around these icons. Be ready, too, for crowds, although because of the scale of these places one never really felt crushed. And beware of hawkers wanting to sell you anything from hats to souvenir books. (Practise saying something that sounds like: "booyerchercher". It means, I'm assured: "I don't want it, thank you.")

You'll make an early morning visit to the Great Wall at Juyongguan. Wendy Wu, sensibly, got us there before the crowds. Walk on the wall at least for a short distance. To the right (west) of the entrance, up the hill, it is steep. The steps, worn by millions of feet, are uneven. To the left it is flatter but less spectacular.

In the evenings enjoy a spectacular acrobatic show and, if there is time, take in on another night, The Legend of Kung Fu, a wonderful, spiritual and energetic ballet tracing the life of a boy who becomes a warrior monk. A short flight away is Xian, start of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Warriors, the bigger-than-lifesize army created to protect China's first emperor, Qin. 

Described as the eighth wonder of the world, it was discovered as recently as 1974 by a local farmer digging a well. (You can shake his hand in the souvenir shop where he sits day after day autographing the souvenir book.) The diggings, in three pits, cover 20ha and are under a dome roof. Spend most time in pit No 1 which is the most spectacular.

The four-night Yangtze River cruise gave us a chance to see the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world's biggest projects, and watch life on the river which carries 80 percent of China's waterborne traffic and whose catchment area is home to more than a third of China's 1.3 billion population. When the dam is finished in 2009 the water-level will rise another 25 metres and flood many cities and villages. A million people are being displaced and relocated in newly-built towns.

You'll be taken on a fascinating side trip up a narrow river in a peapod-shaped boat sculled and dragged by local boatmen just as they have done over centuries against the rapids and swift flow of the river. A highlight of the tour was undoubtedly a three-hour cruise on the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, past the karsts, ragged mountains that look like giant green molehills and remind one of classic Chinese landscape painting.

You'll see a slice of river life, including buffaloes lazily ploughing rice fields , and fishermen who use trained cormorants to fish from their flat bamboo craft. Yangshuo is a delightful small town. Good for shopping in the marketplace. And don't miss an evening performance of a sound-and-light show featuring a cast of 600 local farmers and fishermen on a set that incorporates the river and a backdrop of the mountains.

Truly spectacular, it has been directed by Zhang Yimou who will direct the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. Shanghai today is a modern city. Not a Mao suit in sight. If it is said of Xian that one sees there 1,000 years of Chinese history and in Beijing, 100 years then in Shanghai one sees the past 10 years of China's amazing development. The elegant, European architecture of the old riverside thoroughfare, the Bund, is still there.

Dream Fascinations in Switzerland

If you get bored with your hectic life schedule, if you fell restless with your daily routine, just go for a tranquil trip to this tiny European land- Switzerland. Magnetic locale, majestic landscapes, watch making industry may be called as its utmost treasure. Swiss chocolates are alluring feature of Switzerland festooned in fantasy. Natures pride enfolds in tranquil beauty is the seductive features of your Switzerland vacation. A cool holiday with your beloved comes with the utmost fascination of your life. Intake the charms of Switzerland wine with your dearest one in a cool Switzerland evening. Apart from the natural panorama, you can do world class shopping to make your trip more exciting and enchanting.

Switzerland makes your travel an enchanting and enthralling, enclosed with copious of tourist destinations in the world. A place of chocolates and cheese, Switzerland is for a delicious and yummy tour. You will be glad to get excitements in all spheres of Switzerland. Relaxation with adventure what Switzerland is. Switzerland is decked with lush serene ambiance famous as a romantic destination. A sip of cold wine while leaning upon your partners shoulder is what every couple longs for. Welcome to Switzerland in this winter season and see the spectacular mountain scenery, unspoiled nature, legendary hospitality and all other benefits of modern life. An adventurous activity as mountaineering, hiking, skiing in the high mountain peaks is the extra ordinary attractions of Switzerland.

Switzerland Natures Ultimate Manifesto

Every new day starts with a new thinking and new desires. Its zeal of all to unfurl this natures panorama- Switzerland, almost once in a life time. There remain some people who cannot stay at home but feel restless to go out. Even ordinary people feel an urge sightseeing once a year. Man goes out to see the unknown and unseen. A small place located on the vicinity of Europe-Switzerland is blessed with world famous places for a magnificent vacation. Its really the heaven on earth without any din and bustles of every day life. Switzerland multifarious of beauty offers you to explore a new way of life. When you ask a person about their favorite destination or ask for the most preferred travel halt, the answer automatically comes is none other than Switzerland. Switzerlands fascinating glamour, its majestic serene is continuously tempting the visitors from several of centuries.

Whenever you go from north to south from east to west, no other spot is there in the world as Switzerland. Adventure comes with a new dimension in Switzerland. Your joys know no bound in Switzerland adventure. Mountaineering, skiing, climbing, diving in Switzerland is attracting enough to grab you. Switzerland is the other name of recreation, leisure, pleasure and delight. Honeymooners found the place ultimate to stay with the memory in the coming years too. It seems as if god created the city with its own style and approach. In your Switzerland tour, you will be pampered with delicious yummy chocolates. Swiss Alps, Swiss glacier are the halts need not to say as the splendors on earth. God designed the city with his ample of time, its man made azure lakes allure you towards its way. Switzerland the ultra modern travel destination is enriched with worlds tremendous of attracting appeals.

Top 10 Places to Ski in Switzerland

Switzerland is an amazing ski country defined by the majestic Swiss Alps. The winter months offer the opportunity for novice and experts skiers alike to carve up some of the finest white powder on Earth!

Listed below is a breakdown of Switzerlands top 10 resorts and places to ski. These 10 locations not only represent Switzerland's best, but are also some of the most sought after locations in the world!

10. Arosa - Located in the Eastern section of Switzerland, Arosa is a summer and winter resort. Full of tradition and history, Arosa creates an experience that cannot be fully digested without an extend stay. So how are the slopes? Arosa has over 50 miles of pristine terrain for you to fully immerse in. The air is especially pure and the slope drop offs will challenge even the most experienced skiers. Nature lovers will also enjoy the relative isolation of Arosa as compared to some of the other resorts on this list

9. Gstaad/Saanenland - Looking for a ski resort where you can gain some experience without be subjected to extremely difficult courses? If so, then Gstadd might be the place for you. Their courses attract mostly beginners and intermediate skiers because the slopes aren't as insane as some of the other locations in Switzerland. The only drawback for me is Gstaad is a bit on the pricey side. Swank hotels, trendy shops, and upscale restaurants are a common sight throughout. However, if money is not an obstacle, you will be pleased to know that the Gstadd/Saanenland area is one of the largest ski resorts in the Alps.

8. Murren - Murren is truly a picturesque sight to see. Located on a high cliff in Lauterbrunnen Valley over 5,400 ft. in the air, this mountain village can only be reached by cable car. With some of the best hiking and sledding trails in all of Switzerland, you will not have a problem finding things to do when the snow isn't at it's best (Summer Months). However, during peak snow season you will find that Murren offers some of the best snow and slopes around, attracting more advanced skiers.

7. Davos/Klosters - Davos is located in East Switzerland on the Landwasser River. The popularity of Davos has tailed off a bit from its heyday and the village is a bit rundown. Klosters offers a better alternative and brings in many skiers from The Netherlands and UK. This region offers ample slopes for the less experienced skier. There are many things to do, incudling superb hiking trails and mesmerizing restaurants located high in the sky.

6. Laax/Films/Falera - This area offers a wide range of summer sports. Skiing and snowboarding competitions are held through the winter months. Combinded, the Laax/Films/Falera area occupies over 130 sq. miles of prime skiing opportunities. The Vorab Glacier and Crap Sogn Gion attract much of the cross country skiing crowd while Foppa and Nagens represent an awesome downhill alternative for beginner and intermediate skiers. The lodging accommodations are reasonable and isn't as pretentious as say Gstaad. If crowds aren't your thing be sure to book your trip during the weekdays, the locals take advantage of the prime snow conditions during the weekends.

5. Saas-Fee - Saas-Fee is located in southwest Switzerland, next to Zermatt, and is home to the highest mountain in all of Switzerland, The Dom. What attracts many visitors to Saas-Fee is the amount of glacial activity. Glaciers of the Dom and the Allalinhorn allow for year-round sports activities, including summer skiing in some locations. With a wide range of blue rating slopes, Saas-Fee brings in much of the intermediate and advanced enthusiast. Don't be intimidated,however. There are also many slopes and schools of training for beginners.

4. Grindelwald - Next on my list is Grindelwald, which lies in the valley of Bernese Oberland, located very close to the middle of Swizterland. With over 120 miles of prime ski slopes, Grindelwald skiers have many different areas to choose from, most choose the Kleine Scheidegg for a fine sking experience. What sets this location apart from the others are the slopes accesabile only by helicopter. Griendwald has some of the best helicopter skiing in the world! In addition, you will be amazed to find that Grindelwald is a hub for activity. If you ever get tired of the slopes, (highley unlikely) Grindelwald is filled with museums, top notch golf courses, and a wide array of other adventure sports.

3. St. Moritz - Want to experience a resort full of rich history, world class lodging, and 300+ days of sunshine? If so, then St. Moritz is the place for you! Located in the far south east corner of Switzerland, St. Moritz is one of the most famous destinations in Switzerland. Beginners will enjoy the area of Corviglia where you will experience relatively easy slopes while advanced skiers will soak up the mind-numbing bliss of Pontresina. The view is said to be majestic. However, as with many of the other higher end resorts in Switzerland, be prepared to spend a bit of money!

2. Verbier - The runner up on my list of top places to ski in Switzerland is Verbier. As one of the more popular Swiss resorts in the Alps, the slopes can get a bit crowded during peak season. The slopes stay in pristine condition during the Spring months and make for a wonderful alternative to the sometimes overcrowded winter. The wide assortments of unique and challeneging courses suits both beginners and advanced skiers. Tortin has consistently been rated as a top draw for experts while the numerous ski training locations in Verbier create a fun atmosphere for the beginner. In addition, superb hotels, dining, sporting activities, and night life make Verbier one of the world's top ski destinations and tourist attractions.

1. Zermatt - Heard of Zermatt? If you haven't heard about Switzerland's greatest ski resort, you have now! Skiing is a year round event in Zermatt. Enjoy the Sunegga and Gornergrat regions during the winter months and make your way over to the Theodul Glacier for a fine intermediate adventure during the warmer summer months. With great snow, a wide array of obstacles and challenges, and some of the cleanest,freshest air in the world, Zermatt caters to just about everyone. In addition to incredible skiing, Zermatt features some of the most beautiful, natural ice skating rinks and many other adventure sporting activities such as climbing and paragliding. The world famous Matterhorn draws locals and tourists alike to scale this magnificent mountain. Nature lovers will appreciate the car-free resort with unbelieveable natural hiking trails. To visit Zermatt is said to have a Zen-like feel and this is why Zermatt is my top place to ski in Switzerland!