Peace starts with a Smile

Peace Be With You

2008-07-13T18:00:00.000+08:00

Was a really beautiful day to start with yesterday. The weather was nice, perfect blue sky with beautiful and amazing clouds. We cycled to Fu Chun Community Club, just opposite Metta Home. There, I was again surprised with happiness at the sight of two 'coo-coo' birds/ peaceful dove/ turtle dove whatever the name. The photograph showed the birds. It was 'my bird', once my pet...

I used to buy seeds for my 'coo-coo' bird to eat -- white seeds, red seeds or mixture. It costs about S$0.50. The 'coo-coo' bird often called 'croo-croo' and my father also imitated it. My father knows how to make the sand of the 'croo-croo' using his hands. I never know how. This was such a RARE sight, it was my FIRST TIME seeing turtle doves in public places. All peaceful doves which I seen were in cages or at bird parks. In nature, we often see myna and pigeons most frequently.

The last time I saw the peaceful dove was at my house, one flying and one perching outside my house. This is the third time I see the peaceful dove. But this time it was a pair.

In the church, people are kneeling down to pray. I was busy taking photographs, 'exploring the place'. There are always so much to see. After I had finished taking photographs, I stood in front of this statue of Mary and prayed. After I had finished praying, I went forward to the statue. I was searching for something. Then I found in front of my eyes was a spider that crawled up. This is amazing. The spider was black and white, with the hands white and it was like doing the sign of praying (the chinese called it Bai4 -- 拜拜). After that, it continues to crawl up the clothes. This is another different type of spider species I had seen, different from the one I had seen at St Joseph's Church.

People used to say that when people died, they become butterflies. This must be really true. I saw so many butterflies yesterday, of different colours and sizes.

While the children were attending catechism class, I had nothing to do, but walked around. It was such a special day, I walked and walked and met Yang Yang the church dog. He was coming out of 'Ghost Town' (my children told me the place was called Ghost Town, the place behind the Columbarium).

I explored and explored and I really came to the Columbarium, the first time also.

Too many things to be shown all at one time, too much great findings all in a day. I also saw one beautiful strange bird (white and black, not pigeon), flying in front of me. During the evening, I saw the Canon ball trees flowers, I saw Star tortoise and I saw my favourite cat, and had a wonderful dinner. There is only one song to sum up everything... Come let us adore him... Christ the king.

Four O'clock Flowers

2008-06-23T01:57:00.000+08:00

These are called Four O'clock flowers, as what I had learned from my father. My father loves this flowers so much. I am also influenced by him and I love it too. I had only seen white and magenta ones, but at St Francis Church of Assisi, I was so amazed that they had such wonderful range of colours and they grow so much of it over there.

I do not know what is the scientific name for this flower. But it is a special flower that only open so beautifully in the morning and will close in the afternoon and evening. It is so short-lived, and it is not that easy to survive either.

I loved this plant so much. I grew this plant on several attempts but none was successful. However, this year, March, a miracle happened. I saw this plant growing from my pot. I never sown any seeds nor had any young plant of it anywhere. BUT it really grew from my favourite GREEN pot as shown in this picture below.

Picture taken on 25th March 2008.

Over the months, it grew so much that the whole pot was filled with foliage. Yesterday I transferred the plants to a bigger pot as shown below.

I transferred the whole 'mass' into this bigger pot.

A few days ago, Richard transferred this little bit out of this pot of his. Nothing happened, no Bryophyllum growing on it, ever since he transferred the plant out.

Everything transferred out, leaving only this small one in the Green pot. The GIANT Bryophyllum was seen today (Just one day), and there were small ones growing in the pot, which seem to 'act as control'.

Amazing thing happened today. REALLY AMAZING and INCREDIBLE. You can see this HUGE Bryophyllum plant growing on the green pot, at the edge of the pot.

Today, I asked everybody if they had planted this plant at my pot. Everybody said,"NO." and I wondered if the neighbours' kids or any neigbours could have come and planted it. But who would come and do such a thing? I tried 'pulling' the Bryophyllum, and it was rather hard, really 'hard', meaning, the root is rather deep in -- If someone could have planted it, the whole plant would be so easy to remove, but not for this. This is really AMAZING and INCREDIBLE.........

This is the POWER OF GOD, the AMAZING MIRACLES which all happens for me to witness.....lots and lots of things....... THE KINGDOM OF GOD.....

Incredible and Amazing: Sacred Heart Moved, The Turning of Merlion Head
Slamming of Doors

Singapore Flyer (Marina Bay)

2008-06-15T02:25:00.000+08:00

After the PC show 2008, we went to Marina Square. What a big change! Everything was so nice -- the clothes, the surrounding building, everything look new and fantastic. There was so much things to see and to shop!

I wanted to walk around slowly, but as usual, 'nobody' was interested in what I like to do. So it was always in a hurry, always rushing for time, and always got so little time to 'appreciate' nature...

Anyway, from Marina Square, we walked to Singapore Flyer. Saw lots of familiar plants around, and it really 'opened' my heart. I love plants. On the way, birds, myna birds, flying in pairs and this is a 'good' sign. Not only birds 'flying with me' at Woodlands, but over here as well! What a lovely scene...

海阔天空 (Singapore Flyer)

Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd
30 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039803
open daily: 8.30am-10.30pm

About Singapore Flyer
Inspiration for the Singapore Flyer sparked off from various observation icons like the Eiffel Tower. On this inspiration, Dr Kisho Kurokawa of Japan and DP Architects, Singapore developed the initial concept behind the Singapore Flyer's design.

The entire construction of Singapore Flyer took the team exactly 2 years and 3 months. Its ground breaking took place on September 2005 and Singapore Flyer became a permanent fixture on Singapore's skyline in December 2007. A high level of sophistication in engineering and technology was used to develop this S$240 million Giant Observation Wheel.

Standing at 165metres, Singapore Flyer exemplifies a new level of success for Singapore -- from its humble beginnings of a simple fishing village to a highly successful cosmopolitan city. BOasting an unobstructed 360 view, the World's Largest Giant Observation Wheel offers different perspectives of the dynamic Singapore landscape at every turn of the wheel.

What I like About Singapore Flyer

The thing I like best at Singapore Flyer is this plant, don't know what name is it, but perhaps 'purple lallang'. Second thing I like was the Rainforest: The Yakult Rainforest Discovery offers visitors a very naturalistic looking landscape that houses a vast array of a diverse range of lush vegetation, waterfalls, streams and rocky outcrops. The rainforest takes up the whole courtyard of the Terminal Building and is a public access area. The Rainforest was really nice.

Santa Clara University

2008-04-25T15:16:00.002+08:00

I am so glad that I went Santa Clara University. Santa Clara was where Richard and I went, with little Ricsson in me. It was such a beautiful place, I was filled with happiness there. The roses were beautiful, and the biggest roses I had seen. These are such sweet memories now.

Santa Clara University is a private, co-educational Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California. Santa Clara is located in the center of Silicon Valley, and is home to the headquarters of Intel, Applied Materials, Sun Microsystems, NVIDIA, Agilent Technologies, and many other high-tech companies.

Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), whose members founded the school in 1851. Santa Clara is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California and the oldest Catholic university in the American West. It is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Richard and I had such an wonderful time at this beautiful university filled with flowers and greeneries. We took so many photographs. These are some photographs of the different colours of roses there.

How I wish I can go back to Santa Clara again one day, but now with my two children. This time, it is even more full of meaning. I want to take all the beautiful flowers, each and every species of flowers there, at St Clare's garden. St Clare's garden is a memorial to St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253), religious mystic and follower of apostolic poverty, spiritual friend of St. Francis, and the first woman in Western Europe to compose a rule of religious life for women. It would be so great to go back there with my family and I would like to visit the dutch windmill this time ( I only took a picture of it, but not went there, it's a regret, I never get to see a real windmill -- no chance to admire it).

This is a Mother's Day Gift I gave to my mother last year. This year, I have not decide what to give my mother. I had gave my mother brooches, bags and dried flowers before. If you would like to send fresh flowers to your mum this Mother's Day, then click here for Philippines roses now. At Island Rose, you can find flower gifts as well as other gifts for my loved ones. Find out what different colours of roses mean at their website. Lastly, you can shop with a peace of mind at Island Rose. They provide high quality roses as well as Philippine flower delivery at fair prices.

Woodlands Town Garden

2008-04-12T09:58:00.002+08:00

张国荣 - 一片痴 (Woodlands Town Garden)

Woodlands Town Garden
Location : Woodlands Centre Road adjacent to Bukit Timah Expressway
Size of park : 11 Ha

About the park : If you are around Woodlands New Town, drop by Woodlands Town Park and enjoy the greenery and ambience the park has to offer. Look out for the design of the park amenities that has both Malay and Chinese elements. Sungei Mandai Kecil, a river that flows through the park, was also integrated in the design of the park. Part of this river that flows into the park was enlarged into a lake, irregularly-shaped for a natural look. The park is lit from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.

Facilities : Amphitheatre, playground, restrooms, pond, shelters
Getting there : Service 856 from Yishun Interchange.
Services 911, 912, 913 and 856 from Woodlands Interchange
Carparks are available at entrance of park at Woodlands Centre Road.

Glory To God In The Highest, and Peace To His People On Earth...
I cannot stop singing. I am so filled with passion, so filled with inspiration, so filled with touched and the Glory of Love.

This is Woodlands Town Garden, somewhere near the heart of Woodlands, the place where I found peace, tranquility and the place where all the birds gathered to make peace -- Pigeons of different colours gathered, black, white, brown, mixed colours; myna, sparrows living in harmony, with the presence of peaceful dove I saw. I need time to present to you the photographs of these birds... they were so nice, so lovely, never in my life have I had such an awe-filled experience, which I go 'wow, wow, wow'.

A bird which I saw during childhood, a bird that I began to see again of late and the bird that show me how it can fly so high despite its big size. And whether it is a white egret or black egret, both can fly.

Those are birds flying, sparrows, swift, eagles, and many, many, which I cannot even differentiate what is what, but all flying birds.

Mind opening experience, heart filled with great appreciation of God's providence of nature.

This common bird, myna, often comes to my house, and it was me who feed him one day.... At a time where people are so afraid of birds (bird flu), I was tested, I fear not, fed the bird and now I see all the reasons behind.....

On my way walking to Woodlands Town Garden with Richard, that was the day I saw the most birds in my life. This is really the time of my life I saw the MOST BIRDS, lots of varieties of birds and all flying in different direction, up, down, left to right, everywhere are birds.

Photographs of birds are so difficult to take. By the time I shot them with my camera, they had flown away! But luckily, I managed to take a few ones still.

For once, my eyes, heart and mind was fully opened, all senses at work, in appreciation of nature, walking in this garden of paradise where there are my favourite flowers, trees and most important of all, the mangrove swamp, the place that I used to roam. (However, it is not the perfect garden now, I sense the smell, it was different, 'bad' and I saw the signs -- even the fish told me: I saw the cichlid 'overturn' (dying), the air was aweful, not normal there. One side of the garden was perfect, but the mangrove side was aweful. The last time I went there, about five to six years back, that was the perfect smell, but there were no birds, no spirits of life.

Cyclades

2007-12-12T23:21:00.000+08:00

Cyclades comes from kyklos, a circle, and a glance at the map indicates that the islands circle the sacred isle of Dilos. In historic terms, the Cyclades are probably the most significant group of all the Greek islands. Over the period 3000-1000 B.C, the so-called Cycladic civilization flourished here, producing extraordinary works of art that have had a lasting impact on the world. In antiquity, the Cyclades had at their center, the small island of Delos, where mythology tells us that Apollo and his sister Artemis were born. Declared a sanctuary where both birth and death were prohibited, Delos was an important spiritual, cultural and commercial hub of the Aegean. Today, its extensive remains remind visitors of its former importance.

If you see a photograph illustrating the Greek islands, there is a strong chance it was taken on one of the Cyclades. It will show an ink-blue sky, a jumble of dazzling white houses set higgledy-piggledy against a hillside, and somewhere, a blue-domed church. In many people's minds, this is the archetypal picture of a Greek island. On these particular islands, you'll also find red poppies growing from bare white rock, the aroma of wild herbs filling the air, and idyllic beaches gleaming in the sun.

The administrative capital of the Cyclades is Siros. Naxos, the largest island, along with its neigbour Paros, is more precisely in the geographical center of the group than in Dilos. Paros (sometimes called 'the poor man's Mykonos'), is the transport hub of the Cyclades, with a gentle landscape, appealing villages, good beaches and opportunities for windsurfing. Paros is the third largest of the Cyclades Islands. It is even more famous for its marble than Naxos. As the raw material desired by all the finest sculptors and architects, it was transported throughout Greece in classical times.

Paros has always been prosperous and it has retained much of its Greek customs and culture. Paros town, or Paroikia, in a sheltered harbour on the west coast, is a focal point for ferry services around the Cyclades. It has all the activity, bars and restaurants which you might expect. For a map of Paros or Paroikia, click here for Paros accommodation at fantasticgreece.com. The site contains various Paros Hotels with descriptive information as well as beautiful pictures. Paros is noted for its nearby beaches. It really has a little of everything one expects from a Greek island: old villages, monasteries, fishing harbours, a labyrinthine capital, nice beaches and varied nightlife. The island is really tourist attraction hotspot and anyone who wishes to find accommodation at Paros should book for Paros hotel early!

Flowers In Regent's Park

2007-10-19T02:17:00.000+08:00

These are beautiful photographs of flowers you can find in Regent's Park, one of the many beautiful Park in London. There are several Gardens in Regent's Park where you can find and capture photographs of various types of flowers. There are The The Avenue Gardens, also known as the 'Italian Gardens', Queen Mary's Gardens(Inner Circle) and The Secret Garden.

The old adage that 'the camera cannot lie' and therefore that it always reveal the truth about a person, a scene, or an object, is totally true. While it is true that the camera must record the image in front of it, the photograph itself will vary enormously according to lighting, speed, aperture and focal depth used. Photographs can be 'touched up', faked and altered out of all recognition; there are ways in which a variety of effects can be produced when the same subjects is dealt with. The camera can and does lie, in the hands of the expert who may wish to flatter or cheat. However, Lora Severson of Lora Severson Photography has just opened an online store at http://www.cafepress.com/loraseverson. Her store features her beautiful original nature photographs printed on unique gift items such as greeting cards, journals,coffee mugs, magnets and more. She loves to find the beautiful things in life and photograph them to share with the world. At her site, you can see photographs of flowers and landscapes.

A peaceful photograph when used or presented on calendars, mugs, greeting cards and so on can help to calm and ease one's mind. Peace resides in a room with a view in the warm, safe, quiet corners of your mind. The view is of a blissful today with a backdrop of a brilliant and sunny tomorrow. It is a place where few reside and that many seek. Peace demands its own space in a place that only open hearts can build. Do you hope to have peace in your life? Hope is the nourishment that sustains your soul. Make personal growth a priority. Embrace life by welcoming change in every aspect of your being. Try something different. Travel to an exotic place, visit Regent's Park to see the beautiful flowers or wear a new shirt. Buy a new shirt with a nature photographs printed on it. Buy a greeting card and send it to your love one. Buy a meaning gift at Lora Severson Photography! Find meaning in all the things that you do. Listen to your heart. Look at your unique talents and God-given gifts and use them to help make the world a better place.

Regent's Park

2007-10-18T08:55:00.000+08:00

Regent's Park has everything an urban explorer could wish for: big open spaces, a lake to row on, spectacular gardens, ducks and swans in quantity, ideal picnic spots and alfresco theatre and music.

Once part of the ancient Forest of Middlesex, and subsequently a royal hunting forest, Regent's Park is still owned by the Crown and, including Primrose Hill to the north, covers 472 acres. This large open space has survived a tortuous history dominated by self-interest, greed and commercial need.

The story began when Henry VIII enclosed the ancient woodland for his hunting. Over the following centuries it repeatedly came under threat as monarchs and Lord Protector alike sold off leases. By the late seventeenth century it was largely let off in smallholdings and during the eighteenth century these farms supplied hay and dairy produce to most of London.

Regent's Park is the result of a remarkable coincidence of royal enlightenment, architectural theatre, peaceful times and a large tract of land becoming available. In 1811, the Prince Regent, later George IV, and his architect, John Nash, conceived and completed a Regency backbone for London stretching from St. Jame's Park up Regent Street and Portland Place to Regent's Park. After vast earth-moving activities, the park was given its undulating lawns, lake, garden and trees, all ringed by grand terrace backdrops and dotted with just eight of the 56 planned villas.

What was designed as a garden city for nobles is now the most elegant of London parks. It has been open to the public since 1835, when Regent's Canal was one of the busiest stretches of canal in Britain. Londoners flocked to visit the zoo, Inner Circle Gardens and Avenue Gardens, which W.A. Nesfield designed in 1864. Its 197 ha (487 acres) easily absorb the many Muslims strolling from the gold-domed Central Mosque, patrons of the Open Air Theatre, cricketers -- and many others besides.

Regent's Park is renowned for its excellent sports facilities. The boating lake, which has many varieties of water birds, is marvellously romantic, especially when music drifts across from the bandstand in the distance. Queen Mary's Gardens are a mass of wonderful sights and smells in summer, when visitors can enjoy Shakespeare productions at the Open Air Theatre nearby. Travel to London and visit Regent's Park. If London does not appeal to you, visit Travel Blog which introduces you to many places in the world. The travel blog writes about North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. Browse by destinations or things to do, travel blog also has forum and travel deals for you -- "Purchase your Virgin Atlantic flight on Orbitz today and see for yourself how extraordinary Economy Class can be on flights to London!" quoted from the travel blog.

"Parks are the lungs of London", said William Pitt as he addressed Parliament in the 19th century. By 1850 half the population lived in cities and it was widely agreed that public spaces were needed for health and recreation. Within a few years London had established itself as one of the greenest cities in Europe. Today it has more parks and open spaces than any other city in the world.

St Paul's Churchyard

2007-10-11T22:16:00.000+08:00

St Paul's Churchyard

London is home to nearly seven million people, the workplace of three-quarters of a million more, and every year it attracts over thirteen million visitors from overseas. Yet this busy place is also among the greenest of cities, with over sixty-seven square miles of parks and gardens. Various London accommodation are available if you visit London. For example, there are hotels out of town, mid-price hotels, designer hotels, business hotels, character hotels, luxury hotels and even cheap hotels too.

St Paul's churchyard is a smallish garden around the cathedral with some associated small plots -- a place that is relatively peaceful in a part of the City that rarely rests. Virtually a traffic island, it is close to the line of the ancient Roman Watling Street and, to the south, the brand new Millennium Bridge that leads across the river to Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre. The gardens are municipal in flavour but immaculately maintained. They are based on trees, shrubs and roses, and summer bedding. They are enclosed by substantial handsome early wrought-iron railings, made in 1714, which make a suitable boundary for the stately cathedral.

The site has a stirring history. Here martyrs once died for their faith. Nearby is Christ Church, an imposing survivor of the old Greyfriars monastery, founded in the Blitz of 1941. The whole site has been transformed into a rose garden, with large-scale timber frame supports, linked by heavy rope swags, for climbing and rambling roses. Large urns are planted with spring and summer colour. All that remains of the church is the Wren tower, which looks on, rather like that at Postman's Park, making a theatrical end to the small garden.

Postman's Park

Much of London's special character stems from the open spaces within it. Over centuries, despite regular threats of enclosure and urbanization, London has managed to retain, create and develop green areas in large sweeps and small pockets -- sometimes flushed with flowers or studded with splendid trees, sometimes wild, sometimes made magnificent by the hand of man; sometimes open and spacious, sometimes hidden. These areas include royal parks, old estates, deer parks, the grounds of country houses, commons, heaths, nature reserves, community gardens, private gardens, botanical gardens, garden squares, cemeteries and municipal parks.

Although the city can claim to have over 67 square miles of open space, among which are 1700 spaces that are over 1 acre in size. A large proportion of these are accessible to the public. Few cities of the world provide as much open space for nature and people as in found in London.

New Jersey

2007-09-17T18:42:00.000+08:00

The so-named North Jersey Coast begins at Sandy Hook and continues south through Long Branch and Asbury Park to Bay Head, the south end of the New Jersey Transit line from Manhattan.

Atlantic City

New Jersey's Atlantic coast, a 130-mile stretch of almost uninterrupted resorts -- some rowdy, some run-down, some undeveloped and peaceful -- has long been reliant on farming and tourism. No profitable ports were established, nor did short-lived attempts at whaling come to anything. In the late 1980x, the whole coastline suffered severe and well-publicized pollution from ocean dumping. But today, the beaches, if occasionally somewhat crowded, are safe and clean: sandy, broad, and lined by characteristic wooden boardwalks.

Spring Lake

Seaside New Jersey offers an amazingly varied string of locales that serve equally well for a day at the beach or a short-stay bed-and-breakfast destination, and as a suburban bedroom community. The rowdy, sleaszy glitz of Atlantic City is perhaps the shore's best known attraction, though there are also quieter resorts like Spring Lake and Victorian Cape May.
Spring Lake is the leafiest of all the communities, and the town has strict regulations to keep it first and foremost a pleasant place to live.

Victorian Cape May

New Jersey is easily accessible from New York City. Visitors most often travel from New York to northern New Jersey for the great shopping: from huge malls and designer outlet stores to ethnic emporiums. Traveling west on the interstates from the shore or from New York City, however, visitors see the New Jersey of popular imagination: heavily industralized, a cultural desert, peppered with run-down cities like Trenton and Paterson. Visit DestinationJerseyCity.com for more information about Jersey City.

Indonesia

2007-09-15T00:42:00.000+08:00

Sumatra - Samosir island, Lake Toba

Most countries offer the foreign visitor an insight into a different culture, but Indonesia, with its dozens of historical influences, offers something dramatically more. The strands of varied customs, religions, legends and modernity are woven into complex patterns that reveal themselves in layers. Visitors with only a few days to spare will find much of colour and vitality to attract them, while those with more time will discover something deeper about the country's subtlety and diversity.

Kalimantan - Mahakam River

With an area of about 1950 000 square kilometres, the Republic of Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and the world's largest archipelago. It stretches some 5150km and includes over 17 500 islands: about 6000 are inhabited. Roughly 70% of the population lives on Java, the largest island; the other major islands are Sumatra and Sulawesi, Kalimanta (which is Indonesia part of Borneo) and Papua (the Indonesian part of New Guinea formerly known as Irian Jaya).

Bali - Lake and Mount Batur

Indonesian landscapes are often rugged. Shallow seas patterned with coral reefs surround shores of mangrove swamps and coastal plains reaching back to dense rainforest. The mountains and geological structures are mainly volcanic, with many of the volcanoes still alive. It is estimated to have 128 active volcanoes!

Sulawesi

As an island nation, Indonesia has always been dependent upon the sea for transportation and communication, with rivers also important in the interior of the larger landmasses, notably Kalimantan. The shallow seas around the archipelago are vital as a source of food, and as a base for the tourist industry. As well as the numerous resorts of Bali, Lombok, Bintan and other areas, there is excellent scuba-diving around North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, Flores, and Komodo -- even the heavily used seas around Java and Bali have some good reefs. Talking about island, what do you think you would do if you are trapped on an island? Read Ten Things to do if you are trapped on an island at BlogAsian, Asia Hotels Blog providing you with Asian news on travel and hotels.

Sulawesi - Manado

Indonesia's climate is predominantly tropical, the two main influences on it being the archipelago's equatorial position and its situation between the landmasses of Australasia and Asia, which affect the monsoon seasons.

Indonesia is a country blessed with amazing wildlife, beautiful freshwater streams, hot water springs, lakes, mountains, a wide variety of marine life in her surrounding water and magnificent beaches. Indonesia is blessed with vast deposits of oil, uranium, natural gas, gold, bauxite, iron ore, and other precious metals, and has great economic potential yet to be tapped. She remains an excellent country to enjoy a quiet and slow pace of life, amongst people who are generally more hospitable and friendly than others in Asia. If Indonesia is not your favourite holidays destination, you may visit Asia Travel News for more travel information and news. Do you know what is The largest attraction in the world? At BlogAsian, you can find answer to this question. You can also read more interesting asian travel and hotels news there!

Kensington Gardens

2007-09-11T20:30:00.000+08:00

Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, is one of the Royal Parks of London. Kensington Gardens covers an area of 1.1km² (275 acres) and lies immediately to the west of Hyde Park.

At Kensington Gardens you can see open lawns, shady lanes, and walking paths planted with magnificent trees and ornamental flower beds. At the centre of the garden is a pond where water birds are a common scene. Benches are interspersed around the pond where visitors can enjoy a quiet spot to enjoy a rest.

The history of Kensington Gardens is closely linked with that of Kensington Palace, which stands near the western boundary of the gardens. A popular feature in Kensington Gardens is the Peter Pan statue. Wildlife in the park include bird watching and a variety of fish. Kensington Gardens is a popular place for sunbathing and picnics. It is also popular as a healthy walking route to work for commuters. There are several upcoming events at Kensington Gardens. These include Scottish Country Dancing(on 15 Sep 2007), Guided Walk such as Art & Architecture(25 October 2007) and even Christmas(13 Dec 2007) and so on.

At Kensington Gardens, The Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground is a fantastic adventure for kids up to the age of 12. Ever year many youngsters visit the playground. Kensington Gardens is a romantic Italian garden. It is open from 6am to dusk all year round. Not only are there beautiful plants and flowers in the gardens, there are many fascinating buildings and monuments.

London has many beautiful gardens as well as other places of attractions. Springtime in London carries an almost tangible air of a city waking up to longer days and outdoor pursuits. The cheerful yellow of daffodils studs the parks, and less-hardy Londoners turn out for their first jog of the year to find themselves puffing in the wake of serious runners in training for the Marathon. As spring turns into summer, the royal parks reach their full glory, and in Kensington Gardens nannies gather to chat under venerable chestnut trees. As autumn takes hold, these same trees are ablaze with red and gold. Londoners' thoughts turn to afternoons in museums and art galleries, followed by tea in a cafe.

London's best hotels are famed for their discreet service and attention to detail. Although it was not until relatively recently that London responded to the global trend for stylish, more individualistic accommodation, there is now an incomparable array of establishments, ranging from the ultramodern to the ingeniously or ironically traditional. To search for London Hotels such as Top Kensington Gardens Hotel, visit TimeOut London. At TimeOut London, you can find Hotels in London as well as many other information such as travel solution, London Clubs, Bars and Pubs and so on. Time Out Group Website, Time Out Online at TimeOut.com is a handy travel information guide. At Time Out Online, you can find information about top destinations such as Berlin, Barcelona, Beijing and many more. Time Out is a worldwide company with Time Outs for different cities such as Time Out New York and Time Out Chicago. If you have no idea where to go this holiday seasons, visit Time Out for more ideas!

Australia: Adelaide

2007-08-30T12:29:00.000+08:00

Mount Gambier

South Australia contains a wide range of landscapes. A striking coastline of sandy beaches and steep cliffs gives way to lush valleys, mountains and rolling plains of wheat and barley. Further inland, the terrain changes starkly as the climate becomes hotter and drier. The Far North encompasses huge areas and includes the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy, the opal-mining town with "dugout" homes. Most of the state's population lives in the capital, Adelaide, and the wine-making towns of the Clare and Barossa valleys.

Flinders Ranges: stretch from north of St Vincent's Gulf far into the Outback. They include some of South Australia's most rugged scenery and offer fine bushwalking.

Adelaide is a vibrant city, whose surrounding hills abound with vineyards from the Barossa Valley to McLaren Vale. To the east, the great Murray River meanders from the Victoria border down to the Southern Ocean. With high rainfall and irrigated by the Murray River, the region is the most fertile in the state. The coastline includes the Fleurieu Peinsula and the beautiful Coorong National Park. Just off the Fleurieu Peninsula lies Kangaroo Island, a haven for wildlife.

Murray River

Adelaide is a green and elegant city. There are many historic sites to explore. To the northeast, beyond the Adelaide Hills, are quaint 19th century villages and the many wineries of the Barossa Valley region. To the east and south lie Australia's largest river, the Murray River, and the rolling hills of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Further to the southeast the beatuy of the xoastal Coorong National Park and the Southern Ocean coastline contrasts with the flat, agricultural area inland.

St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral

The innercity of Adelaide is best explored on foot; it is compact, well laid out and flat. There is a public transport system of mostly buses, and some trains, throughout the metropolitan area, although services are often restricted at weekends. For those with car, the city's roads are good and the traffic generally light. Outside Adelaide, public transport is very limited, although coach tours are available to most areas. A domestic air service operates between Adelaide and Mount Gambier. Kangaroo Island is serviced by air from Adelaide and also by ferry from Cape Jervis. The predominantly flat landscape also makes this a popular area for cyclists and walkers.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Adelaide is a city with great charm. They have unhurried way of life. Well planned on a grid pattern, it is bordered by wide terraces and parkland. Within the city are a number of garden squares and gracious stone buildings. However, while Adelaide values its past, it is very much a modern city. The balmy climate and excellent local food and wine have given rise to an abundance of streetside restaurants and cafes. With its acclaimed arts-based Adelaide Festival, the city also prides itself on being the artistic capital of Australia.

Karijini National Park, Perth

There are many reasons to travel to Adelaide. There are many online websites offering cheap hotels and luxurious vacation homes. Cheaperthanhotels offers lastminute and year round accommodation at hotels, motels and serviced apartments. Serviced apartments are just like apartments home away from home and great value, often better value than smaller hotel rooms. Excellent for visiting the summer festivals of New Year / January / February. Go to Cheaperthanhotels to book for Hotels In Adelaide now!

If your vacation is in Australia, you might want to go Perth and Sydney. The 2007 Perth International Arts Festival was a great success. The festival was created in 1953 by the University of Western Australia, making it the oldest international arts festival in Australia. Activities include theatre, dance, music, film, visual arts and literature, occurring right across the state. If you love crowds and you love arts, plan for 2008 Perth International Arts Festival now. For more hotels choices for various destinations, cheaperthanhotels has Hotels In Perth for you. Book your hotels early to prevent any disappointments. If all these does not appeal to you, you can still lookout for Melbourne Accomodation if you want to visit Melbourne.

Australia: Perth

2007-08-29T17:13:00.000+08:00

Kimberley, Western Australia: covers 421000 square kilometers and has a population of less than 25000. Geologically it is one of the oldest regions on earth. Its rocks formed up to 2000 million years ago. Aboriginal people have lived here for thousands of years, but his unique land has been a tourist attraction only since the 1980s.

The huge state of Western Australia encompasses a land mass of more than 2500000 square kilometers. In recent years, the state's popularity as a tourist destination has increased, with large numbers of visitors drawn to its many areas of extreme natural beauty. The landscape ranges from giant karri forests, imposing mountains and meadows of wildflowers to vast expanses of untamed wilderness with ancient gorges and rock formations. The coastline has an abundance of beaches, ideal for surfing, and some stunning offshore reefs.

Rottnest Island: settled by Europeans in 1831, it was used as an Aboriginal prison between 1838 and 1902. In 1917, in recognition of its scenic beauty and rich bird life, the island became a protected area and today it is a popular tourist destination.

In the east, great deserts stretch to the state border. The capital, Perth is Australia's most isolated yet most modern state capital. It lies on the Swan River, just 10 km from where it flows into the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain on which it stands is bordered to the north and west by the Darling Range, beyond which lie the region's wheat fields. To the south is a diverse landscape: forests with some of the tallest trees on earth, mountains that dramatically change colour during the course of each day and a spectacular coastline. Inland are the gold fields that kept the colony alive in the 1980s, beyond lies the Nullabor Plain, bordering the raging Southern Ocean.

Swan Bells Tower: opened in 2001, one of Perth's main attractions. Swan Bells Tower contains 12 bells from St Martin-in-the-fields, in England. There are displays and exhibitions inside the tower and an observation deck.

Aborigines have lived in the southern region of Western Australia for at least 30000 years. However, within 20 years of the settlement of the state's first European colony in 1829, most Aboriginal groups had been either forcibly ejected from the region, imprisoned or stricken by European diseases. Today, Perth and Southwest are fast becoming popular international tourist destinations. Blessed with superb beaches and a glorious climate, the region has everything to offer visitors from climbing the tallest fire-lookout tree in the country to whale-watching along the coast. World-class wineries abound in the Margaret River region and, in springtime, vast tracts of the south are covered with wildflowers.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens: Begun in 1855, this is a peaceful garden that cover an area of 50 acres. They include artificial lakes and the beautiful Bicentennial Conservatory in which a tropical rainforest environment has been re-created.

Cleaming skyscrapers, an easy-going atmosphere and its coastal setting make it a popular destination. Home to 80% of the state's population, Perth has many historic towns scattered around the southwest, such as the gold field Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Among the many Perth Hotels in Australia, York Hotel in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie was built in the 19th century during the region's gold rush era. Its interior has been carefully preserved. Some attractions of Perth includes Stirling Range National Park, St George's Anglican Cathedral and St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, The Deanery, Fire Brigade Museum, Perth Mint,Swan Bells Tower, Whiteman Park, Perth Zoo, Rottnest Island and so on.

Adelaide and Sydney are great tourist destinations too. Festivals and food. Arts and culture. Shopping and sports. This is Adelaide - the city where there's always something on. Whether you want to party or relax, South Australia's capital has it all. With spacious boulevards and vibrant inner-city districts, sophisticated architecture and lush gardens, it's the perfect venue for all sorts of activities - big or small. You might want to immerse yourself in the culture of the city's North Terrace, with its museums and libraries. You might want to indulge in retail therapy at Rundle Mall, or sample the variety of tastes on offer at the famed Adelaide Central Market. In Adelaide, there is a brilliant blend of things to see and do. All you have to do is choose. Choose your Adelaide Hotels at cheaperthanhotels! To make the most of a trip to a country as vast and geographically diverse as Australia, a specialist holiday is an excellent idea. Whether you are pursuing an interest, acquiring a new skill or learning about the environment, such holidays can be very rewarding experience. Your Australia holidays can being at Sydney. Start booking early for your favourite Sydney Accomodation now!

California

2007-08-29T12:04:00.000+08:00

California's dramatic landscape: Highest point in the US, Mount Whitney in the High Sierras

California is more like a country than a state. It is big and it symbolizes the United States' diversity and sense of prosperity. Of the 50 united states only Alaska and Texas are bigger. The coastline stretches for 2036km from the mist-shrouded redwood forests on the Oregon border to the hot, dry deserts of Mexico, and it is the most fertile state in the Union. California can conveniently be divided in two, with San Francisco as the hub for northern California and Los Angeles for the Southern part of the state. The majority of visitors will fly into one of these hub cities.

Yosemite National Park

California is the land of plenty. The Central Valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions and the shelves of any supermarket will reflect the wealth of fresh produce available. An impressive range of fruits and vegetables is grown there and most of them are available year round at inexpensive prices. Grapes are a major crop, some of the world's finest wines flow from bottles produced in the Napa Valley.

Napa Valley

California claims the second highest peak in the country Mount Whitney, and its lowest expanse of dry land, Death valley. More than 1500 plant species grow here that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Roughly one in every eight Americans is a Californian, making this the most populous of the 50 states. Walk through any of the four most-populated cities -- Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco, although visitors usually go California to see one of two cities: San Francisco or Los Angeles. San Francisco is older and more compact. Although California in general is recognized for its eccentricities and is still the birthplace of new trends.

Balboa Park, San Diego

San Diego cover more than 4000 square miles. It lies close to the border with Mexico, exploiting a large bay protected by two peninsulas. Stunning beaches and plentiful oppportunities for leisure activities are the main attractions along the Pacific shoreline. A drive inland takes the visitor to the tranquility of Cleveland National Forest and the wilderness of state parks, such as Palomar Mountain and Cuyamaca Rancho.

Torrey Pines State Preserve and Santa Rosa Island are the only two places in the world where the Torrey Pine, or Pinu torreyana, survives. A remnant of pre-Ice Age forests, this tree is well adapted to this area's dry, sandy environment.

Torrey Pines State Preserve, San Diego

The growth of modern San Diego began in the 1870x, when Alonzo Horton, a San Francisco businessman, began to develop the town's waterfront areas. Close to the Santa Fe Depot, one of the city's tallest buildings, the America Plaza, is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art. There are many more attractions at San Diego. Some attractions of San Diego includes the zoo, Balboa Park, Batiquiltos Lagoon, San Diego Museum of Art, San Pasqual Battlefield, Palomar Mountain etc. Start planning for your vacation now if you love San Diego. Book for San Diego vacation rentals or you can look up for other vacation homes too you would love want to tour California or other places of your choice. If you are travelling with children, the best months to go California are June, July and August. This is also when Disneyland is at its busiest. If you are looking for a quieter time, March, April, May, late September, October and November are more peaceful. Avoid American holidays when you will be more likely to come across long tailbacks and choked highways.

California is a vibrant and diverse vacation destination. It is wise to plan ahead. San Francisco and LA are the two main gateways for visitors traveling to California by air. You can also get there by car, train, long-distance bus or by ocean liner. Accommodation can easily be found at Goin2Travel which provide various vacation homes such as Newport beach vacation rentals and many more.

France

2007-08-28T19:15:00.000+08:00

Chateau de Versailles

France is one of the largest countries in Europe, covering an area of 543 965 square kilometres. It has a population of around 61 million. It is known as the "Hexagon" due to its six-sided shape. It is bordered by six countries:Spain across the Pyreness to the south; Italy and Switzerland beyond the Alps; Luxembourg and Belgium to the north; and Germany on the other side of the Rhine. The United Kingdom lies across the English Channel.

France's landscape ranges from high mountain plateaux to lush farmland, traditional villages to chic boulevards. The idea of life in the country, with long tables set in the sun for the wine and anecdotes to flow, is as seductive as ever for residents and visitors alike. The climate of France is varied and temperate. An Atlantic influence prevails in the northwest, with westerly sea winds bringing humidity and warm winters. The east experiences Continental temperature extremes with frosty, clear winters and often stormy summers. The south enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, punctuated by violent winds.

Eiffel Tower

France is really a beautiful country where there are winemaking and artists have always been inspired by France; and one of the pleasures of touring the countryside is the recognition of landscapes made famous in paintings. France is rich in medieval architecture, ranging from small Romanesque churches to great Gothic cathedrals.

The French are convinced that their way of life is best, and that their country is the most civilized on earth. Many millions of visitors agree with them. The food and wine are justly celebrated. French culture, literature, art, cinema and architecture can be both profound and provocative. Whether cerebral, sensual or sportif, France is a country where anyone might feel at home.

Bois de Vincennes

Paris is the largest city, followed by Lyon, Marseille and the conurbation of Lille-Lens-Valenciennes. Paris is rich in museums, art galleries and monuments. The Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Pompidou Centre are among the most popular sights. Surrounding Paris, the Ile de France takes in 12000 square kilometres of busy suburbs and commuter towns punctuated by chateaux, the most celebrated being Versailles. Further out, suburbia gives way to farmland, forests and the magnificent palace of Fontainebleau.

Bois de Boulogne

France has airline connections with most cities in the world. Every year it receives over 75 million visitors. Paris is the major transport hub with two international airports, others include Bordeaus, Lille, Lyon, Nice and Toulouse. There are good, high-speed rail links with the rest of Europe, and a network of efficient motorways. A number of ferry routes cross the Mediterranean to Corsica and beyond. Cross-Channel ferries serve several ports, with the Channel Tunnel providing an alternative link by rail.

Paris epitomizes luxury and good living. Entertainment and shopping for gifts and souvenirs are so much fun in Paris. It has a wealth of stylish gift options, from designer accessories to Eiffel Tower paperweights. Whether your preference is for classical drama, ballet, jazz or cinema or dancing the night away, Paris has it all. When planning to travel to Paris, Hôtels en Paris and Cheaperthanhotels offer last minute and year round accommodation at prices often less than direct prices, but also with free inclusions. This works out to be excellent value when 2 or more persons are travelling to hotels, hostels or serviced apartments. Paris is lovely in the fall. Book for Hotels in Paris early to prevent any disappointment. Start looking for Paris Hotels at Cheaperthanhotels now!

Kew Palace

2007-08-27T10:03:00.000+08:00

Kew Palace, Kew, Surrey

Kew Palace formerly The Dutch House, is located in Kew Gardens, which is between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. Kew Palace is set like a miniature jewel within the vast expanse of the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Palace began life as the Dutch House and was built in red brick around 1613 by a Dutch merchant called Samuel Fortrey. It was one of the first examples in Britain of a brickwork known as "Flemish bond", in which the bricks are laid with their sides and ends alternating. The rounded gables gave the house its distinctive Dutch appearance. Fortrey lived here with his wife, Catherine.

The Dutch House was leased in 1728 by Queen Caroline, who intended to use it as a royal annexe whenever she and her husband, George II, were staying at nearby Richmond Lodge. The Dutch House became a nursery for the royal children, and George III spent a lot of time here as a boy. Caroline also leased several other buildings and plots of land, including the White House which stood nearby. In 1731, the White House became the home of Frederick, Prince of Wales. He was the despised eldest son of George II and Queen Caroline, so even the thought of his nearby presence must have been vexations to them. However, he and his wife, Augusta, were rare visitors to Kew until the death of Caroline in 1737. After that, they lived at Kew, devoting much of their time to creating what are now the Royal Botanic Gardens.

In 1772, the White House was taken over by Frederick and Augusta's son, George III, and his young family. George, Prince of Wales (who became the Prince Regent in 1811 and George IV in 1820) and his younger brother, Frederick, lodged nearby at Kew Palace. The freehold of the property was given to their mother, Queen Charlotte, in 1781.

Although the life of Royal Botanic Gardens continued to develop, and still flourishes today,William, Duke of Clarence and his younger brother, Kew Palace enjoyed only a brief flowering. By 1818, it was the end of an era. On 13 July 1818, William, Duke of Kent, were both married in a joint ceremony at Kew Palace. A crisis had been triggered the previous year by the death of Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Prince Regent, in childbirth. The Royal family needed more heirs, and in effect the two brothers embarked on a race to see who could produce a child first. It was a sad irony that the Duke of Clarence had fathered numerous healthy, illegitimate children, most notably by his long-time and devoted mistress, Mrs Jordon, but none of his legitimate children survived early infancy. The Duke of Kent and his wife, Victoria, were more fortunate and produced a daughter who grew up to become Queen Victoria.

On 17 November 1818, Queen Charlotte died at Kew Palace, and it was closed. The Royal Botanic Gardens acquired the palace, with Queen Victoria's permission in 1896, and it was opened to the public two years later.

Kew Palace is the oldest building within the Royal Botanic Gardens. Since Medieval times, London has had large expanses of green. Some of these, such as Hampstead Heath, were originally common land, where smallholders such as Richmond Park and Holland Park, were royal hunting grounds or the gardens of large houses; several still have formal features dating from those times. Today you can cross much of central London by walking from St James's Park in the east to Kensington Gardens in the west. Purpose-built parks, like Battersea Park and botanical gardens, like Kew Gardens are not to be missed. Every London park has its own charm and character. Traveling to London is always advisable to book well in advance, as room availabilty and better quality hotels are in constant demand. Direct bookings of London Hotels can be done easily at easytobook.com. Internet hotels booking is fast and efficient. There are also some good deals available by booking hotels online. At easytobook.com, you can also book for New York Hotels and many destinations Hotels like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome and so on.

Royal Botanic Gardens

2007-08-26T09:58:00.000+08:00

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens, between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England, are a World Heritage Site and the most complete public gardens in the world. Their reputation was first established by Sir Joseph Banks, the British naturalist and plant hunter, who worked here in the late 18th century. In 1841 the former royal gardens were given to the nation and now display about 40 000 different kinds of plants. There are conservatories, a herbarium, a library and eating places. Kew is also a centre for scholarly research and garden enthusiasts will want a full day for their visit.

Designed by Decimus Burton in the 1840s, the famous jewel of Victorian engineering houses exotic plants in tropical conditions.

History of Royal Botanic Gardens
In the 18th century, this area formed the private gardens of Frederick, Prince of Wales, which are today known as the Royal Botanic Gardens. At the time, Kew was a place of political intrigue, having grown in importance during the previous two centuries because of tis close proximity to nearby Richmond Palace. Frederick was a very keen gardener, having already created a landscaped garden at Carlton House in London, and he set about doing the same thing at Kew. Frederick was greatly aided in this task by John Stuart, the 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-92), who was briefly Prime Minister in 1762-63. He helped the prince to design the gardens and to collect many of the plants and trees that became the basis of the world-renowned collection of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

On 31 March 1751, Frederick died from complications that set in after he caught a chill while gardening in the rain. His widow, Augusta, continued to live at the White House, which was one of the residences within the gardens. She also continue to work on the gardens with Bute, prompting some ribald gossip about the nature of their relationship. Their work at Kew was helped by William Chambers (1726-96), who was the architectural tutor to Augusta's son, George, Prince of Wales, and a noted expert on Chinese culture. He undoubtedly had a very strong influence on the plethora of Chinese-inspired buildings that sprang up in the grounds of Kew. The Chinese Pagoda is one of the few extant buildings from that time. Other buildings at Kew were inspired by foreign cultures as well.

By the end of her life, Augusta was only an occasional visitor to Kew, but she had helped to landscape over 100 acres(40.5 hectares), which contained more than 2700 species of plants. It was a colossal achievement and is commemorated in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, which was opened by Diana, another Princess of Wales, in 1987.

Travelling Information
London is one of Europe's central routing points for international air and sea travel. London has two main airports. By air, travellers face a bewildering choice of carriers serving Europe, North America, Australasia and the Far East. Stiff competition on some routes means that low fares are occasionally introduced to attract new passengers. As for long distance sea travel, there are efficient and regular ferry services from Europe. Travelling by rail is possible to London. London has eight main rail stations.

Are you thinking of visiting London or do you wish to know what is The Hottest Steaming Tourist Destinations? For interesting travel news or articles, BlogsToGo provides Last minute travel news and updates. Find interesting article like London Will Scare You To Death at BlogClub, the right hand side bar of BlogsToGo. If you do not like gardens or parks, find other places, The Three Most Futuristic Cities or even The Three Cheapest Cities for Shopaholics. For last minutes hotel deals, you can even click on RatesToGo!

Photographs of New Zealand

2007-08-25T21:14:00.000+08:00

Orewa, Auckland: The beach at Orewa, popular with swimmers and windsurfers.

New Zealand lies in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising two large islands and a number of smaller ones. Its total land area is comparable in size to Japan or the British Isles. Two-thirds of the country's 4 million people live in the North Island, just over one million of those in Auckland, the country's largest city and the world's most populous Polynesian centre. New Zealand's capital is Wellington, at the southernmost tip of the North Island.

Auckland Domain: The oldest park is the Auckland Domain.

New Zealand is an old land with a young landscape. There are many peaceful sceneries to see at New Zealand, where natural beauty is the country's greatest asset. There are numerous forests and countless scenic reserves. It is a great place for relaxation. There are many things which tourists can do at New Zealand -- bird-watching, walking, fishing, golfing, wine-tasting and so on. Some of the attractions of New Zealand includes Christ Church Cathedral in the heart of Christchurch, Lake Wakatipu, Larnach Castle, Crater Lake of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Taranaki/Egmont, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Martinborough, Hawke's Bay vineyard and Raukumara Forest Park.

Wellington Botanic Garden, Wellington: Establish in 1868. Wellington Botanic Garden is a mix of protected native forest, conifer plantings and plant collections.

During the December holidays season, families can set off to New Zealand for some fun and relaxing moments. Enjoy walking or hiking with backpacks, food and sleeping bags in well-marked paths. Enjoy peaceful sceneries and have a chance to view a varieties of beautiful flora and fauna of New Zealand. Some of the sceneries are mountains, rivers, forests, coastline, lakes, cityscapes, beaches, volcanoes, caves and plants.

Martinborough Vineyard, Wellington : The size and quality of New Zealand's fast-growing wine industry comes as a surprise to many people. In New Zealand, around 60 million liters of wine are produced annually, with 20 million litres exported. It attract serious interest from wine writers and from the trade in general.

Avon River, Christchurch: Punting on the Avon River in Christchurch

Spring(September through November) and autumn(March through May) are the best times to visit New Zealand. The busiest time to visit is from late December until the end of January. This is the high holiday season, when it seems that every family in New Zealand takes a trip. Roads and trains are jammed, hotels and motels are booked up, and all tourist facilities are crowded. New Zealand is well supplied with hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, farmstays, lodges, motor camps, campgrounds and backpacker accommodation -- ranging from high luxury to unadorned simplicity. Cheaperthanhotels NZ offers last minute and year round discount accommodation throughout the country. During peak holiday season from mid-December to the end of January, tourist must need to book their accomodation in advance. At Cheaperthanhotels, you can book Hotels in Auckland and many more. If you are looking for Hotels In Wellington then you might consider The Wellesley Boutique Hotel Wellington, which is a four-stars hotel. The hotel is only 20min by car to the airport. For more details, Cheaperthanhotels have more information on that. On the other hand, it you are looking for Hotels In Christchurch then you might consider these four accommodation -- Merivale Manor Christchurch, Gunyah Country Estate, Hadleigh Boutique Lodge and Elm Tree House Christchurch. To be sure to get the right accommodation you like, you have to book for your hotels in advance!

South Africa

2007-08-24T01:32:00.000+08:00

Cape Town : Cape Town does not seem like part of Africa. The climate is Mediterranean, the buildings European and many of the faces you see around are light-skinned. It provides plenty of mellow history, fascinating museums, good shopping and enchanting gardens such as the superb Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.

Dismayed by horrific films of squatter camps and township violence, of police brutality and children lying dead in the dust, many tourists stayed away from South Africa until the 1994 elections. Now they are arriving in droves in search of the New South Africa; by 2003, visitor numbers had risen to over 6.5 million (1.95 million from outside Africa).

Cape Town: Take strolls around the town and embark on hikes on the mountain, where you can find some of the world's most dramatic views and spectacular sunsets.

In a world riven with strife and conflict, South Africa's emergence like a butterfly from the chrysalis of its solitude and isolation is a great story of the triumph of the human spirit. In Africa, there is an indigenous philosophy, known as ubuntu, which describes the paramount importance of human relationships. Simply translated, ubuntu means "I am a person because of other people", a remarkable statement that sums up in a single phrase the impetus behind the country's magnificent act of reconciliation and the creation of its much admired new democracy.

Cape Town: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Aside from the riveting human drama of past 15 years, South Africa has always been a place of fascination for the environmentalist and nature lover. This huge country, with a land area which exceeds that of Italy, France and Germany combined, has a relatively small population of some 48 million people, with 11 official languages and cultural traditions from across Europe, Asia and Africa. Falling between its two spectacular ocean boundaries, the warm Indian Ocean to the east and the icy waters of the Atlantic to the west, is a staggering variety of landscapes and climates. In sultry KwaZulu-Natal one finds dense tropical coastal dune forests, while a short three-hour drive inland brings one straight to the province's imposing mountain range, the Drakensberg. To the northwest of the country stretch the timeless desert wastes of the legendary Kalahari, and the centre of the country, in the wondrous Eastern Cape province, lies one of the world's most ancient pieces of primordial land, the Karoo. Here, in an area of immense semi-desert biodiversity, can be found traces of the earliest creatures to have walked the earth, primitive beings which pre-dated the dinosaurs by millennia. To the south lie the fertile and verdant valleys of the Cape, which is blessed with a Mediterranean-like climate comparable to that of the south of France, while to the north are huge tracts of classic African bushveld, which is home to the famous Big Five. The term Big Five is used to denote the animals which were most sought after as trophies by big game hunters of the 19th century, namely lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo.

Franschhoek, 80km northeast of Cape Town, in the heart of the Cape Winelands: Huguenot Memorial

For well over 100 years, South Africa's seductive safari experiences have been a magnet for the adventurous. Most towns were built on a grid layout, with Dutch-style squares and English-style parks to give a feeling of space, and broad streets lined with ornamental trees. Official buildings became ever larger and grander, culminating in Sir Herbert Baker's superb Union buildings in Pretoria. Until the early 20th century, the towns were relatively multiracial, with areas like Cape Town's District Six and Johannesburg's Sophiatown as vibrant cultural melting pots. They produced innovative art, music and dance and created pockets of bohemian life beneath the stern noses of the Dutch Reformed pastors. Scenic hikes can be made in any of the 9 provinces. South Africa also has some of the world's top hot-air ballooning spots, notably in the Magaliesberg in Gauteng and the Free State. In the ocean, one can dive in search of wrecks, reefs and sharks, sail the rough seas off Cape Town or seek out gentler swells further north along the Indian Ocean coast.

Franschhoek: Franschhoek is among the top five tourist destinations in South Africa. Franschhoek lies in a green valley surrounded by majestic mountains. It exudes in beauty and ambience and provides the ultimate in relaxation and tranquility.

Middle-class South Africans have an exceptionally high standard of living. South Africa actually provides excellent accomodation. Few locals can afford international five star prices but the hoteliers have been jumping on the bandwagon as tourism and business boom. Johannesburg and Cape Town both have an excellent collection of top-end hotels. Cheaperthanhotels offers last minute and year round accommodation discounts at prices usually less than those available directly from the hotels. To book for Hotels In Johannesburg or Hotels In Cape Town visit Cheaperthanhotels. For people who cannot afford luxury, Cheaperthanhotels have hotels that cater for your comfort and convenience. For example you can find a Sandton Hotels ranging from two-stars to five-stars at Cheaperthanhotels. They provide hotels reviews too. Click here for Hotels In Sandton for more information. Book for your favourite accomodation before you visit South Africa! Enjoy some peaceful photographs of South Africa's attractions!

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls is the largest and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

London Peace

2007-08-23T07:32:00.000+08:00

Royal Botanic Gardens
Have Peace within you and everywhere you go you will find peace. In London, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are a World Heritage site. It is the most complete public gardens in the world.

From its first creation under the Romans two thousand years ago, London has had a life of its own and has grown and developed with little formal planning. London means different things to different people. For multitude of visitors or tourists, it is a wonderful place of theatres, concert halls, art galleries, museums and festivals. In every field of work, London acts as a magnet: in government, the arts, in law, and in business. London is not only the capital city and therefore the administrative centre of the country, it is also the centre for almost everything.

It is impossible to walk around London without coming upon, amongst the immediately modern, some corner of Roman, Tudor, Georgian or Victorian London. A little piece preserved by chance or design. There are so many layers of history in London's streets and buildings. It is impossible to separate London from its history. Every building, street, shop and statue has a story to tell about its past -- whether it happened yesterday or 1000 years ago.

London's Top Ten Tourist Attraction includes St. Paul's Cathedral, Hampton Court, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, National Gallery, Westminister Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Victoria and Albert Museum. Below are three beautiful pictures of London places which I would love to go. In addition to St. James's Park, Tower of London and Columbia Road Market, I would love to visit St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey and Victoria and Albert Museum.

St James's Park
St James's Park was first laid out in 1532 by Henry VIII and later, under the Stuart Kings, it was only used by the court. St James's Park is the oldest royal park in London and it has the added distinction of being surrounded by three royal palaces: Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Westminister and St James's Palace. Although it is now part of one of the most prestigious areas in London, it began life as a boggy field next to a leper hospital for women. The site of the hospital has also come up in the world, as it is now occupied by St. James's Palace. Today the park can be enjoyed by everyone and it is home to several pelicans, which were first introduced when a Russian ambassador gave a pair of the birds to Charles II.

Tower of London
Some of the greatest architectural and historic royal treasures of London, such as St Paul's Cathedral and the Guildhall, belong to its ancient City. The Tower of London is one of the most famous buildings in the world and it is still an impressive sight almost 1000 years after it was first built. The Tower of London, one of the most distinctive buildings in the world, occupies a majestic position on the banks of the Thames just outside the City of London. For centuries, the sight of its rising towers and thick walls struck terror in the hearts of many Londoners because the Tower was a fortified prison as well as a royal palace.

Columbia Road Market
Anyone who loves flowers will love Columbia Road Market. Most devoted to plants and seedlings, it also has stalls of cut flowers on sale. This is the place for common flowers and shrubs like petunias, pansies, lobelias and begonias. It is truly a market for everyone who loves gardening.

There are many places to visit in London. Accomodation in London is costly, but you can find mid-range hotels or cheap Hotels in London at Cheaperthanhotels. Cheaperthanhotels offers last minute and year round accommodation with free inclusions at prices often less than directly at the hotel , hostels or serviced apartments. Not only can you find inexpensive Hotels in London, you can also find inexpensive Hotels in Birmingham and other hotels in United Kingdom. If you love parks and gardens like me, then you would love Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Fletcher Moss botanical garden. Fletcher Moss botanical garden is situated in southern Manchester, in close proximity to Didsbury. Book for Hotels in Manchester to explore the beautiful flora and fauna of Manchester botanical garden!

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden (known locally as Fletcher Moss)

Vienna And Berlin

2007-08-17T23:46:00.000+08:00

Schloss Charlottenburg Park

This is such a beautiful world. Vienna is full of beautiful arts. There are the best Museums and Galleries and there are the best churches. In addition, there are also many great historic houses and palaces with great architectural designs. These are my love. In Berlin, there are beautiful houses and peaceful landscape, another of my love.

If I have a chance to travel to these two places, Vienna and Berlin, I would want to visit these places which is going to be described below. But first of all, I have to book for hotels. Among the Hotels in Vienna at CheaperthanHotels, I would want to book for Grand Hotel Vienna which is a five stars hotel. I would be flying from Vienna to Berlin and I need to book for Hotels in Berlin too. Among the hotels available at CheaperthanHotels, I would choose Schlosshotel Im Grunewald Berlin.

Schonbrunn Palace Garden

At Vienna, the places that I want to visit are Kinsky Palace, Schonbrunn Palace, Winter Palace of Prince Eugene, Sigmund Freud's House, Historical Museum of the City of Vienna, Austrian Museum of Applied Arts, Museums of Baroque and Medieval Arts, Museum of 19th and 20th Century Art, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Ruprechtskirche and Michaelerkirche.

Kinsky Palace

At Berlin, the places that I want to visit are Schloss Charlottenburg, and most important of all, Potsdam, Brandenburg Potsdam, a satellite town of Berlin. Potsdam is a favourite destination with Berliners who wish to have a relaxing excursion. Capital of the province of Brandenburg, the town is set amid pleasant woodland, interspersed with lakes formed by the River Havel.

Potsdam Schloss Cecilienhof is a copy of an English Tudor-style mansion house. This is where Churchill, Truman and Stalin decided the fate of post-war Germany and signed the Potsdam Treaty on 2 August 1945.

Potsdam Schloss Cecilienhof

Vienna contains an astonishing array of monuments, palaces, parks and museums, which themselves house an impressive array of art and artefacts from all over the world and from all periods of history. Out of the places which I wanted to go as described above, the thing which I really hope to see is the Medieval Arts and the applied arts of Vienna, in addition to the garden Palaces. I would love to free and easy tour of my own so that I can take my own sweet time to enjoy every moment of admiring the beautiful arts and peaceful moments in Vienna and Berlin. To enjoy my trip, I need cheap but good hotel. If I had a chance to go Vienna and Berlin, to get the Hotels in Vienna and Hotels in Berlin which I want, I have to book them in advance. I would look forward to the day where my dream will come true.

Free Trip To Australia

2007-08-07T20:14:00.000+08:00

The Conservatory in Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens

Many years back, I was given a chance to go Sydney. Hotel in Sydney was being booked and the date was arranged. However, I did not go Sydney in the end. To me, Sydney is a just another bustling city like Singapore. I have no wish to go Sydney during that time. However, if I have free tickets to Australia now, the first place I would want to go is Melbourne.

Why do I want to go Melbourne? Melbourne is not much different to Sydney. It is a modern city. However, something which I would not want to miss out is Fitzroy Gardens, a popular tourists destination in Melbourne. The reasons I want to visit Fitzroy Gardens is not because it is popular. I want to go Fitzroy Gardens because I love gardens and parks. Fitzroy Gardens is not an ordinary park. It has features of beautiful victoria garden with sculptures, fountain, conservatory, and most importantly, I want to see the cottages and tudor village.

This is Model Tudor village at Fitzroy Gardens. This is what I would really want to see and walk around to admire the great art. I would like to go nearer to observe the details of every part of the beautiful houses. I would get myself a good camera if I have a chance to go there. I would want to capture my own image of every houses there.

At Melbourne, I would want to stay in five stars hotel like Chateau Yering Historic House Hotel, which can be easily booked at CheaperthanHotels. The next thing which I would love to see is Cook's Cottage, which is where James Cook used to stay during his childhood days. I have never stepped into a cottage before. I would love to see its interior.

Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are near to each other, with Sydney in between. After my stay at Hotel in Melbourne, I would go to Sydney next. I would stay at Meriton Parramatta Sydney, the cheapest five stars Sydney Hotel at CheaperthanHotels. At Sydney, I would want to go Chinese Garden of Friendship and the Royal Botanic Gardens. If time permits, I shall visit the Museums and Art Galleries too. Sydney may be famous for its Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach etc. However, I have no wish to see these. However, if I am not tired, I would like to visit them.

After Sydney, the last place I would go is Brisbane. Brisbane is my last destination and I would want to have a good stay in Conrad Treasury Hotel Brisbane, a Hotel in Brisbane which is reasonably priced. The only place which I would love to see again in Brisbane is the peaceful parks and gardens. I would wish to have a quiet day in Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. With that, I would be satisfied with my trip to Australia.

Whistler

2007-08-05T19:40:00.000+08:00

Whistler is located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada -- on Highway 99 approximately 44 kilometers (27 mi) north of Squamish. It is only two hours from Vancouver(north of Vancouver) along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway, and five hours from Seattle, WA. Whistler is ranked the number one resort in North America and it is a year-round destination, visited by more than two million of people every year. If you like Lake Tahoe, like me, then you would like Whistler too.

Whistler has almost everything for you. There are more than 200 shops (eg. boutiques and coffee shops), 90 restaurants and bars, accommodations galore, hiking trails, spas as well as the best mountain bike park in the world. Whistler features two spectacular mountains and it has the most ski runs in the world. Besides Alpine skiing and mountain biking, other activities you can enjoy at Whistler include golf, sledge hockey, shopping, dining, river rafting, hiking and most importantly beautiful sceneries. It is a fantastic place to fish too (Fishing season generally runs April through October but some fishing is available all year round.)!

Whistler is a great winter vacation spot for skiing. It also attracts many visitors in the summertime. For people who loves nature, Whistler is a peaceful place where you can see wildlife such as American Bald eagles, Black bears, Hoary marmots, gophers, native birds (such as hummingbirds, Stellar jays, whiskijacks, ravens, and crows), deer, native fish (such as salmon, trout, char, steelhead), cougars, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, and rabbits. Beautiful and magnificent scenery includes the alpine glaciers (for example Squamish Glacier covers 80 square miles of ice), ice caps, rugged volcanic peaks, ancient cedar forests (1000 years old, trees 50 feet around), pine and hemlock forests, waterfalls, alpine meadows, jade and blue coloured alpine lakes, valley wetlands, and volcanic craters.

Whether it is summertime or wintertime, Whistler provides the perfect retreat for anyone who need to get away from the bustling city life. Whistler pedestrian village has won numerous design awards and Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines for the past 15 years. Traveling to Whistler resort can be done so easily by air, train, or bus with connections from international airports.

There are many varieties of accommodation choices at Whistler. Holiday Whistler is a vacation rental company based in Whistler, BC. Holiday Whistler offers a wide variety of properties for rent all year round. Many are ski-in, ski-out and have wood-burning fireplaces and private hot tubs. To enjoy a peaceful and great time at Whistler, checkout Whistler accomodation at Holiday Whistler. Book for Whistler condo rental or Whistler lodging to enjoy high quality vacation close to home for the whole family. Children and adults can enjoy many fun water activities and beautiful sceneries of peaceful lakes. Holiday Whistler is your guide to the a perfect place for enjoyable outdoor adventure at Whistler. Not only can you search for Whistler Accomodation easily, there is also featured Whistler rental for your reference. Click for an interesting Whistler accomodation at Cedar Ridge 17 now to view the beautiful place for your holiday vacation now!

Brisbane Botanic Gardens

2007-07-31T16:27:00.000+08:00

Brisbane has two botanic gardens, the original ones in the city(Brisbane City Botanic Gardens), and a newer one up on Mt Coot-tha(Brisbane Botanic Gardens).

Brisbane City Botanic Gardens were once called "Queens Park". Located in central Brisbane, Brisbane City Botanic Gardens were established in 1855. It has an area of approximately 20 hectares and feature mature planting, some of it dating back over 150 years. This is one of the oldest and most historic gardens in the Brisbane and Queensland area. The attractions at Brisbane Botanical Gardens include walking trails, seating areas, colourful flower borders, landscaped gardens, seasonal events and a café area. However, due to the proximity to the river, the Botanic Gardens have been flooded eight times between 1870 to 1974. With many plants being washed away, the Brisbane City Council established a new botanic gardens at Mount Coot-tha.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens (Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens) are the second botanical gardens established in Brisbane. The gardens were established by the Brisbane City Council in 1970, and officially opened in 1976. Brisbane Botanic Gardens are located 7 km from the city of Brisbane in Toowong, Queensland, at the foot of Brisbane's tallest mountain, Mount Coot-tha.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens – Mt-Coot-tha
Established: 1970
Area: 52 ha
Location: Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland
Open: Monday to Sunday 8 am to 5 pm

Having an area of 50 hectares(120 acres), Brisbane Botanic Gardens contain many important plant collections, exotic specimens and landscaped garden areas. There are the magnificent Japanese garden, Bonsai House, Fern House, Arid Zone and Cactus House, Exotic Rainforest, Australian Rainforest, Fragant Plant and Herb Garden, Temperate Garden, Lagoon and Bamboo Grove, Australian Plant communities and National Freedom Wall, and Tropical Display Dome.

Brisbane is a wonderful place that have many peaceful parks and gardens, both in the heart of central Brisbane and also in the suburbs of Brisbane. Besides Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, there are other popular parks which can provide invaluable areas for relaxation and recreation. These include a number of impressive National Parks, Peace Park, Bayside Parklands and the Sherwood Arboretum, etc.

Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens are popular venue for weddings. A wedding can be seen nearly every weekend. Brisbane City Botanic Gardens are accessible by Alice St, the Goodwill Bridge and Brisbane City Council's ferries and CityCats at the Gardens Point and Eagle St wharves. Anyone who loves flora and nature should visit Brisbane. The Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens are one of the most impressive botanic gardens in the Brisbane and Queensland area. The Botanic Gardens regularly attracts large numbers of visitors throughout the seasons. To tour Brisbane, lookout for Brisbane Accomodation such as Cheap Hotels in Brisbane. Brisbane City Botanic Gardens is a living museum of plant collections, displaying early heritage specimens through to present day exotic and native plantings. In addition to the plant collections, there are a number of significant heritage features. Book for Hotels in Brisbane and be among the tourists to visit Brisbane, Australia's 3rd largest city and the capital of Queensland!