Roman Colosseum

The colosseum, also known as the Coliseum, is a large oval stadium located in the center of Rome. It is one of the largest structures ever built during the Roman Empire, and it is considered as one of the great achievement of Roman architecture.

It was constructed at around 70 AD spearheaded by the Roman emperor Vespasian. It was only completed during the reign of Emperor Titus. The Colosseum was generally used for public events such as gladiator matches. These matches are comprised of gladiators who fought against other gladiators, criminals or wild animals. Other events held at the colosseum included mock sea battles, executions and animal hunts. During the medieval era, the use of the colosseum for public events ceased. Instead, it served such uses as dwellings, workshops and fortresses.

The colosseum condition has worsened due to natural disasters such as earthquakes. There have also been reports of stone-robbers taking away bits and pieces of the structure. However, it is still one of the most highly recognizable symbols of Ancient Rome. It is also a very popular tourist attraction to this day.

Aside from the amphitheatre, which played host to the gladiator matches back in the day, there are other attractions in the surrounding area. One such attraction is the remains of the Ludus Magnus, which is also known as The Great Gladiatorial Training School. As implied from the name, it was used as a training ground for the gladiators. Most of the area has been restored, such as the triangular fountains located within.

Other nearby attractions include the Armamentarium, which was an armory used to store weapons and defenses, the Summum Choragium, which was used to store machinery, the Sanitarium, which was used as place to treat wounded gladiators and the Spolarium, which was used to dispose of the dead gladiators and their various equipment.

The Colosseum is used today for religious purposes. Some Roman Catholic ceremonies, such as those involving Pope John Paul II, were hosted there. There are crosses littered in various areas surrounding the arena. During Good Fridays, the Pope typically leads a procession called the Stations of the Cross.

The Colosseum walls have large amounts of flora. There have been more than 600 different flora species discovered there. Previous attempts to remove the flora, due to concerns regarding damage to the architecture, have largely been unsuccessful as much of the flora eventually returned.

Common sights near the surrounding area of the Colosseum are men garbed in the traditional costume of the ancient gladiators. There are plenty of souvenir shops along the way as people are usually milling about from a leisurely stroll.

Today, the Colosseum is a highly visible structure due to its inclusion in a variety of media forms. Some movies, such as Gladiator or Jumper, use the Colosseum as a site for some of its scenes. Computer technology was used to restore the Colosseum to an approximation of its original state. The term colosseum is used for other entertainment facilities such as theatres and halls.

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Eiffel Tower, the heart of Paris

The tower was built a century after the French revolution in order to celebrate the centenary of this important historical milestone and the ideals of the French Revolution liberty, equality and fraternity. French history indicates that the tower was inaugurated on the 31st of march 1889 and opened to the public on May, 6th of the same year. However, it is the Eiffel tower that symbolizes Paris as a tourist destination in modern times. The construction of the tower had indeed met with a stiff resistance from the intellectuals as well as the regular Frenchman during its beginnings. A number of French leaders and citizens questioned the judgment of the people who had thought of the idea of the tower in the creation period, calling it an eyesore and a misuse of public finances and wealth. Of those protestors, the world renowned writer Guy de Maupassant is thought to have eaten at one specific restaurant everyday, as he claimed this restaurant was the only restaurant in Paris that spared him the painful sight of the tower! Eiffel Tower structure designed by A. G. Eiffel and erected in the Champ-de-Mars for the Paris exposition of 1889. The tower is 984 ft (300 m) high and consists of an iron framework supported on four masonry piers, from which rise four columns uniting to form one shaft. Three platforms at different heights (the intermediate platform just above the junction of the columns is 644 ft/196 m high) are reached by stairs and elevators. On the top of the tower are a meteorological station, a wireless station, and a television transmission antenna.
The French authorities in charge of maintaining the tower provide a useful website that can attest to be a blessing for travelers from other countries. The website gives accurate rates for sightseeing and also provides the history of the construction of the tower. Distinct rates exist for adults and children as well as exclusive concessions that are available for the disabled.

The Eiffel Tower was admired by Rousseau, Utrillo, Chagall, and Delaunay. It was almost dismantled in 1909 at the termination of its 20-year lease, but was saved because of its antenna - used for telegraphy at that time. Beginning in 1910 it became part of the International Time Service. French radio and French television have also made use of its stature. In the 1960s, it was the subject of a wonderful study by semiologist Roland Barthes.

Built to commemorate the science and engineering achievements of its age, soaring 300m / 984 ft. and weighing 7000 tons, the structure is made up of two visibly distinct parts - a base composed of a platform resting on four separate supports and, above this, a slender tower created as the bents taper upward, rising above a second platform to come together in a unified column.

Like the varying degree of passionate travelers of France, the rates for the elevators vary as one rises up the tower. The standard rates for adults for the first story are in the 40 euros while the 2nd floor can be assessed at a rate in the seventy euros for adults. The top level, which is a visual delight of Paris can be reached by elevator at a rate of about 100 euros. The tower is fully equipped with facilities that can help the disabled access to its height and share the beauty of the city of Paris. Lifts and turnstiles are easily available that can help people with reduced mobility access the tower. For a summary of a visit to the Eiffel tower make sure to stop at Altitude 95, the restaurant located on the first level of the Eiffel tower. Needless to say that France travel remains incomplete without touring this historical beauty. We wish you a visit that just soars with fun! Read More..

The History and Development of The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles ) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance. The Great Wall of China is not a continuous wall but is a collection of short walls that often follow the crest of hills on the southern edge of the Mongolian plain. Overall, the wall extends about 1500 miles (2400 kilometers).

A first set of walls, designed to keep Mongol nomads out of China, were built of earth and stones in wood frames during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE). Some additions and modifications were made to these simple walls over the next millennium but the major construction of the "modern" walls began in the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644 CE). The Ming fortifications were established in new areas from the Qin walls. They were up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) high, 15 to 30 feet (4.6 to 9.1 meters) wide at the base, and from 9 to 12 feet (2.7 to 3.7 meters) wide at the top (wide enough for marching troops or wagons). At regular intervals, guard stations and watch towers were established.

Since the Great Wall was discontinuous, Mongol invaders had no trouble breaching the wall by going around it, so the wall proved unsuccessful and was eventually abandoned. Additionally, a policy of mollification during the subsequent Ch'ing Dynasty that sought to pacify the Mongol leaders through religious conversion also helped to limit the need for the wall.

Through Western contact with China from the 17th through 20th centuries, the legend of the Great Wall of China grew along with tourism to the wall. Restoration and rebuilding took place in the 20th century and in 1987 the Great Wall of China was made a World Heritage Site. Today, a portion of the Great Wall of China about 50 miles (80 km) from Beijing receives thousands of tourists each day.

Can You See The Great Wall of China from The Moon?

For some reason, some urban legends tend to get stated and never disappear. This legend even appears as a erroneous Trivial Pursuit question. The legend? Many are familiar with the claim that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space or from the moon with the naked eye. This is simply not true.

The myth of being able to see the Great Wall from space originated in Richard Halliburton's 1938 (long before humans saw the earth from space) book Second Book of Marvels said that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from the moon.

From a low orbit of the earth, many artificial objects are visible on the earth, such as highways, ships in the sea, railroads, cities, fields of crops, and even some individual buildings. While at a low orbit, the Great Wall of China can certainly be seen from space but it is not unique in that regard.

However, when leaving the earth's orbit and acquiring an altitude of more than a few thousand miles, no man-made objects are visible at all. NASA says, "The Great Wall can barely be seen from the Shuttle, so it would not be possible to see it from the Moon with the naked eye." Thus, it'd be tough to spot the Great Wall of China or any other object from the moon. Furthermore, from the moon, even the continents are barely visible. Read More..

Tulamben the diving spot in Bali

Located in Karangasem region, exactly north side of Tirtagangga, this beach is known for its history and its beauty. Tulamben beach located at the eastern Bali is the famous diving site, where Liberty ship, a U.S. Cargo was torpedoed by Japanese sub-marine warship on 11 January 1942. She was beached on Tulamben when rescue attempts failed. In 1963, when Mount Agung erupted, the ships broke into two and was swept to her current position close to the shore of Tulamben. Now, the wreckage is becoming home of various fish and aquatic animals. According to Karl Muller in his book " Under Water Indonesia " there are around 400 species of reef fish and 100 species of pelagics visited the wreckage. The hull is encrusted with coral and the fish have become quite tame because of the large numbers of divers here. It is said that Tulamben is the most popular dive spot in Indonesia.

As one of the most renowned diving site in Indonesia, Tulamben offers diverse marine life and magnificent under water world. Dive courses for all levels are often conducted at Tulamben. With the panorama changing drastically to dry hills covered with scrub, Tulamben is a quiet beach and popular place for diving.

With the development of diving tour in Tulamben, small accommodations started to appear, even two big hotels such as Mimpi and Emerald have been established to serve the divers with more facilities. The barren area of Tulamben has been changed into garden or cultivated areas. Simple losmens and a couple of good, small hotels sit along the shady, grey sand beach. Boys with guitars roll off standards as entertainment in the evenings.

On to the Wreck

The wreck of the Liberty lies parallel to shore on a steep sand slope. Part of the superstructure is within snorkeling distance from the surface. The hulk is broken into large chunks, and there are lots of big holes in the hull, making it easy to explore the vessel's innards. Don't expect to find any interesting mementoes inside, however. Remember, this ship was stripped while still on the beach.
The treasures of Tulamben are swimming in and around the wreck: hundreds of species of fish in good numbers, most having become semi-tame and used to divers. We saw several fairly large a meter or so-specimens, but it is the huge numbers of medium-sized fish-30-80 centimeters-that make the wreck such an interesting dive. If you planned just one or two dives here, we guarantee you will regret not having more time. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect in Tulamben. When we dove there in late June, visibility was just 12-15 meters, and this seldom improves much. Expert underwater photographers and marine biologists, men like Rudie Kuiter, John E. Randall and Roger Steene, dive Tulamben over and over, coming up with great shots and even new species. Australian Rudie Kuiter, author of the definitive guide to Indonesian reef fishes, estimates that some 400 species of reef fishes live on the wreck, which is also visited by perhaps 100 species of pelagics. These are remarkable numbers for an area just 100 meters long.

On our dives we never saw any sharks or other really big fish at Tulamben. There were a few good sized tuna, bonito, several 80-centimeter plus emperors, and jacks, Napoleon wrasses pushing the meter mark, and one huge 80-centimeter scribbled filefish. On the sandy bottom next to the wreck, where I thought rays would abound, I saw only one small eagle ray, and a very large blue-spotted stingray. Both ducked for cover before I could say "Glenfiddich." We also saw a meter-long barracuda, but one of my dive partners, Wolfgang Bresigk of Baruna Water Sports, says a 1.5 meter barracuda regularly forages on the wreck. Another dive buddy, Wally Siagian, saw a huge oceanic sunfish (Mola mola) close to the wreck, four times in a one-week span. On one of these occasions, he saw this most unusual fish being cleaned by several singular bannerfish (Heniochus singularis). Off to one side of the wreck Wally took us to visit a colorful black-spotted moray eel
(Gymnothorax melanospilos), a beautifully marked animal with a yellow body and black markings. The eel lives at the base of a barrel sponge at about 40 meters.

Night Dive on the Wreck

Daytime dives are extraordinary on the wreck, but a night dive, especially around full moon, will be among the most memorable dives you will make.
As we walked along the beach to the entry point, three local fishing outriggers sailed silently by in the moonlight. We waded out, took our bearings, and headed toward the wreck. As we approached the ship, we extinguished our lights. The large hulk loomed above us, a massive ghostly presence with the bright moon a distant pinpoint of light. We kept our lights off for a bit. Each fin-stroke stirred up a twinkling trail of bioluminescence. Peering into the dark hold of the wreck, we saw a magical lights. These were the curious flashlight fishes (Anomalops), each possessed of a bioluminescent organ beneath its eye.
Many sections of the wreck provide the overhangs preferred by the large, bright orange polyps of Tubastraea and Dendrophyllia. These corals are best appreciated at night. At night one can also see crinoids crawling about in search of a new holdfast, or perhaps even swimming, their feathery legs opening and closing in the manner of a octopus. Sometimes when we trained our lights on the wreck, hundreds of red shrimp eyes stared back.Here again, however, the fish are the real stars of the show. We saw a couple of unconcerned common lionfish, and a stunning spotfin lionfish. A large red parrotfish slept, secure in its mucous cocoon, under a shallow overhang. We approached a big map puffer, and several groggy unicornfish.
The most interesting fish we came upon was an absolutely huge barred filefish (Cantherhines dumerili). I spotted the big fella at least 10 meters above me, sleeping under a large lacy plate of coral growing horizontally from the wreck.
My computer screamed its warning just as I Made for this animal, but 1 paid it no heed. My subject was sleeping in a tilted position. After a few shots, I pushed him a bit to correct his posture. He didn't particularly appreciate this, but obliged me anyway. I moved him into the open water. A few more shots, and he had had enough, charging straight for me. We photographers really are a pain. Read More..

Tanah Lot Temple..

From the village of Marga, the trip west returns to the main route leading to Tabanan. At the crossroads of Kediri, a side-road branches to the sea, ending on a green hill which slopes down to the beach and to the remarkable temple of Tanah Lot, suspended on a huge rock offshore. Set apart from the land by a stone basin, the rock has been carved by incoming tides. Tanah Lot, with its solitary black towers and tufts of foliage spilling over the cliffs, recalls the delicacy of a Chinese painting. If hearsay is to be believed, there dwells inside one of the shrines at Tanah Lot a huge snake, discreetly left undisturbed by the Balinese.

Although a small sanctuary, Tanah Lot is linked to a series of sea temples on the south coast of Bali: Pura Sakenan, Pura Ulu Watu, Pura Rambut Siwi and Pura Peti tenget. All these temples are related to the principal mountain sanctuaries: Besakih at Gunung Agung, Pura Batur at Batur and Plura Luhur at Mt. Batukau. The upland temples venerate deities associated with mountains and mountain lakes, while the sea temples include homage to the guardian spirits of the sea within their ritual. These main temples are often listed with the sad-kahyangan the six holy "national" temples, which exact tribute from all Balinese. The chronicles attribute the temple at Tanah Lot to the 16th century priest Nirartha.

During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bringing gifts, invited him to stay at their hut. Nirartha refused, saying he preferred to spend the night on the little island. That evening he spoke to the fishing folk and advised them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy and fitting place to worship God. The villagers kept their promise. The beaches of Tanah Lot are ideal for relaxing, especially in the late afternoons, when the temple on the rock dissolves into a striking silhouette against the evening sky.Target out of the landscape by tides, wind and rain, the high off shore sentinel rock of Tanah Lot. Supports a picturesque see temple, which cans small here ached by a scramble over the wet rocks.

This Temple was built in the 15th century by the priest, Pedanda Bahu Rawuh or Danghyang Nirartha from Majapahit Jawa. Near this Temple there are several small and big shrines, the biggest one is Pekendungan Temple. There is a spring considered sacred not far from this temple.
Tanah Lot is 13 km from Tabanan is Beraban village. When the tide is low people can walk to the temple. It looks like a floating one if the tide is high. There are many caves under the temple lived by the peaceful sea snakes, which has white and black colors.

It's located 16 kilometers west of International Airport Ngurah Rai, or a 20 minutes drive through Sunset Road. Coming in from Java Island through Gilimanuk, and arriving at the Kediri intersection, at the Wisnu Murthi statue, turn right. In front of the Kediri police Station, turn left, and keep following this smooth road. In less than 10 minutes you will be there. Admission is Rp 1,000.- per person.
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