Travel Guide to Japan

These is favorit places in Japan that you should know before you start a traveling:

Kyoto


Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face.

Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's capital and the country's largest city.

Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis (to) rather than a prefecture (ken). The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.

The 23 city wards (ku) are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents.

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities.

With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.

Nagoya


With over two million inhabitants, Nagoya is Japan's fourth most populated city. It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the principal city of the Nobi plain, one of Honshu's three large plains and industrial centers.

Nagoya developed as the castle town of the Owari, one of the three branches of the ruling Tokugawa family during the Edo Period. Much of the city, including most of its historic buildings, were destroyed in the air raids of 1945.

Osaka

With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries.

Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.

In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo).

Yokohama
With a population of over three million people, Yokohama is Japan's second largest city. It is located less than 30 minutes south of Tokyo by train, and is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867), during which Japan isolated herself from the rest of the world, Western nations forced the country to open its ports to foreign trade. In 1859, Yokohama's port became one of the first ports to be openend, and Yokohama quickly grew from a small fishing village into one of Japan's major cities.

Until today, the Yamate residential area retains a Western touch and houses many foreign residents, while Yokohama's Chinatown is one of the world's largest. source:japan-guide.com

all about Borobudur

Borobudur is a ninth century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.



There is no written record of who built Borobudur or of its intended purpose. The construction time has been estimated by comparison between carved reliefs on the temple's hidden foot and the inscriptions commonly used in royal charters during the eight and ninth centuries. Borobudur was likely founded around 800 AD. This corresponds to the period between 760–830 AD, the peak of the Sailendra dynasty in central Java,, when it was under the influence of the Srivijayan Empire. The construction has been estimated to have taken 75 years and been completed during the reign of Samaratungga in 825.


There is confusion between Hindu and Buddhist rulers in Java around that time. The Sailendras were known as ardent followers of Lord Buddha, though stone inscriptions found at Sojomerto suggest they may have been Hindus. It was during this time that many Hindu and Buddhist monuments were built on the plains and mountain around the Kedu Plain. The Buddhist monuments, including Borobudur, were erected around the same time as the Hindu Shiva Prambanan temple compound. In 732 AD, the Shivaite King Sanjaya commissioned a Hindu Shiva lingga sanctuary to be built on the Ukir hill, only 10 km (6.2 miles) east of Borobudur.

Construction of Buddhist temples, including Borobudur, at that time was possible because Sanjaya's immediate successor, Rakai Panangkaran, granted his permission to the Buddhist followers to build such temples. In fact, to show his respect, Panangkaran gave the village of Kalasan to the Buddhist community, as is written in the Kalasan Charter dated 778 AD. This has led some archaeologists to believe that there was never serious conflict concerning religion in Java as it was possible for a Hindu king to patronize the establishment of a Buddhist monument; or for a Buddhist king to act likewise. However, it is likely that there were two rival royal dynasties in Java at the time—the Buddhist Sailendra and the Saivite Sanjaya—in which the latter triumphed over their rival in the 856 battle on the Ratubaka plateau. This confusion also exists regarding the Lara Jonggrang temple at the Prambanan complex, which was believed that it was erected by the victor Rakai Pikatan as the Sanjaya dynasty's reply to Borobudur, but others suggest that there was a climate of peaceful coexistence where Sailendra involvement exists in Lara Jonggrang. source: wikipedia.com

History of Colosseum

The Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events. The shows, called munera, were always given by individuals rather than the state. They had a strong religious element but were also demonstration of power and family prestige, and were immensely popular with the population. Another popular type of show was the animal hunt, or venatio. This utilised a great variety of wild beasts, mainly imported from Africa, and included creatures such as rhinoceros, hippos, elephants, giraffes, lions, panthers, leopards, crocodiles and ostriches. Battles and hunts were often staged amid elaborate sets with movable trees and buildings. Such events were occasionally on a huge scale; Trajan is said to have celebrated his victories in Dacia in 107 with contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days.



During the early days of the Colosseum, ancient writers recorded that the building was used for naumachiae (more properly known as navalia proelia) or simulated sea battles. Accounts of the inaugural games held by Titus in AD 80 describe it being filled with water for a display of specially trained swimming horses and bulls. There is also an account of a re-enactment of a famous sea battle between the Corcyrean (Corfiot) Greeks and the Corinthians. This has been the subject of some debate among historians; although providing the water would not have been a problem, it is unclear how the arena could have been waterproofed, nor would there have been enough space in the arena for the warships to move around. It has been suggested that the reports either have the location wrong, or that the Colosseum originally featured a wide floodable channel down its central axis (which would later have been replaced by the hypogeum).



Sylvae or recreations of natural scenes were also held in the arena. Painters, technicians and architects would construct a simulation of a forest with real trees and bushes planted in the arena's floor. Animals would be introduced to populate the scene for the delight of the crowd. Such scenes might be used simply to display a natural environment for the urban population, or could otherwise be used as the backdrop for hunts or dramas depicting episodes from mythology. They were also occasionally used for executions in which the hero of the story — played by a condemned person — was killed in one of various gruesome but mythologically authentic ways, such as being mauled by beasts or burned to death.




The Colosseum today is now a major tourist attraction in Rome with thousands of tourists each year paying to view the interior arena, though entrance for EU citizens is partially subsidised, and under-18 and over-65 EU citizens' entrances are free. There is now a museum dedicated to Eros located in the upper floor of the outer wall of the building. Part of the arena floor has been re-floored.

The Colosseum is also the site of Roman Catholic ceremonies in the 20th and 21st centuries. For instance, Pope John Paul II would perform his new form of the Stations of the Cross called the Scriptural Way of the Cross (which calls for more meditation) at the Colloseum on Good Fridays. From:wikipedia.com

Daitsuki Hotel in Italy

Aleph, A Boscolo Luxury Hotel

The Aleph, A Boscolo Luxury Hotel, is an excentric property created by gifted architect Adam D. Tihany, who becomes a modern-day Virgil as he leads you on an amazing journey filled with heavenly places and sinful delights in his very personal interpretation of Dante's Divine Comedy: the Aleph.

In this intriguing hotel near Via Veneto in the heart of Rome, the concepts of heaven and hell have been given an unexpected twist.

You will find true paradise in the luxurious spa below, and surrender to the tempting treats served above, where hell is represented by Sin restaurant and Angelo Bar.



Hotel Grand Palatino

The Grand Hotel Palatino is situated in the historical centre of Rome, not far from the Colosseum and the Fori Imperiali and close to the main shopping areas and the Termini railway station.

The accommodations are equipped with all modern amenities and will welcome you in a cosy and intimate environment. The hotel features a number of facilities: two restaurants, a lounge bar, a congress centre with 4 conference rooms, same-day laundry service, room service from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and several Internet points in the hall.


Hotel Forum

The elegant and exclusive Forum hotel is situated in the very heart of the Eternal City, between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, directly facing the remains of the Nerva Forum and Augusto Forum and just a short walk from many of Rome's major attractions and places of interest.

The property features luxurious interiors and spectacular surroundings, a lovely panoramic rooftop garden restaurant, where guests can admire an amazing view of the Roman Forum, Palatine and Capitoline Hill, elegantly-furnished and comfortable rooms, spacious lounges, parking, and meeting facilities.

Famous former guests of the hotel include Brigitte Bardot, Rock Hudson and the Dalai Lama.


Hotel Britannia

The hotel Britannia is situated in a very central and quiet position, opposite the Opera House, close to the railway station Termini and well connected to all the main monuments and attractions of Rome.

The structure is a beautiful building, elegantly furnished in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

The hotel offers an American bar, a breakfast room and private parking area.

Furthermore the hotel can provide and arrange with dry cleaning, baby sitting, theater, train and flight tickets, guided tours and visits to museums as well as day trips.

I hope you like too. From: en.venere.com

The Romanticism Travel of Lago di Como Italy

here's just something about Lake Como. Perhaps it's simply because it laps gently against Bellaggio, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Or perhaps it's the cobblestone streets or the view of the glittering water from breathtaking terraces and cliffs.

It's located a mere half hour from Milan, but it seems more like you've crossed the world. The frantic pace of Milan is quickly forgotten here, where the people are as mellow and calm as the landscape.

But Lake Como is more than views. It's a place where you can lose yourself in the beauty and old-world charm that surround you in every espadrilled step. And, if you go at the right time, you can immerse yourself in an entirely different personality, completely appropriate for the surprisingly Mediterranean scene.

To the north of the Lake you'll find Como's sole island, Isola Comacina. The weekend after June 24, take the ferry over to the island to celebrate St. John's Day. The celebration consists of a mass within the ruins of the S. Eufemia basilica, followed by a procession, party and fireworks where all who participate are rather elaborately costumed.

To the south, you'll find Bellaggio, 'la perla del lago,' (the pearl of the lake.) This is a town filled with colorful, hidden corridors, cobblestone streets and amazing homes and villas lining the ridge of the lake. You'll find plenty of shade here, but a ride on a boat docked just minutes from all accommodations will allow you to relax and bask happily as the sun rays coddle you gently as you rock gracefully in the warm waters of Lago di Como. This is especially peaceful at sunset, when you can watch the sun fall and meld into a haze before the sharp rise of night.

One of the best ways to explore Lake Como is by bicycle. The easy lakeside terrain allows an average of 25 miles per day, allowing you to stop along the way to sample real Italian ice cream (try Trese, located on the east side of Bellagio, for a real treat). Or, if you're looking for a more challenging ride and hike, climb the imperical Mont Generoso, which is a difficult but extremely rewarding climb. The views lend themselves to an afternoon or evening of romance, but be warned: You're not going to find food where you're hiking. My suggestion is to pack a lunch or dinner with groceries from local markets in Bellaggio or Varenna and picnic above the water.

If you stop in Varenna to pick up food, look around: This is an area infamous for the public displays of affection by its lovers. The ferries come and go from Varenna's local beach, bringing and taking people away but leaving plenty of time for quiet reflection. After the sunset (where you'll find the beach filled with couples madly in love), take a stroll down the passerella (the lakeside walkway). There, you'll find the path dotted with couples whispering passionately and lovingly as they scurry along, stopping occasionally for a grope and a desperate kiss.

Whether you're looking for peace and quiet or romance and a party, Lake Como as something for you. Daily activities also include minor water sports and travels along the old roads in cable cars. If you're looking to escape it all, Lake Como can accommodate you. from: travel-italy.com, twip.org

Cookies Catching in France

This photo is from a “fancy” bakery’s window display in Wimereux, a dingy yet upscale beach town in the north of France - because cookies are starting to pop up here and there. It’s disorienting. Why? While these are cute, they aren’t necessarily enticing and who would choose cookies over French pastries…which RULE?

Not knocking cookies. It’s just that I can just make any ole cookie at home, and we are in France afterall and France has amazing pastries! Why buy a cookie when you can get a Paris Brest or Mille feuille or Tarte au n’importe quoi or Mousse au chocolat or lots of other mouth watering delicate pastries? Cookies, no matter how tasty, just seem so basic. I guess they’re la tendance / the trend - and trendy things seem better. But they aren’t. Necessarily.

Philippe Olivier Cheese

If you find yourself walking down rue Thiers in the heart of Boulogne-sur-mer (northern France) and don’t happen to see Philippe Olivier’s famous cheese shop, you will surely smell it. I’m not gonna lie: it stinks, and we were just there yesterday so imagine what summer smells like! Philippe Olivier knows cheese and his family has been in business for 101 years, 4 generations of fromagers. The list of awards they’ve won cannot fit on the longest scroll in France. it’s a true cheese lover’s paradise and a must visit when in the area.

My Favorite Cute Boutique France

These is picture of Cute boutique in French, Les Ch’ti (pronounced SHTEE) from the very north of France.

source: wired.com

Misery with Air Travel

Long lines. Frequent delays. Disrobing for security while your flight completes final boarding. Here's why your plane trip is ridden with misery.

Ticket Counter
Expensive? If anything, flying doesn't cost enough: The average domestic fare in spring 2007 was $326. That's $50 less than a decade ago, after adjusting for inflation. During the same period, fuel costs nearly tripled. To stay in business, major carriers have aped the strategies of budget operators like Southwest. Largely gone are the free meals, blankets, and pillows. The savings have been passed along as lower ticket prices — at the price of your comfort.


Security Line
September 11 changed flying forever, and would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid changed it again. The so-called liquid terror plot in the UK made it a trifecta. As a result, the list of prohibited and permitted items is mystifying. Gel shoe inserts, snow globes, or a 6-ounce bottle of spray deodorant? No way. Corkscrews, cigarette lighters, and 6.5-inch screwdrivers? No problem. Meanwhile, security delays vary drastically from airport to airport. The average wait time in Los Angeles on Monday at 8 am is just four to 11 minutes; at Atlanta's main checkpoint, it's up to 26.


Tarmac
A storm in a hub city like Chicago can quickly bog down the entire system. As a result, more than a quarter of US flights were stuck on the tarmac last year. In the peak summer season, that number reached almost 30 percent. A tip: If you book online (and who doesn't?), you may be able to select your flight based on its on-time performance. United's Web site, for example, displays statistics for each flight when you make reservations. The industry on-time average is 73.5 percent.


Baggage
As many as 80 million bags are checked every month, yet only 7.25 out of every 1,000 travelers complain of mishandled luggage — not bad. But in 2006 it was 6.45, and 10 years ago it was 4.88. If they're not reunited with their owners, many lost bags are sent to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, where their contents are sold to the public.


Gate
Airlines fill planes by overbooking and hoping some people don't show up. But more than half a million passengers were bumped from flights in the first nine months of 2007. While many opted out for free round-trips or other perks, 52,000 were "denied boarding" involuntarily. That may not seem like a lot, but it's up nearly 20 percent from a decade ago.


Control Tower
US airports are swamped. Last year, some 64 million takeoffs and landings were managed by a mere 14,874 air traffic controllers, a quarter of whom were new hires or trainees. Many of those cannot work alone. And despite the new blood, much of the current workforce is expected to retire within a decade.


Airplane Cabin
Nearly 800 million passengers flew on US airlines in 2007, up 31 percent from 2003. But while airports have never been busier, there are actually fewer planes in operation; in 2006, US carriers operated 13 percent fewer aircraft than in 2000. So how do they accommodate everyone? Welcome to the sardine can. Airlines have boosted cabin capacity by slashing legroom — the average coach seat today provides less than 32 inches, down from 35 in years past. On top of that, planes are flying fuller: Historically, 65 to 70 percent of seats were filled; today it's nearly 80 percent. Don't expect things to improve any time soon: The FAA forecasts that we'll have 1 billion passengers in the air by 2015.


Radar
The 50-year-old radar-based flight-tracking system is responsible for many of today's problems because it limits how closely planes can fly to one another. A new GPS-based system called NextGen will broadcast precise positions between aircraft for the first time, giving pilots more control over flight tracking and letting many more flights share the same airspace safely. It's scheduled to come online by 2025 and cost as much as $22 billion. In Alaska, where a similar system is already in place for small planes, the accident rate has dropped by 40 percent. Source: wired.com

Tip: Stay Plugged In While Traveling

Here's the first question: what gear should you bring? Furthermore, how do you keep it powered up and safe from harm and/or theft?

For full details on what you need to make sure all your gadgets have plenty (and the right kind) of electricity, check out our Stay Plugged In While Traveling guide. Once you have your power adapters in order, it's worth asking which devices you should bring and which ones you can get by without.
Laptops

The laptop is tempting, and in many cases a must-have, especially if your destination is a conference or meet-up. But if you're just traveling for pleasure, a good internet cafe is all you need. Going "topless" also spares you the added weight and hassle of lugging a computer around.

If you do have to bring your beloved portable, PACK A CABLE LOCK. This gives quite a piece of mind if you want to leave your hotel room for a dinner without having to worry that your hardware is gonna be missing when you get back.

The availability of internet cafes abroad varies, but generally speaking, they are not hard to come by unless you get well off the beaten tourist path. Do some searching and see what those who have already been to where you are going have found.

Tip: Mac users take note, you will almost always find Windows PCs in internet cafes.

Tip: A number of internet cafes have started banning USB sticks, which ruins your ability to Carry Your Desktop Anywhere with Portable Apps. The practice isn't widespread enough to preclude carrying a USB stick, but you may encounter a few spots where your thumb drive is frowned upon. On the plus side, more and more have Firefox installed.

Tip: Bring a USB stick that is cheap, waterproof and encrypted. Remember that no self-respecting geek would ever get stuck behind a restrictive firewall so be sure to set up your home computer to allow encrypted proxying.

If you do bring a laptop, consider using public Wi-fi networks. Wififreespot maintains a directory of free Wi-fi networks around the world. Partners in Free Wi-Fi also has some good listings.

If you venture off the beaten path at all, don't expect wireless networks to be waiting -- There's no nerd Nirvana in central Laos just yet.
Digital Cameras

Naturally, you want to document the fact that you've made it abroad and let you friends and family back home keep up with what you're doing.

A digital camera is a must. So are spare memory cards and spare batteries, particularly if your camera uses an expensive and hard-to-find lithium variety.

Tip: Pick up some CD-Rs for backing up your images. If you don't have a laptop with you, make your backups at an internet cafe. Not only do CD backups let you clear out your memory card, they also aren't affected by x-rays at the airport. X-ray machines around the world are often much stronger than those in U.S. terminals. Memory card don't get scrambled often, but it does happen, and optical media has definite advantage.

Tip: If you don't have one already, get a Flickr account. You can easily upload your photos from most internet cafes or your own laptop via Wi-fi.

Tip: Spare yourself the bother of carrying around a card reader and make sure to bring the USB cable for the camera. This lets you get rid of an additional piece of equipment and still lets you dump the pics off the camera when you make those back-ups to optical media or dumps to the laptop.
Phones

Generally speaking, most modern tri-band GSM phones will work just about anywhere in the world. In fact, you may find data service to be light years ahead of what you're used to in the States (The same goes for internet speed, particularly in Asia).

However, your home service provider will likely charge pretty outrageous rates while you're abroad. A much cheaper way to go about it is unlock your phone and buy local SIM cards in your destination country. The availability of SIM cards varies greatly by country, but disposable SIM cards are the norm outside the U.S. SIM cards are often available at kiosks in the airport.

And even calling home may be cheaper on a local SIM card than paying the roaming rates your home carrier will charge. For more info on how to use and navigate the cell phone networks of the world, have a look at this informative guide.

In the same vein of carrying the USB cable to transfer your pics off the digi-cam, chances are your phone will use the same cable to charge. Now you can just plug everything into your laptop to charge instead of carrying spare power inverters and such.

Tip: If you store your contacts and other data on your SIM card's memory, you'll lose that information when you pop in the new SIM. Read through your phone's manual before you leave and figure out how to store your contact data on the phone memory, rather than the SIM card.
iPhones

Obviously, iPhone users are out of luck here -- the iPhone is tied down to AT&T, and you can't just pop in another SIM card without some hacking. If you don't want to hack on your phone you have two choices: buy a different phone for travel, or pay AT&T's roaming rates while you're abroad. If neither of those appeal to you, you can still bring your iPhone and leave it in airplane mode. Features like the calculator for currency converter and other useful apps will still work.

The latest iPhone software updates will let you turn data roaming on and off so you can rely entirely on Wi-FI transfers. Look under Settings > General > Network > Data Roaming.

You can also disable the setting which automatically checks for new e-mail, the source of many a phone-bill-induced headache. Go to Settings > Mail >Auto-Check and select "manual."

AT&T has more information for wandering iPhone users at its site.

If AT&T's prices don't bother you, Apple has a list of travel-specific web apps to use. Also, expect to see a number of native travel apps once the iPhone 2.0 update arrives. from:howto.wired.com

Extreme Hiking or Travel Indonesia

In my country there are many mountain that can make your adrenalin up. You can easy visit to that places and feel the challenges.

4. Bromo mountain
Most wonderful mountain in east java.







3. Rinjani montain
Number 2 of highest volcanic mountains in Indonesia with 3.726m above sea level.







2. Semeru Mountain
3.676m above sea level make this vulcanic mountain is the highest mountain in Jawa island.







1. Jayawijaya mountain

Best views if you travel in Africa

Africa is known with saharas, wild animals, and nature habitats. These a few picture that you will see if you travelling to Africa:


Travel Africa 1



Travel Africa 2


Travel Africa 3


Travel Africa 4


Travel Africa 5



Travel Africa 6


Travel Africa 7


Travel Africa 8


Travel Africa 9


Travel Africa 10


Travel Africa 11


Travel Africa 13

Enjoy you travel!Picture from: flickr.com

5 best place to skate

These is 5 best places to skate in California:

1. Etnies Skatepark Lake Forest, California

Location: Lake Forest Drive and the 261 Toll Road
Address: 20028 Lake Forest Drive

A 40,000 Square Foot cement skatpark with something for everybody. Big Street course, a pool and a big flow section for the transition lovers.










2. Costa Mesa Skatepark Costa Mesa, California

Location: Arlington Drive and the 55 Freeway.
Directions: 405 to 55 South
Exit Baker Go Right
Bristol Street Go Left
Newport Blvd Go Right
Arlington Drive Go Right
Costa Mesa Skateboard Park is located inside Tewinkle Park.
This is a great skatepark. It has a small bowl that is very fun about 4 feet tall, a big bowl with a big long face wall and a good street course. The best part about this park is its layout. You don’t have boards shooting into the big bowl as your about to drop in from some kid that ate it on the street course.

3 YMCA Magdalena Ecke Skatepark Encinitas, California

Location: 200 Saxony Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
Check out our updated street course! In addition to our multiple ledges, rails, boxes, and mini ramps, we added a new four stairs designed for both beginners and experts.
Looking to go big? Drop in on our 120’ vert used at the 2003 X-Games.
We have two of the best cement pools in the country. One is a backyard style kidney pool the other is a multi-tiered clover bowl. Both pools have smooth transitions, flawless coping, and perfect tile.
For the beginners, mini land is the perfect place to learn. With gradual transitions and smaller ramps, mini land will help you learn proper techniques and maneuvers.

4. Vans Skatepark Orange California

Location: 20 City Blvd W, Orange, CA 92868
The skatepark for the most part has a good vibe and has a solid mix of both street, transition, and vertical skateboarding. Highlights of the park include a remake of the Upland Pipeline Skate Park Combi-Bowl, an X-Games style vert ramp, a 2’ mini –ramp, a 5’ to 6’ mini-ramp with deathbox, a large tranny/street style skate plaza, a mini tranny/street style plaza, and an outdoor old school type skate area with large cement banks and a pyramid.







5. Chino Skatepark Chino, California

Location: 14225 Central Ave, Chino, CA 91710
Features of the skatepark include a 3 leaf clover bowl with tile and pool coping, a 9′ square bowl, a huge endless flow section with banks and bowls ranging from 4′ to 7′, and a decent banked street section. This is one of those skateparks you will want to skate again and again. The skatepark is layed out well and the lines are endless. From:skateboardingmagazine.com

Travelling with motorcycle is really fun

If you have a lovely motorcycle in your home, try to travelling with that around tourism or fresh place in your country. It sould be fun! Do you think so? Before your trip, check your fitness and prepare your motorcycle. Make sure your boddy is fit because a long trip need a lot of energy. Prepare your motor especially on primary parts such as fuel, oil, brake, and rem.

I hope your travel became a great holiday!

7 amazing lake on the earth

These is 7 amazing lake on the earth, see it...!

1. Lake Baikal

Also known as the “blue eye of Siberia”, lake Baikal is located in Southern Siberia near R near the Russo-Mongolian border. Famous for being the deepest lake in the world with a maximum depth of 5,369 feet it holds a volume of water larger than that of all the great lakes combined.

Lake Baikal is a great eco-system where more than 1,700 species of flora and fauna live; two thirds of them only to be found here. Completely surrounded by steep mountains and dense forests, the lake has an estimated age of 25-30 million years, making it one of the most ancient lakes in geological history.

However, this enormous water formation may harbor a mystery of immense proportions: a gigantic animal, either of sturgeon-like appearance or a rogue sea serpent; Baikal’s very own Loch Ness Monster. No one can tell for sure if the legend is true or not, but the creature exists in people’s minds and haunts their thoughts.

2. Tanganyika Lake

Divided between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (45%), Tanzania (41%) and Zambia, Tanganyika is the deepest fresh water lake in Africa and the second in the world with a maximum depth of 4,823 feet. The lake was “mistakenly” discovered in 1858 by two British explorers, Richard Burton and John Speke, in their quest to find the Nile’s source.

3. Caspian Sea

Between the southern areas of the Russian Federation and northern Iran, lies the largest enclosed body of water on Earth. It’s an endorheic lake with salty water (salinity of approximately 1.2%) that was landlocked due to continental drift 5.5 million years ago. An ancient remnant of the Tethys Ocean, (just like the Black Sea or the Mediterranean Sea) it is the third deepest lake in the world going down to 3,363 feet.

Fauna in the Caspian basin is very rich: great numbers of sturgeon (that’s where you get the great caviar), the Caspian seal and some fish endemic to the Caspian Sea like the Kkturn (Caspian white fish), Caspian roach, Caspian bream and an array of rare species of salmon only to be found in that area.

The Caspian Sea is very rich in energy resources like oil and gas deposits, which have been tapped since the 10th century. These days, the oil in the Caspian basin is supposed to be worth $12 trillion.

4. Lake Vostok

Out of the 140 sub-glacial lakes on earth, Vostok is the largest and the deepest, with a maximum depth of 2,950 feet. Beneath Russia’s Vostok Station, 13,000 feet under the surface of the central Antarctic ice sheet, may be the most unspoiled lake on Earth. British and Russian scientists only discovered it in 1996.

The average water temperature is -3 °C and the reason why it is still liquid below freezing is the high pressure from the weight of the ice above it.

5. O’Higgins/San Martín Lake

Located in Patagonia, between the Aysén Region and the Santa Cruz Province, the lake is called O’Higgins in Chile and San Martin in Argentina. It is the deepest lake in the Americas with a maximum depth of 2,742 feet (measured near the O’Higgins Glacier). The lake is very irregular consisting of eight well-defined arms with milky light-blue water coming from the suspended rock flour.

The lake is named after South American heroes José de San Martín of Argentina and Bernardo O’Higgins of Chile, who fought together for the liberation of Chile.






6. Lake Malawi

Also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Malawi is the most southern lake in the East African Rift valley system, located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. At 2,316 feet deep, it’s the second deepest lake in Africa and thanks to the tropical waters it has more fish species than any other lake on Earth.

Researchers have studied sediments from core samples of Lake Malawi, which revealed that 100,000 years ago, water levels dropped to about 2,000 feet, turning the land around the lake into semi-desert and arid scrubland habitat. According to some, this may be why early man fled from Africa to colonize other parts of the world.





7. Lake Toba

Lake Toba (Indonesian: Danau Toba) is a lake, 100 km long and 30 km wide, and 505 m. (1,666 ft.) at its deepest point, in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about 900 m (3,000 feet), stretching from [show location on an interactive map] 2.88° N 98.52° E to [show location on an interactive map] 2.35° N 99.1° E. It is the largest volcanic lake in the world. source: digg.com, wikipedia.com

Amazing Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.

Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.

The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole.

Myths

Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses to the building have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal

A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built in black marble across the Yamuna river. The idea originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden, Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones that had turned black.[26] A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archeologists who resconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself.

No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings. No evidence exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.

In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak's petition to declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal. Oak claimed that origins of the Taj, together with other historic structures in the country currently ascribed to Muslim sultans pre-date Muslim occupation of India and thus, have a Hindu origin. A more poetic story relates that once a year, during the rainy season, a single drop of water falls on the cenotaph, as inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's description of the tomb as "one tear-drop...upon the cheek of time". Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles surrounding the silhouette. source: http://www.erols.com/zenithco/tajmahal.html, wikipedia.com

6 tips how to enjoying a travel with children

If you worry about some plans for travelling with family to other country or city, these some tips to make you travel enjoyable and fun:

1. Booking the tikects a weeks before the boarding.

2. Bought some favorit toys your children, its to make your children busy with that.

3. Give some soft candy to make their ear not disturb by sound of vehicle.

4. Prepare an extra cloth for your children.

5. Give they an extra time for find a friend.

6. Invite their friends to travelling with your family.

20 Tip Travel with your dog

If you wanna enjoying travel with your dog, this is 2 tips that can make your travel more enjoyable:

1. You may want to consider a permanent form of ID (such as a microchip or tattoo) that can increase the likelihood of reuniting you with your dog if it gets lost far from home.
2. Carry recent pictures of your dog with you. If you are accidentally separated, these pictures will help local authorities find your dog.
3. Take the phone number of your veterinarian and any special medication your dog needs. Some dogs can't adjust to abrupt changes in diet, so pack your dog's regular food, bowls and a cooler of water.
4. If you think you might need to board your dog at some point during your travels, be sure to bring your dog's complete vaccination records.
5. Start your trip with a healthy pet. Check in with your veterinarian at least one week before you begin your trip to be sure your pet is healthy and all vaccinations are current. Your vet can also alert you to any special problems that may exist in the area you are planning to visit.
6. Be sure to pack all the paperwork. Be sure to have a current health certificate, license and proof of all vaccinations. I also bring along my vet's phone numberÑI've found it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to call my vet with a non-emergency concern than to try to find a local vet who doesn't know my dogs.
7. Have your pet wear identification at all times.
8. Your pet's I.D. tags should include your name, address, and phone number, and if you are staying somewhere for a while, add a local phone number where you can be reached in case you are separated from your pooch. Pack a recent photo of your dog too, just in case.
9. Make sure your dog is travel-worthy. Not all dogs are natural-born travelers. It's best to get your dog accustomed to riding in a car at a very young age, but even older dogs can adapt. Take them on short trips (10-15 minutes) to the store or to a park for a game of fetch. Make it fun and part of your usual routine. Gradually lengthen the drives so your dog is in the car for a few hours. Try very hard to avoid having your dog's first car adventure be a trip to the vet! keep your dog cool and comfortable. If you are traveling by car, always keep a car window open so your pet has fresh air and when you park, try to find a nice patch of shade and don't leave your dog in the car unattended for long periods of time.
10. Plan ahead for all travel accommodations. This is especially important during peak travel times when motels, hotels, and campgrounds fill up quickly. Many accommodations do not accept pets and some that do have only a limited number of rooms available to pet owners. If you are planning to fly with your pet, you should make reservations at least 3 months prior to your journey since many airlines limit the number of pets flying on each plane (both in the cabin and in the hold).
11. Make sure your dog is well-trained before taking her/him on the road. Please be sure your dog has learned the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and quiet before you embark on a trip of any length. This is necessary for your dog's safety and for your own sanity.
    
12. Keep your dog leashed whenever possible. Many places require this anyway, but keeping your pet on a leash is the best way to prevent runaway dogs. In fact, even before you get your dog out of the car, it's best put him on a leash so he doesn't leap out of the vehicle ahead of you and dash off to investigate some tantalizing aroma.
    
13. Clean up after your dog, please! No one actually likes this task but it is necessary. The more people pick up after their dogs, the more welcome all dogs will in public places. Tip: I always travel with a 4-1 mix of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle to remove traces of any indoor accidents or lingering doggy smell.
14. Try to create a traveling environment that is as close to "home" as possible. This means trying to feed your dog the same food at the same time you feed her at home. Also if your pet sleeps in a crate at home, bring it along. If he doesn't have a crate, bring an old blanket or large towel to create a designated pet area in your sleeping quarters. "Taking your dog with you provides you with a great conversational ice-breaker," says Hunsicker. "When you travel with your dog, the journey often becomes more important than the destination."
15. Bag Balm or Vaseline. These are good for soothing dog paws after hiking in the country or on city streets. Beware of hot pavement, which can injure your dogs paws.
16. Bring a crate. Folding crates are most convenient, although some folks prefer airline crates for certain situations. Even if your dog behaves beautifully at home, he may be nervous in a new place and cause damage. Another advantage of a crate is that the dog typically will feel more secure in it. If you have not used a crate before, gradually accustom your dog to the crate at home, well before your trip. See the Tips on the PAW website about using crates. For cats, use carriers.
17. Practice crating your dog before leaving on your trip. Crate at family members house, then at a friends house, then other places, so your dog learns to be calm when youre visiting other places.A few cities and counties in the U.S. have dog breed restrictions, such as those aimed at pit bulls, Rottweilers and other breeds, so check before you visit a destination. Usually, you can do this by doing a web search with a combination of key words such as the breed name and city or county.
18. If you are traveling across the nation's borders, you typically need a health certificate, so make plans in advance of your trip.
    
19. A few places may require proof of a rabies vaccination within the past 12 months, so check with the health department at your destination city. You can usually get the info by doing a web search.
20. When traveling, bring along Rescue Remedy, which is a Bach flower essence available in most health food stores. This gentle, natural stress reducing liquid can often help both people and animals recover from injury, fright, illness, travel fatigue and irritation. Put a drop in your water bottle and in their water. To help prevent travel sickness, a common dosage is four drops in the mouth about ten hours before the trip, repeating every four hours as needed. For stressed or injured animals, rub a drop on their ear or put a drop on the towel in their crate or carrier. Flower essences can be used along with conventional medicines.
    

Hindus Ceremonial of Nyepi Day

Bali will celebrate the first day of Saka Year 1930 in the Year 2008 on March 7th. Just like every Nyepi Day in the past, every gate including airport will be closed to celebrate the only perhaps in the world “Day of Silence”.

The Balinese Hindu believes that before entering the new year we should in the state of meditation for self introspections and to achieve this should be supported by a silence environment. Not only meditation but it should also devout through fasting all day and no movement outside the house compound, and to switch off fire or light for 24 hours (00.01am - 00.01am next day). A group of local security force (in every village) or “pecalang” will make sure no one out to the road and patrol all day and only permit vehicle for emergency situation.

This silence condition also will have to be supported by everyone who lives and stay in the island including tourist.

A special celebration a day before the Nyepi Day is the Ogoh-Ogoh parade. The Ogoh-Ogoh is a big puppet in the form of moster, the symbol of evil. This ceremony is to purify the villages from the evil spirit for the starting year of Saka. There are, however some people use this ceremony with alcohol drink all night which will be either a hard day for the Police to give maximum security for the community. From: www.dee-bali.com.

Ngaben traditionally cremation In Bali

Balinese Religion is based on respect for and worship of God and ancestor. It is believed that after death, the body must be dissolved and returned to its original elements. Ngaben, the Balinese word for cremation is a purification rite which frees the spirit from its temporary earthly house and facilitates its journey to its next existence.

The Lembu where the body placed and cremated.

It is a custom and part of a tradition in Bali when someone dies, the whole villager (where one was lives) will help with the preparation for the cremation. The dead body is laid out in a special part of the house to be bathed and prepared. The night before the cremation, holy water will be collected from some main temple and used in preparation of the body and during the cremation. The entire villager (but especially for family and relatives) will participate on the day of the cremation ceremony. Before the body cremated at the cemetary, it will be placed into a wadah, after at the cemetary, and then they body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which is then placed inside a form of a lembu (cow) which believes to be the vehicle of the spirits, made of paper and light wood. It will be carried to the village cremation site (usually in the village cemetery) in a procession. The ultimate procession is to burn the Wadah, using fire from a holy source.

When all the procession has done the ashes are placed in the sea, and it is the final separation of the soul from the body.

From: www.dee-bali.com

Myth of Reog and Warok Ponorogo

The East Javanese town of Ponorogo, nestled in a remote valley between two extinct volcanoes, has long had a reputation throughout the island for the magical powers and sexual potency of its inhabitants. It has a long history of violent and radical politics, with a well-established tradition of rebellion. Two figures central to this image are the warok and gemblak. The term warok is said to originate from the Javanese words uwal and rokan meaning to be free from forced labour.Due to their martial and magical abilities, the warok were often advisers and strong men for the local ruler, and hence free from the obligations of ordinary villagers. Another popular interpretation suggests that the term originates from the Arabic word waro'a, meaning an ascetic, or one who practises mysticism. Onghokham draws attention to the influence of warok and jago (men of prowess] as leaders in village political life.The warok was rarely part of the official government, and thus played a somewhat ambiguous role, residing in the margins of social and political life. On the one hand his standing amongst villagers made his support crucial for any aspiring ruler and he often acted as an agent for higher authorities. At the same time, however, his unofficial status also made him a potentially dangerous adversary and troublemaker. The warok was a power broker, an intermediary between higher and lower powers, in the concrete and cosmological sense. His authority was intensely personal, depending on mastery of invulnerability, silat [martial arts], magic, and religious knowledge, as well as the fear and admiration with which villagers regarded him.

The warok tradition finds its roots in a mythology of rebellion. According to one popular historical account, the warok tradition began with Ki Ageng Kutu, the court poet of the last king of the Majapahit kingdom, Bra Kertabumi, in the fifteenth century. Angered at the political influence of Kertabumi's Chinese consort, and the king's endemic corruption, which he saw as a sign that the kingdom would soon come to an end, Ki Ageng Kutu deserted him, establishing a parguron [school for the study of esoteric knowledge] where he taught local young men invulnerability magic, martial arts, and ilmu kasampurnaan ['science of perfection'] in the hope that it would form the basis for a revival of the Majapahit kingdom. Students of Ki Ageng Kutu were known as warok. As a devoted adherent of Tantrayana Buddhism Ageng Kutu believed that spiritual strength could only be achieved through the negation of physical desires. Warok were said to follow a strict regime of ascetic discipline, one of the parguron's rules being that they were forbidden to have sexual intercourse with women. This prohibition was predicated on the belief that the resulting loss of sperm would deplete their supernatural powers. To aid them in their endeavour, each warok enlisted the aid of a young boy known as a gemblak who acted as a 'substitute' woman. Realising, however, that his small band of warok could never defeat the forces of Kertabumi in an armed struggle, Ki Ageng Kutu used performing arts to propagate his political message amongst the local population and thus build a movement of popular resistance. The dance drama that he created, known as reog, satirised king Bra Kertabumi and his court. A spectacular tiger mask known as a singabarong, the lord of the jungle, symbolised Kertabumi, whilst the fan-like peacock perched on its head represented his Chinese consort and the influence that she wielded over him. The effeminate jatilan [hobby-horse] dancers known as gemblak satirised the weakness of Majapahit's army, which contrasted dramatically with the very real strength of the warok who wielded the singobarong mask, weighing over 50kg, by a wooden strut held between his teeth. The hideous red faced clown Bujannganong represented Ki Ageng Kutu himself, his sexually provocative and acrobatic dance movements making a mockery of the affected refinement of royalty.

Traditional warok costumes can be bought in local markets and clothing stores along with other warok regalia such as akar bahar [a bracelet made from black coral] and walking sticks. Festivals such as Grebeg Suro see many young Ponorogo men become 'a warok for a day.' According to one renowned warok the authentic warok tradition of Ki Ageng Kutu still survives but is now 'invisible,' in the sense that warok are no longer socially identifiable. As he put it, 'those who go around now calling themselves "warok" are in reality warokan.' Perhaps what he is suggesting is that as soon as the warok is named, represented or mediated, he is no longer a 'genuine warok,' a warok sejati. The integrity of the tradition is maintained through a kind of occultation, by refusing to engage in the spectacle of 'traditional culture.' This tactic of 'invulnerability' finds precedent with the followers of Ki Ageng Kutu who, faced with the outlawing of their parguron and the recuperation of reog by the state, retreated into the realms of esotericism and secrecy. The state, through its invention of an 'authentic' warok tradition seeks to 'recover the horizons of its power by containing that which would appear otherwise.'

source: intersections.anu.edu.au

Malang Tempo Doeloe Festival

This festival events once in every year. Theme of Malang Tempoe Doeloe is from history of Malang City at 1945. Added at May, in this festival you can also see a lot of nature culture of Malang City. Youll find proletar market, historical stage, dances in East Java. It to be nice you visit our city! :D

Quebec City celebrates 400th birthday with festival

QUEBEC CITY — On July 3, 1608, French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded a fur-trading post on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.

That fur-trading post is now one of the oldest cities in North America. And this summer, Quebec City celebrates four centuries of French heritage with a series of exhibits, festivals and performances.

Events include a fireworks extravaganza that is being called the biggest ever in Canada, to be held at midnight on July 3 on the St. Lawrence; and a free outdoor concert for 100,000 people on Aug. 22 in the city's biggest park, Plains of Abraham, headlined by French-Canadian superstar Celine Dion.

Also on the 400th anniversary schedule this summer:

-Image Mill: Images from Quebec's history will be projected nightly on a giant screen in the Old Port, June 20-Aug. 24. Organizers say they hope to earn a spot in the record books for creating the largest multimedia projection ever.

-Rencontres: A musical about Champlain and the founding of Quebec will be presented outside the Quebec national assembly July 3, 4 and 5.

-Street performers: Acrobats, jugglers, stilt-walkers and others will perform.

-Film and song: A film created for the anniversary, "Infiniment Quebec," premieres July 2 at the Agora, an outdoor amphitheatre in the Old Port. Quebec's Symphony Orchestra plays music from the film before a second showing July 3. A public sing-along of 20 popular Quebecois songs, with lyrics projected on giant screens, will be held July 15.

-The Walking Road: A nighttime show under a full moon in Baie de Beauport, Aug. 15, includes acrobatics, performances with fire and water, multimedia projections, electronic and world beat music.

-Cirque du soleil: A special show created for the 400th anniversary will be held Oct. 17, 18 and 19.

Quebec City's anniversary headquarters, Espace 400e (pronounced quatre-centieme, meaning 400th), will be open at the Louise Basin in the Old Port, June 3-Sept. 28. In the main pavilion, "Passagers/Passengers," a multimedia exhibition, celebrates the 5 million immigrants who passed through or settled in Quebec City since its founding. Espace 400e will also host the Ephemeral Gardens, 11 original gardens by designers from Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Many annual events have added programs in honour of the anniversary, including the Summer Festival, which will feature Linkin Park among others, and the Musee de la civilisation de Quebec, which has added exhibits on "Gold in the Americas," "Urbanopolis" and an outdoor participatory environmental installation, "The Visionaries Garden."

The Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec is hosting "The Louvre in Quebec - The Arts and Life," with 271 pieces from the Paris museum beginning June 5. The Opera de Quebec will host "Operalia," an international singing competition directed by Placido Domingo, and a new version of the musical "Les Miserables" will run at the Theatre Capitole.

Indian culture and history will be interpreted in programs offered by the First Nations of Quebec and Canada, including an outdoor drama, "Kiugwe: The Great Meeting," presented in Wendake, July 18-Sept. 7. (Wendake is a section of Quebec City where the Huron-Wendat tribes live.)

Special events aside, if you're visiting Quebec City this summer, be sure to spend an afternoon exploring the narrow cobblestone streets of Vieux Quebec, or Old Quebec, which today is crowded with cafes, open-air boutiques, and small stone houses with brightly painted shutters. Most buildings in the historic district are from the 19th century, but older architecture includes an Ursuline convent founded in 1639, and the Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens at 34 rue Saint-Louis, located in a house built in the 1670s.

The city is still surrounded by fortification walls dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, with cannons along the ramparts. UNESCO declared the area a World Heritage site in 1985, citing it as a good example of a "fortified colonial city" and "the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts, together with the numerous bastions, gates and defensive works."

The name Quebec comes from an Algonquin Indian word that means "where the river narrows." A statue of Champlain is located on a terraced promenade that offers spectacular views of the St. Lawrence.

The streetscapes of the old city are dominated by the Chateau Frontenac, which looks like a medieval castle with stone turrets and gables. It's actually a luxury hotel, now part of the Fairmont chain. It opened its doors in 1893 near where Champlain's fort (later the governor's mansion) was erected in 1620. Archeological work is under way at the site, and this summer the public can observe the excavation underground.

If you have an extra day, nearby places worth visiting include Montmorency Falls Park and the charming island of Ile d'Orleans. Take a cable-car ride up to the top of the waterfalls, then walk down a scenic route that includes a suspension bridge above the falls. On Ile d'Orleans, drive the Chemin Royal road and enjoy the scenery. You'll find picturesque harbours, old-fashioned farmhouses and historic churches. Stop for lunch or a treat at a bakery or sweets shop, and don't miss the strawberries sold from roadside stands a little later in the season.

source: canadianpress.google.com

OLD PORT FESTIVAL !! Im coming

The Big Easy at OLD PORT FESTIVAL, of course this event is vey attracting and enjoyable.

A day of fun will include- bands, kids rides and activities, exotic petting zoo, rock climbing, Maine artists and crafts people, good food, and more!!