Cuba Cadi by Balloon  
Cuba

Cadí by Balloon

  
The Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. To its west across the South China Sea is Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest separates it from the island of Borneo and to the south the Celebes Sea from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines has the 5th longest coastline in the world. The islands are categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila. With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. It is estimated that there are about 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Ecologically, the Philippines with its tropical climate is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Islambul  
Philippines Istambul  
Jordan Malaysia  
Jordan Malaysia  
Morocco Masai Mara  
Morocco Masai Mara  
Merida Venezuela New York Empire State Building seen from Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. 350 Fifth Ave corner of 34th St. The Empire State Building is the most famous and beloved New York. It was inaugurated on May 1, 1931 by President Hoover, who activated the lights of the building from Washington. For 40 years held the title of tallest building in the world, but lost after the construction of the twin towers of World Trade Center. The Empire State occupies the same land on which was located on the first Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which was sold in 1928 by its owner, John Jacob, Jr, John Jakob Raskob, founder of General Motors. Work on the building began in March 1930 and was directed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates. It was built at breakneck speed, with an average of 4.5 stories a week and completed in one year and 45 days. It measures 443.2 meters, including the antenna of 62 meters and has 102 floors. The base of the antenna is designed as a mooring for dirigibles, but the idea had to be abandoned after two failed attempts to tie that came close to causing an accident. The building was built during the economic crisis, which seriously affected her office leasing, occupying just 25 percent of them in his opening and earning the nickname "Empty State Building." The economic recovery did not occur until the 40s, at which time the offices of the Empire State began to fill. In the '50s, was sold three times sign leases long term, thus ensuring the occupation of edificio.2620: Chelsea and Garment District. Worth Monument. 5th Avenue and Broadway St. The statue in the form of an obelisk was built in 1857 to show the exact location where he is buried General William Worth, who fought in the war against Mexico in the mid-nineteenth century.  
Merida (Venezuela) New York  
Paragliding in Organya Petra  
Paragliding in Organya Petra  
Oaxaca Orinoco's delta  
Oaxaca Orinoco’s Delta  
Bahamas Cambodia  
Bahamas Cambodia  
Hawaii Peru  
Hawai Peru  
Hawaii The way of St. James  
Vietnam The Way of St. James  
Bali Borneo. Pualu Mabul Island. Several kids have fun fishing along the banks located in the fishing village. Mabul is a tiny village of fishermen living in wooden houses with pillars built directly on the reef, like a stilt, joined together through wooden walkways running through the life of the people, with shops, school ...  
Bali Borneo  
Bruges. Bruges at night with the Belfry in the background, the most tipical landscape in Bruges. Evening view over Bruges : the Dijver canal and the Belfry tower. Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, 26.08.2006: This old guy will then row you out over the river behind the Taj, and you’ll get a magical view, across the back of the water, all to yourself. If you want to disembark on the far bank, just ask him. It’s muddy, but sometimes there are interesting things on the bank, which would look great in the foreground of a photo – kids playing, buffalo, flocks of birds etc. Agra's Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world, the mausoleum of Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the world, and one of three World Heritage Sites in Agra. Completed in 1653, the T?j Mahal was built by the Mughal king Sh?h Jah?n as the final resting place for his beloved wife, Mumt?z Mahal. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India's most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630–1652) of labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens. Built by the Persian architect, Ust?d '?s?, the T?j Mahal is on the bank of the Yamuna River. It can be observed from Agra Fort from where Emperor Sh?h Jah?n gazed at it, for the last eight years of his life, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb. It is an acknowledged masterpiece of symmetry. Verses of the Koran are inscribed on it and at the top of the gate are twenty-two small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to build. The T?j Mahal was built on a marble platform that stands above a sandstone one. The most elegant dome of the T?j Mahal has a diameter of 60 feet (18 m), and rises to a height of 80 feet (24 m); directly under this dome is the tomb of Mumt?z Mahal. Shah Jah?n's tomb was erected next to hers by his son Aurangzeb. The interiors are decorated by fine inlay work, incorporating semi-precious stones.  
Bruges Crossing the River Ganges  
LOIRE VALLEY Often called the "Garden of France". the Loire Valley is an enchanted land of vineyards, flowers and rolling green hills dotted with more than a thousand chateaux. It is perhaps the charm of its gentle pace life that has, for centuries, made it a sought-after location for poets and writers. It is a step back through the history of some of France's finest works of art. Potala Palace. Lhasa. Located in Hongshan Mountain in Lhasa, capital of the Autonomous Region of Tibet, the Potala Palace is 3,700 m above sea level. Is said to mark the arrival of Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang imperial family, the Tibetan King Sontsa Gampo had built the magnificent palace of a thousand rooms and halls in the year 631. It occupies an area of 410,000 square meters and has a floor space of 130,000 square meters. This is the quintessence of ancient Tibetan architecture.  
Loire Valley Tibet  
CHINA: XIAN AND TERRA COTTA WARRIORS Some of the figures of the Warriors in Xi'an. It houses the collection of figures of Qin army cavalry composed of more than 1,300 pieces, including horses and horsemen, arranged in fourteen rows, protected by an advance party of archers kneeling. In this room also can delight us more closely with the presence of five soldiers: a pair of archers, a soldier with his horse and a couple of officers of medium and high range. To see that they can be closer than it perceived the degree of perfection and handling of the sculptures, which is attentive to every detail, taking into account also that none of the parts are made in series and each piece is unique and different from the rest. The pit three is the smallest and is located twenty meters northeast of the first. It contains only 72 figures, composed mostly of officers, commanders and senior generals belonging to the control unit. When you reach the pit number one, it fills an inner silence, contemplating the wonder shows in perspective the 6,000 figures of warriors, chariots and horses arranged in battle position and aligned towards the eastern end FRANCE: Montpellier is a young city for its history but also by population: 1 of 4 resident and student, half the population is under 35 years. Capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier is a city of tradition and creative activity that is passionate about culture, dance, music, theater, architecture ...  
Xi'an and Terra Cotta Warriors Montpellier  
COLOMBIA: The Coffee Triangle of Colombia Dressed entirely to the "Juan Valdez" is man continues to promote Colombian coffee in the Valley of Cocora. Best of Cócora A 11 km from the town of Salento, between 1800 and 2400 meters high, with an average temperature of 15 °, find a place called the Valley dream Cocora, which means Star of Water. Inherits its name from the Princess Cocora, daughter of Chief Acaime, it is said of the name which is the onomatopoeia of a bird of the region. The guardian of the mountain region is the Cerro de Morrogacho, ecological center of many habitats. Also in the surrounding area cemeteries have been discovered some Indians. The most common native fauna of the valley is the mountain tapir, puma, spectacled bear, condor, Sloth, Toucan Celeste, Tigre, Hummingbird, etc.. A visitor can visit the Valle Verde reserves and Heritage, Forest of Mist, Mountain, Acaime, etc.. corresponding to the so-called high Andean forest that is home to the National Tree of Colombia: the wax palm, declared by Act 61 of 1985. It is the world's tallest palm and grows at higher altitudes. Other species of flora Cocora Valley are the Pine Romerón, Seven Heads, Encenillo, Arnica, La Puya, the Frailejón, etc. In 2001 the restaurant was awarded Cócora Forests and recognized as Quindio establishing more trout dishes sold in the country and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Quindio. The property is sold in different types of dishes, but the specialty is trout in different preparations, we also offer grilled dishes. BELFAST: Titanic Boat tours. The World's Only Titanic Boat Tour It's amazing how many visitors from abroad don't realise that the Titanic was actually built in Belfast! Because she bore the name of the port of Liverpool on her stern, people assume that this was where she was built. In fact, Liverpool was simply the home port of the White Star Line fleet of which Titanic was the ultimate flagship. Titanic was conceived, designed, built and launched in Belfast and... as they proudly say locally "She was alright when she left here®!!!" Scheduled, guided Titanic tours take in the historic Harland & Wolff shipyards and the famous Titanic sites around Belfast Harbour. Although many of the riverside Harland & Wolff sheds were demolished in early 2002 and those sites/sights are now gone, their demolition has actually provided a much better view of the Titanic slipways which were previously hidden by these same sheds.  The harbour area itself has always been a romantic and mysterious place, full of interesting sights, sounds and history, an exciting place which reeks of adventure and far off places! As a busy working port, most of it has been inaccessible to the public for many years unless you were employed in the shipping or shipbuilding industries, or were a passenger aboard an incoming or outgoing ferry or liner. This tour is a unique opportunity to experience all those exciting travel urges that seem to grip your senses in such a place!  
The Coffee Triangle of Colombia Belfast  
Gili Meno. A paradise in Indonesia. If there is something different about the island of Gili Meno the rest of Asia is peace and tranquility that still surrounds it. Here there are no motor vehicles, no noise, no crowds, just amazing beaches with palm trees, charming hotels and some diving, which is a lot more than what you can dream. Belgium: Brussels. ATOMIUM In March 2004 held a rehabilitation process that lasted until February 2006  
Gili Meno Brussels  
Northern Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a long history that reaches the beginning of mankind and has more historical and architectural sites than any other country in SSA. The remains of some of the great civilizations of the past can be found in cities like Gondar, Axum and Harar. The incredible medieval towns of Lalibela are carved directly on the rocks and are works of art of ancient Ethiopian architecture, where ceremonies are still the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Saunas in Helsinki: Helsinki. Unable to travel to Finland and not visit one of his classic saunas. In Helsinki, is probably the most traditional Kotiharju, located in the city center, the only one that still warms the water timber. Tourists from around the world travel to this center exclusively for relaxation and rejuvenation. Is 72 years old and since then provides a high level of service. In total there are three saunas, separate for men and women. Right there you can rent all the necessary services, from towels and even non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in case you want to spend a whole day. The usage time is free, only general admission is paid.  
Ethiopia Saunas in Helsinki  
Reunion Island. Inside the tremendous erosion island, allied with gigantic earthworks, resulted in three major circuses, Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie, which are three colossal works of nature and provide to Reunion, off the coast battered by the sea ??and wind, a vigorous and chaotic relief charming and ready to be visited. Meeting is green and blue. This dual identity, created by the greenery of the highlands and the blue of the sea, is what gives it its true essence: a miniature continent. It offers visitors 200 rooms provided by as many microclimates. Ultimately, Reunion is an island that buries the clichés that have tropical islands. Of course if what you are looking for sandy beaches and sun loungers, this island is not the most appropriate. Meeting is a land of adventure. A world for trekking Through the more than 1,000 miles of trails that exist in meeting your soul can discover the best way, and most natural: walking. We discover, for example Bélouve Primeval Forest and the magic of the Novelle, in Circus of Mafate. The gullies: her secret Many people traveling to Reunion barely know their true character. Behind coastline and white sandy beaches, crowded with bathers and palm trees lurks a wild untamed soul. The palms mark the border with an inner world, water and fire, agile, sharp and hospitable, between a fierce volcanic lava trail that contrasts with the calm warm friendly landscape created by the dense forests of ferns and tamarind. This is the home of the ravines indomesticables know how many. The course of the streams has caused scarring of the volcanic bed cut off and run wild in huge leaps into the sea. Here ends abruptly one hand, and a sense of communicability Meeting. But in the interior of the island, in the headwaters of the river awaits us an enigma of loneliness, under the great peaks, entering among its roots. This lustful nature hides a treasure within it in which to experiment with intensity canyoning and canyoning. From the heights on board the helicopter from which to photograph the entire island, Trou de Fer appears to us as the most spectacular corner of the island. We see a giant waterfalls crashing into deep wells, surrounded by greenery everywhere. Since the ground is simply an oasis of rock, water and vegetation. In the same way that symbolizes the climb K2 more important to a climber can aspire elite, the Trou de Fer is a gorge mythical, the highest aspiration of the descending canyons. Czech Republic. Prague. Several seagulls fly around the Charles Bridge. The Charles Bridge (Czech Karl? V most) is the oldest bridge in Prague, Vltava river and through the Old Town to the Lesser Town. It is the second oldest existing bridge in the Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 with the approval of King Charles IV, and finished in the early fifteenth century. Since at the time was the only way to cross the river, the Charles Bridge became the most important communication channel between Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841. The bridge was also an important link for trade between Eastern and Western Europe. Originally this communication channel was called Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or the Prague Bridge (Pražský most), but it takes its current name since 1870. The bridge has a length of 516 meters and its width is about 10 meters, while resting on 16 arches. It is protected by three bridge towers between its two heads, two in Malá Strana and the remaining at the end located in the Old City. The tower located at the head of the Old Town is considered by many as one of the most impressive constructions of Gothic architecture in the world. The bridge is decorated by 30 statues on both sides of it, most of which are in Baroque style and were built around 1700. At night the Charles Bridge is a silent witness to the medieval times. But during the day, his face changes completely and becomes a very busy place. Artists and traders try to make money at the expense of the large flow of tourists daily visit the place.  
Reunion Island Prague  
BOTSWANA: SAFARI WITH ORIENT EXPRESS. Postal sunset with two elephants crossing a flooded area near the camp Khwai River Lodge by Orient Express in Botswana, within the Moremi Game Reserve Wild. Botswana, the elephant hunter paradise. Africa is the most coveted destination for hunters from all over the planet, and Botswana to the south of the continent, is one of the sweet tooth for lovers of the game. "Hunting in the Okavango and landscapes of the area of ??the marshes make this destination a favorite for safari hunters' web ensure Hunters Circle. The time allowed for the practice of hunting runs from April to September and April is just recommended to collect large elephants. Prices can range from 6,000 to 30,000 euros. Elephant Hunting in Botswana is effected 'footprint'. In broad terms, is up early and go through the points for which the elephant may have been looking for fresh tracks of adult males. According to experts in the field, prices for hunting in Botswana can range from 6,000 to 30,000 euros, depending on the features you'll enjoy intended in the African country and the goals you have. Of course, it is more expensive to hunt an elephant than a zebra. Elephant hunting is regulated in Botswana, and to practice just the amount of money disbursed applicable, a copy of your passport, a copy of the guide rifles and fill out a form. POLYNESIA. COOK ISLAND. Aitutaki. Cook Island. Polynesia. South Pacific Ocean. An actor dressed Polynesian blowing a conch shell in Aitutaki Punarei Culture Tours. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn about the ancient culture, myths, legends and traditional ways of our ancestors. The tour is a great way to discover the history, traditional skills, Art & beliefs of the island of Aitutaki. The tour concludes with a traditional feast (umu kai) for lunch on site. The second voyagers of note were Te Erui and his brother Matareka. Te Erui set out from Havaiki in the canoe Viripo, An unexpected hurricane, hur1'hia, dismasted his vessel, but he managed to get back to Havaiki. On being told by a priest that the cause of the disaster was due to the naming of his canoe, he immediately built another canoe. The vessel, on the advice of the priest, was named Te Rangi-pae-uta, and the two masts were named after the gods Rongo and Tangaroa. Thus, with divinity sitting in the belly of his sail, he braved the sea once more in his quest of land. He landed on the West side of Aitutaki, at a point on the reef known as Te Rua-karae. Here he was opposed by one of Ru's descendants, who said, "Tera te moana uriuri o Hiro. Haere ki i'eira kimi henua ai " – "There lies the purple sea of Hiro. Go there to.seek land." The request went unheeded. After slaying various opponents, Te Erui cut a channel through the reef with his adze, Haumapu, and finally settled down at Reureu. The channel which is credited to Te Erui's engineering ability is Te Rua-i-kakau, the boat passage which has been such an inestimable boon to Aitutaki. The various historical spots mentioned are shown on the map of Aitutaki. Ruatapu, the third voyager of note, came from Taputapuatea to Rarotonga, and then successively to Raro-ki-tonga, Mauke, and Atiu. During these voyages his canoe had the name of Te Kareroa-i-tai. At Atiu, the canoe name was changed to Tuehu-moana, and in it he sailed to Manuae and then Aitutaki. At Aitutaki he sailed through a passage near the north end, called Kopua-honu, and re- named, after him, Kopu-o-Ruatapu. He is credited with having brought the coconut and the flowering plant known as tiare maori. After quarrelling with his son Kirikava over fishing nets, he came on to Ruatea, near Black Rock. From there he attracted the attention of the ariki Tarula by means of certain toys, and they became friends. He excited the curiosity of Taruia with tales of the islands he had visited, and finally persuaded the ariki to accompany' him on a voyage to see the beautiful women of the islands (nga wahine purotu o nga motu.) Ruatapu purposely sailed before Taruia was quite ready, and to the latter's appeal to wait he called back, " I will go on to Rarotonga and be on the beach to welcome you in." On the other side of the islet of Maina, at a spot called Rau-kuru-aka, Ruatapu purposely capsized his canoe. Taruia shortly afterwards appeared, and to Ruatapu's appeal to wait until he had righted his canoe, he replied with no small satisfaction, "No; I will go to Rarotonga and be on the beach to welcome you in."Ruatapu waited until Taruia was out of sight. He then righted his canoe and, returning to Aitutaki, he had himself made Ariki of the island. Ruatapu is a well-known Maori ancestor of similar parentage,with whom a canoe-sinking incident is also associated in tradition.  
Botswana Cook Islands  
ZAMBIA: VICTORIA FALLS AND LIVINGSTONE. Victoria Falls present a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800’s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. In more modern terms Victoria Falls is known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometers, into a gorge over one hundred meters below. The wide, basalt cliff over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a placid river into a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges. Facing the Falls is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height, and capped by mist-soaked rain forest. A path along the edge of the forest provides the visitor prepared to brave the tremendous spray, with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls. One special vantage point is across the Knife-edge Bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot, where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge. Other vantage points include the Falls Bridge and the Lookout Tree, both of which command panoramic views across the Main Falls. Germany, Berlin. Bycicles. A relaxing afternoon on the lawn of the East side gallery along the Spree. The East Side Gallery is an international memorial for freedom. It is a 1.3 km long section of the Berlin Wall located near the centre of Berlin on Mühlenstraße in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. The actual border at this point was the river Spree. The gallery is located on the so-called "hinterland mauer", which closed the border to East Berlin. The Gallery consists of 105 paintings by artists from all over the world, painted in 1990 on the east side of the Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery was founded following the successful merger of the two German artists' associations VBK and BBK. The founding members were the speche of the Federal Association of Artists BBK Bodo Sperling, Barbara Greul Aschanta, Jörg Kubitzki and David Monti. It is possibly the largest and longest-lasting open air gallery in the world. Paintings from Jürgen Grosse alias INDIANO, Dimitri Vrubel, Siegfrid Santoni, Bodo Sperling, Kasra Alavi, Kani Alavi, Jim Avignon, Thierry Noir, Ingeborg Blumenthal, Ignasi Blanch i Gisbert, Kim Prisu, Hervé Morlay VR and others have followed. The paintings at the East Side Gallery document a time of change and express the euphoria and great hopes for a better, more free future for all people of the world. In July 2006, to facilitate access to the River Spree from O2 World, a 40 meter section was moved somewhat west, parallel to the original position A 23 meter section is scheduled to be removed on March 1, 2013, to make way for luxury apartments. None of the artists whose work will be destroyed were informed of these plans. The demolition work actually started on March 1, 2013. According to German news FOCUS, authorities were not aware of the start of the demolition. Due to the involvement of protesters, demolition was postponed until at least March 18, 2013.  
Zambia Berlín  
PANAMA: Skyline, Panama City. Cityscape and skyline of Panama City, seen from Cerro Ancon Mountain, Panama, Central America. Panama, Central America. Cinta Costera Pacific Ocean Coastal Beltway Bahia de Panama linear park seawall skyline skyscraper modern. Coastal Beltway (Cinta Costera), Panama City, Panama. Panama City is one city in Central America where congestion has reached crisis point. The city is going through an unprecedented period of stability and investment and there are ample public funds for infrastructure improvement projects. One of the newest road improvement projects is the Coastal Beltway or Cinta Costera (translation means literally 'coastal tape') project. This project intends to decongest the road network of Panama City by providing a bypass route past the city. The Avenida Balboa currently accepts the brunt of this traffic with 72,000 vehicles per day passing along it. The new Coastal Beltway relieves this congestion and also as part of the project provides around 25ha of park area for the use of residents of this area of the city. This list of tallest buildings in Panama City ranks skyscrapers in Panama City by height. The tallest completed building in Panama City is not the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower, which stands 264 m (866 ft) tall, as evidenced by Panama's Aeronautica Civil third-party measurement records. For several years, Panama City's skyline remained largely unchanged, with only four buildings exceeding 150 m (492 feet). Beginning in the early 2000s, the city experienced a large construction boom, with new buildings rising up all over the city. The boom continues today, with over 150 highrises under construction and several supertall buildings planned for construction. In addition to growing out, Panama City grew up, with two new tallest buildings since 2005. All supertall projects were cancelled (Ice Tower, Palacio de la Bahía, and Torre Generali) or are on hold (Faros de Panamá, Torre Central). CHINA: Shanghai, morning tai chi exercise on The Bund. Shanghi Bund : Early morning tai chi exercises with swords on the Bund in Shanghai China. The best taichi lessons I've had were from an old guy who practiced outside at 7am every morning. I learned 4 excellent techniques that I still use in my MMA training on a regular basis- a method of catching a kick and throwing your opponent, redirecting a straight punch and countering in the same motion, countering double underhooks with a throw, and escaping a shoulder lock while setting up your own. It's a really fascinating martial art because every one of those dance like movements represents a simple practical fighting technique or strategy, but it's hard to see how the movements translate into combat applications without a master of the art demonstrating it. But either way even without a kungfu master, the forms themselves are great low impact exercise that you can find everywhere in the city for free every morning. Most of the old folks in the parks won't mind if you tag along, just show up early and make sure to ask first if it's okay to join them. The Bund (which means the "Embankment") refers to Shanghai's famous waterfront running along the west shore of the Huangpu River, forming the eastern boundary of old downtown Shanghai. Once a muddy towpath for boats along the river, the Bund was where the foreign powers that entered Shanghai after the Opium War of 1842 erected their distinct Western-style banks and trading houses. From here, Shanghai grew into Asia's leading city in the 1920s and 1930s, a cosmopolitan and thriving commercial and financial center. Many of the awesome colonial structures you see today date from that prosperous time and have become an indelible part of Shanghai's cityscape. After 1949, the street came to symbolize Western dominance over China and was shuttered.  
Panama Shanghai  
BELGIUM: The carnival of Binche. Belgium, carnaval of Binche. UNESCO World Heritage Parade Festival. Belgium, Walloon Municipality, province of Hainaut, village of Binche. The carnival of Binche is an event that takes place each year in the Belgian town of Binche during the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. The carnival is the best known of several that take place in Belgium at the same time and has been proclaimed as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity listed by UNESCO. Its history dates back to approximately the 14th century. Events related to the carnival begin up to seven weeks prior to the primary celebrations. Street performances and public displays traditionally occur on the Sundays approaching Ash Wednesday, consisting of prescribed musical acts, dancing, and marching. Large numbers of Binche's inhabitants spend the Sunday directly prior to Ash Wednesday in costume. The centrepiece of the carnival's proceedings are clown-like performers known as Gilles. Appearing, for the most part, on Shrove Tuesday, the Gilles are characterised by their vibrant dress, wax masks and wooden footwear. They number up to 1,000 at any given time, range in age from 3 to 60 years old, and are customarily male. The honour of being a Gille at the carnival is something that is aspired to by local men BANGKOK … a name that conjures up images of the exotic East, of shimmering golden temples, of bustling street markets, of tuk-tuks zooming through the streets, of sights, smells and sounds. A name that was immortalised in the 1980s by the song One Night in Bangkok. But Bangkok deserves much more than one night, and here are ten reasons why: Known as Krung Thep (City of Angels) to locals, the full name of Bangkok is one of the world's longest place names: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. Wondering what it means? The full name can be translated as "the city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated God, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."  
The Carnaval of Binche Bangkok  
FORMENTERA: The last Mediterranean paradise Formentera is known as the last Mediterranean paradise because it has been able to combine tourism with environmental protection. The struggle of various generations of Formenterans has made possible the conservation of an island whose beaches, transparent waters and climate make it a little jewel in Mare Nostrum. ALASKA: Nicknamed the "Great Land" (and by no stretch an understatement), Alaska has 3 million lakes, an estimated 100,000 glaciers (covering 5% of the state), more active glaciers than in the rest of the inhabited world, one of the world's largest tides, more than 33,904 miles of coastline, 3.2 million acres of State Park lands, and is 2.3 times the size of Texas (aka one- fifth the size of the Lower 48 sates). Not to mention it's home to 80% of all the active volcanoes in the US and its recent history includes the third most powerful earthquake in the world's recorded history—the 1964 "Good Friday Earthquake" with a magnitude of 9.2.  
Formentera Alaska