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Archive for the 'Cities' Category

October 20, 2008

Seoul

Seoul is South Korea’s capita. Seoul was on the list of top twenty richest cities of the world. Colorful metropolitan Seoul is teeming with business establishments. Skyscrapers dominate the city’s skyline. Seouls’s booming economy and sophisticated lifestyle has earned its rank as the fifth most expensive city worldwide as of 2008 survey. Multinational companies: LG, Hyundai, and Samsung are based on the city. Temples and shrines also dot the city. Downtown Seoul is a major shopping district were you can find fashion boutiques and art galleries that sells traditional and modern Korean artworks.


October 3, 2008

Bangkok

Bangkok is also called Krung Thep which means “City of Angels” in Thai. It is the largest city in Thailand making it the political, commercial, and cultural hub of the country. One of the key cities in Asia, Bangkok lies on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, just off the Gulf of Thailand.

Not too long ago, the city had canals (called klong) as transport ways; the Europeans used to call Bangkok “the Venice of the East”. Pointy-roofed Buddhist temples (wat) are commons sights all over the city. The Wat Phra Chetuphon, one of Bangkok’s grand temples, houses a massive statue of the reclining Buddha.


October 3, 2008

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is known as the “Lost City of the Incas”. The sacred city sits on a mountain ridge overlooking Peru’s Urubamba Valley. Built in the 1400s by the Incans, the city became deserted after its residents were afflicted with a lethal disease, probably the smallpox, that eventually banished the civilization. The city is divided into three zones. Separate areas are designated for the nobles and the commoners. Another zone is dedicated to the Incan sun god, Inti. The walls of the city were made of irregularly-shaped polished stones held together without mortar.

In 1911, Machu Picchu was rediscovered by an American professor, Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu became one of the prime archaeological sites in South America. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and was name UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.


September 13, 2008

Munich

Munich_Marienplatz.jpgMunich is a city in south central Germany that serves as the capital city of Bavaria. The city is situated on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. It comes third from Berlin and Hamburg as Germany’s largest city. Munich is an important industrial, cultural and transportation center. With the city’s wide array of elegant shops, fashionable nightclubs, excellent breweries and lively festivals, Munich is one of Germany’s popular choice of tourists to visit and travel. The place has a continental climate which is strongly modified by the proximity of the Alps. World-famous beer, railroad and electrical equipment, chemicals, optical and precision instruments and processed food are being produced and manufactured in Munich.


September 11, 2008

Honolulu

honoluluhawaii.jpgHonolulu is the capital city of Hawaii and it serves as the seat of Honolulu County; the city is located in Oahu island. It is also the largest city in the state and a major port and economic center of Hawaii. The name of the city means “sheltered harbor” or “place of shelter” in Hawaiian language.

There is a strong military presence in Honolulu, it is home to several important military memorials; thousands of U.S. servicemen who died during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War are burried in Honolulu. The city also hosts several annual festivals and celebrations which serves as attractions to locals and visiting tourists. Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing and many other outdoor activities can be done in Honolulus many accessible beach parks and ocean sites.


September 9, 2008

Suzhou, China

SuzhouGarden.jpgSuzhou is a city located on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. It was formerly called Wu-hsien and sometimes referred to as Su-chou or Suchow. The city is also the cradle of the Wu Culture and is considered to be one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze Basin. The city manufactures silks, cotton textiles, embroidery, electronic equipment and chemicals. Suzhou is even an important centre for China’s silk industry up until today.

The city is noted for it’s scenic canals, arched bridges, pagodas and beautiful historic gardens. Many of the city’s famous gardens were constructed during the Ming and Qing dynastys. The classical gardens of Suzhou are now considered to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.


September 8, 2008

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the largest and the capital city of Argentina. The city is located on the western bank of the Rio de la Plata, inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Buenos Aires is the political, economic, social and cultural hub of Argentina and it’s influence extends beyond the nation’s borders. Those who live in the city are called porteños, which means people of the port.

Buenos Aires’ original name was Puerto Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire but later on was abbreviated to a simpler name, Buenos Aires. Because of the strong influence of the European culture, Buenos Aires is sometimes referred to as the “Paris of South America”. The dance Tango was born in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and many travelers from around the world never miss out watching a tango show.


September 7, 2008

Caracas

Caracas is Valenzuela’s largest and capital city. It is the commercial and industrial center of Valenzuela; among Caracas’ many industries are auto assembly, sugar refining, meat packing, brewing, leather tanning, oil refining and paper, tobacco, glassware, textile, rubber goods and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

It was founded in 1567 as Santiago de Leon de Caracas and later became one of the most prosperous Spanish colonial communities in South America. It has five municipalities: Baruta, Sucre, El Hatillo, Chacao and Libertador. Some of Caracas’ sites of interests are the Federal Capitol, East Park, Teresa Carreno Cultural Complex and the National Pantheon.


September 5, 2008

Jakarta

JakartaIndonesia.jpgJakarta formerly named Batavia is the capital and the largest city of Republic of Indonesia. It is located on the northwest coast of Java Island at the mouth of the Liwung River. Jakarta was called by the Dutch Batavia which served as the capital of the Netherlands Indies for most of the 17th through early 20th centuries. The city is the center of Indonesia’s administrative, economic and cultural activities; it also serves as a major transportation and commercial hub within Asia. Jakarta’s climate is hot and humid all year round and heavy rainfall is felt from November to May.

When visiting Jakarta, points of interests would be it’s notable landmarks which includes the former Dutch city hall that now houses the Jakarta History Museum; Istana Merdeka, the presidential palace and Istiqlal Mosque.


September 4, 2008

Birka

Birka.jpgBirka was an important trading center on the island of Björkö in Sweden during the Viking Age, which handled goods from Scandinavia as well as Central and Eastern Europe and the Orient. It was established during the 8th century and became an important international port for visitors from different places. It’s name was said to be derived from an old Norse word “birk” which means a market place. Birka, together with Hovgården has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 and has been regarded as Sweden’s oldest town. Today. Birka and Hovgården are owned by the Swedish government and managed by the Swedish National Heritage Board.