Awsome Places In Worlds To Visit

Aitutaki cook islands south pacific

2012-06-11T09:42:00.001-07:00

Aitutaki cook islands south pacific

Pacific Resort Aitutaki welcomes you to one of the world’s most secluded boutique island resorts – offering luxurious Aitutaki hotel accommodation.

Surrounded by the crystal clear turquoise waters of Aitutaki lagoon, the idyllic atoll of Aitutaki is a magical destination. Explore the sights. Enjoy the sophistication of delicious cuisine, attentive high quality service and modern resort facilities.

Discover true relaxation. With just 27 luxurious beachfront suites, villas, premium bungalows and ultimate bungalows all situated within steps of the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Resort Aitutaki is secluded and peaceful. Pacific Resort Aitutaki is an award winning resort, winning “World’s Leading Boutique Island Resort” in the World Travel Awards of 2008, 2009 and 2010. We are the Cook Islands’ only member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection.

Pacific Resort Aitutaki – a five star luxury experience in South Pacific style

Overview of Pacific Resort Aitutaki - Aitutaki

Location.
Situated on a Aitutaki beach, this spa resort is close to Aitutaki Golf Club.

Features.
Guests at this property have access to a private beach. Pacific Resort Aitutaki has a full-service spa, a health club, an outdoor pool, and a spa tub. This Aitutaki property has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a poolside bar. Guests are served a complimentary breakfast each morning. Guests have complimentary access to an airport shuttle (available on request). Guest parking is complimentary. The staff can arrange concierge services, wedding services, event catering, and business services. Additional amenities include spa services, a coffee shop/café, and gift shops/newsstands.

Guestrooms.
Pacific Resort Aitutaki has 27 guestrooms. Rooms feature balconies with sea views. Televisions are equipped with satellite channels, free movie channels, and DVD players. Guestrooms provide wireless Internet access (surcharge), direct-dial phones, CD players, and in-room safes. Beds have pillowtop mattresses. Guestrooms feature refrigerators and coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms offer showers with handheld showerheads, bathrobes, designer toiletries, and bidets. Additional amenities include climate control, minibars, and air conditioning. Guestrooms are accessible via exterior corridors. In addition, amenities available on request include a turndown service and wake-up calls. Housekeeping is offered. Cribs (infant beds) and rollaway beds are available. All guestrooms at Pacific Resort Aitutaki are non-smokin

Mount Pilatus Switzerland

2012-06-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Mount Pilatus Switzerland

Description

For a full day of summer splendor, make for the mountains on this guided roundtrip from Lucerne to central Switzerland's Mount Pilatus. Your full day guided tour includes a gondola and aerial cable car ride, descending the world's steepest cog-wheel railway and a cruise on Lake Lucerne.

Venture on a half day round trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus on this guided alpine summer tour. Escorted by your professional guide, take the aerial cable-car from Kriens 7000 feet (2132 meters) to the top of Mt.Pilatus. Enjoy unforgettable views over surrounding mountains and lakes with approximately an hour and a half at your leisure. Venture down the Dragon's Path and make the short hike to the summit before descending by cogwheel train to Alpnachstad. At a gradient of 48% it's the world's steepest!

Your summer alpine adventures conclude with a picturesque boat ride across lovely Lake Lucerne.

Please note, if you are traveling in late October, the aerial cable car could be canceled due to poor or unsafe weather conditions. If this is the case, you will travel up and down Mt. Pilatus by cogwheel train.

Additional information

Inclusions

Cable-car Ride
Cogwheel Train Ride - the steepest train in Europe! (approximately May 7 to October 31)
Boat Ride on Lake Lucerne (approximately May 7 until mid-October)
A complementary lunch in the event of the Boat ride is not operating

Exclusions

Gratuities (optional)
Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop off

Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE

2012-06-07T08:33:00.001-07:00

Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE

Burj Khalifa, earlier known as Burj Dubai, located in Downtown Dubai, UAE, and standing tall at 829.84m is the tallest man-made structure in the world. Burj Khalifa is as a living wonder, a stunning piece of art, and incomparable feat of engineering.
Burj Khalifa forms a part of the new flagship development called Downtown Dubai, located at the First Interchange along Sheikh Zayed Road, in proximity to the main business district in Dubai. Developed by the leading developer Emaar Properties, the tower's architecture and engineering were handled by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago. Samsung C&T of South Korea, who also built Taipei 101 and Petronas Twin Towers, was the primary contractor of this project. The Belgian group Besix and UAE's Arabtec, were the major sub-contractors.
Construction of the project began on 21st September 2004. The project, worth US$1.5bn, was re-named Burj Khalifa, to honour the crucial support extended by the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Construction

Excavation work on Burj Khalifa began in January 2004, when the building completed several important milestones on its way to being the tallest man-made structure in the world. Within just 1325 days since the start of excavation work in January 2004, Burj Khalifa became the tallest free-standing structure in the world.

More than 45,000 m3 of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes have been used for constructing the concrete and steel foundation, featuring 192 piles buried more than 50m deep. The construction of Burj Khalifa has taken more than 22million man-hours, 380 skilled engineers and on-site technicians, and has used more than 330,000 m3 of concrete, 39,000 tonnes of steel rebar.

Burj Khalifa construction was done using special mixes of concrete, so as to enable it to withstand extreme pressures of the massive building weight. The consistency of the concrete used in the project was essential. In order to withstand the Persian Gulf temperatures that could even touch 50Â°C, the concrete was not poured during the day. Instead, it was done during the night when the air is cooler and humidity is higher, as the cooler concrete mixture prevents quick and easy cracking.

World Records

Burj Khalifa has accomplished a series of world records and construction milestones. In July 2007, on completing Level 141, it was named the tallest building in the world, while in September 2007, on completing 150 storeys, it was named world's tallest free-standing structure.

Thereafter, in April 2008, on completing Level 160, it was named world's tallest man-made structure, and in January 2009, Burj Khalifa tops out with completion of spire. The external cladding was done in September 2009 and an official launch ceremony was held in January 2010.

Burj Khalifa also has several other world records to its credit, such as that for highest installation of an aluminium and glass faÃ§ade, highest number of stories in the world, highest occupied floor in the world, highest outdoor observation deck in the world, elevator with longest travel distance in the world, and world's tallest service elevator.

Burj Khalifa also houses world's highest outdoor observation deck, world's highest Mosque, world's highest nightclub, world's highest restaurant, and world's second highest swimming pool.

Awards

Burj Khalifa has numerous awards to its credit, the latest being the 'Best Tall Building Middle East & Africa' award by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in June 2010. In September 2010, Burj Khalifa was awarded the 'Best project of the year' at the Middle East Architect Awards 2010.

Burj Khalifa was honoured as the first recipient of "Global Icon" Award by CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) on 25th October 2010. The award recognizes special super-tall skyscrapers that make profound impact on the genre of tall buildings in the global market.

The Residences, Burj Khalifa

The Residences at Burj Khalifa, one of the most-prestigious addresses, with more than 900 residences including studios, single, double, triple and four bedroom suites, are designed for the connoisseur.

The homes located from levels 19 to 108 of Burk Khalifa with a rich array of amenities, offer residents an unmatched lifestyle experience. State-of-the-art fitness facilities, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzis, recreation room for gatherings and events, are all available on exclusive Sky Lobbies on levels 43, 76 and 123. Among the other amenities are, a resident's library, a cigar club, Burj Khalifa Gourmet Market, a gourmet convenience store, meeting place for residents, and valet parking for guests and visitors.

The Residences at Burj Khalifa is nothing, but, urban life at its best. It offers all amenities of a metropolitan centre, but, with comforts and security of an exclusive community.

The Club

The club is a major health and recreation by Burj Khalifa, open to residents of Burj Khalifa and the general public. The four-storey includes amenities including two luxurious indoor and outdoor pools, two gymnasiums, dedicated ladies-only gymnasium, and a contemporary spa facility, all spread across the 22,000 sq ft facility.

The Corporate Suites Lounge

The Corporate Suites, located on the highest levels of the tower, is the ultimate business destination for successful personalities at the corporate levels. The Corporate Suites comprise 37 storeys, with top three storeys being merged into a single office.

The entrance lobby is at the Concourse of the tower, featuring Burj Khalifa reception team. Apart from valet parking for visitors and guests, there are express lifts that take visitors directly to the lounge lobby at Level 123, which is the meet-and-greet point.

The Offices

A complement to The Corporate Suites is the 12-storey annexure, The Offices, which will be directly accessible to Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. The parking spaces for The Offices will be available at the mall and the tower, for convenience of tenants.

Each suite is equipped with most advanced and digital telecommunications services. There are dedicated optical fiber links capable of offering up to 10 gigabits per second of broadband and multimedia delivery. Therefore, visitors can expect uninterrupted cellular service, even when riding elevators.

The four floors above the offices will be leased to broadcast and telecom companies, it is said.

Security

Burj Khalifa is protected by a proprietary security system, and a team of well-trained security professionals to ensure safety, privacy, and peace of mind. There are in-house security supervisors and guards patrol the building interior and exterior round-the-clock. Due to security technology limits, sometimes, access is restricted to elevators, monitoring the critical building entry and exit points.

e- Home and e-Services at Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa features online home automation and account management access with e-Home and e-Services. With the help of these services, residents get to access automated environment for home-lighting, temperature, security, and access and more. They help in offering access to variety of services, viewing statement of accounts and for paying service fee, all within the convenience of secure, online access.

Downtown Dubai

The world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, is located amidst Emaar's flagship community in Dubai, namely, the Downtown Dubai.

Downtown Dubai, located in Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Toyota Building Flyover, offers an unparalleled lifestyle appeal to both visitors and residents, with various shopping options, ranging from the world's largest shopping and entertainment destination, namely The Dubai Mall, to the serene surrounding of Souk Al Bahar. On the whole, Downtown Dubai is a lifestyle destination located in a distinct mix of traditional and modern architecture.

Visitors can use the Dubai Metro or taxi to reach Downtown Dubai. The November-March months are best for visit to the Downtown, when the weather is rather pleasant. Else, during the warm summer months, the Emaar Malls Group has introduced air-conditioned Trollery Buses to serve visitors.

Other than the iconic Burj Khalifa, some of the major attractions in Downtown Dubai are The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, Gold Souk at Dubai Mall, Emaar Boulevard.

Burj El-Arab, Dubai

2012-06-06T11:14:00.001-07:00

Burj El-Arab, Dubai

Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب‎,Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. Sometimes incorrectly referred to as "the world's only seven-Star hotel", its star rating has been often debated

Design and construction

Burj Al Arab was designed by architect Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. The design and construction were managed by Canadian engineer Rick Gregory also of WS Atkins. Construction of the Island began in 1994. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium. The architect Tom Wright said "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, London with Big Ben, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country."

The architect and engineering consultant for the project was Atkins. Fletcher Construction from New Zealand was the lead joint venture partner in the initial stages of pre-construction and construction. The hotel was built by South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts and Al Habtoor Engineering.

The building opened in December 1999.

Features

Lobby

Several features of the hotel required complex engineering feats to achieve. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 280 m (920 ft) offshore. To secure a foundation, the builders drove 230 forty-meter (130 ft) long concrete piles into the sand.
Engineers created a ground/surface layer of large rocks, which is circled with a concrete honeycomb pattern, which serves to protect the foundation from erosion. It took three years to reclaim the land from the sea, while it took fewer than three years to construct the building itself. The building contains over 70,000 m³ (92,000 cu yd) of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel.
Inside the building, the atrium is 180 m (590 ft) tall.
Burj Al Arab is the world's fourth tallest hotel (not including buildings with mixed use). The structure of the Rose Rayhaan, also in Dubai, is 11 m (36 ft) taller than Burj Al Arab.

Rooms and suites

The hotel is managed by the Jumeirah Group. Despite its size, Burj Al Arab holds only 28 double-story floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 m² (1,820 sq ft), the largest covers 780 m² (8,400 sq ft). Prices of rooms vary from approximately $1,000 to $27,000 per night.
Suites feature design details that juxtapose east and west. White columns show great influence.^[
Bathrooms are accented by mosaic tile patterns.
The Royal Suite, billed at US$18,716 per night, is listed at number 12 on World's 15 most expensive hotel suites complied by CNN Go in 2012.

Restaurants

Al Muntaha

Al Mahara

Burj al arab and 360 degree club

Al Muntaha (Arabic for "Highest" or "Ultimate"), is located 200 m (660 ft) above the Persian Gulf, offering a view of Dubai. It is supported by a full cantilever that extends 27 m (89 ft) from either side of the mast, and is accessed to a panoramic elevator.
Al Mahara ("Oyster"), which is accessed via a simulated submarine voyage, features a large seawater aquarium, holding roughly 9,900,000 L (350,000 cu ft) of water. The tank, made of acrylic glass in order to withstand the water pressure, is about 18 cm (7.1 in) thick.

Rating

The hotel is officially rated Five-Star Deluxe. However, it is frequently described as "the world's only seven-Star hotel", although the hotel management claims to never have done that themselves. In the words of a Jumeirah Group spokesperson: "There's not a lot we can do to stop it. We're not encouraging the use of the term. We've never used it in our advertising." According to the group, the "Seven-Star" notion was brought to being by a British journalist who visited the hotel on a pre-opening press trip. The journalist "described Burj al Arab in her article as above and beyond anything she had ever seen and called it a seven-star hotel."

Reviews by architecture critics

Burj Al Arab has attracted criticism as well "a contradiction of sorts, considering how well-designed and impressive the construction ultimately proves to be." The contradiction here seems to be related to the hotel’s decor. "This extraordinary investment in state-of-the-art construction technology stretches the limits of the ambitious urban imagination in an exercise that is largely due to the power of excessive wealth." Another critic includes negative critiques for the city of Dubai as well: "both the hotel and the city, after all, are monuments to the triumph of money over practicality. Both elevate style over substance." Yet another: "Emulating the quality of palatial interiors, in an expression of wealth for the mainstream, a theater of opulence is created in Burj Al Arab … The result is a baroque effect".

Bolivia Road Of Death

2012-06-05T08:00:00.003-07:00

Bolivia Road Of Death

The North Yungas Road, also known as El Camino de la Muerte (Spanish for "Road of Death"), is a 43 mile road that leads from La Paz to Coroico, 35 miles (56 km) northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.

A second Yungas Road, known as Chulumani Road, connects La Paz to Chulumani, 40 miles (64 km) east of La Paz. It is considered to be nearly as dangerous as the north road.

The Yungas Road is legendary for its extreme danger.

In 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road". One estimate is that 200-300 travelers are killed yearly along the road, or one vehicle every two weeks. The road moreover includes Christian crosses marking many of the spots where such vehicles have fallen.

Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends up to around 5km, before descending to 1079 ft (330 m), transitioning quickly from cool altiplano terrain to rain forest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs.

The road was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rainforest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. However, an alternative, much safer, road connecting La Paz to Coroico is nearing completion.

Because of the extreme dropoffs, single-lane width, and lack of guardrails, the road is extremely dangerous. Further still, rain and fog can make visibility precarious, the road surface muddy, and loosen rocks from the hillsides above.

On July 24, 1983, a bus veered off the Yungas Road and into a canyon, killing more than 100 passengers in what is said to be Bolivia's worst road accident.

One of the local road rules specifies that the downhill driver never has the right of way and must move to the outer edge of the road. This forces fast vehicles to stop so that passing can be negotiated safely. The danger of the road ironically though has made it a popular tourist destination starting in the 1990s. Mountain biker enthusiasts, in particular, have made it a favorite destination for downhill biking. "Every year it is estimated 200 to 300 people die on a stretch of road less than 50 miles long."

Makkah Khana Kaba

2012-06-04T09:40:00.001-07:00

Makkah Khana Kaba

The Islamic religion's holiest city of Mecca (also known as Mekka or Makkah) is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its importance as a holy city for Muslims harks back to it being the birthplace of the founder of Islam, Mohammed.

The prophet Mohammed was born in Mecca, located approximated 50 miles from the Red Sea port city of Jidda, in the year 571 CE. Mohammed fled to Medina, now also a holy city, in the year 622 (ten years prior to his death).

Muslims face Mecca during their daily prayers and one of the key tenets of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a Muslim's life (known as Hajj). Approximately two million Muslims arrive in Mecca during the last month of the Islamic calendar for the Hajj. This influx of visitors requires a great deal of logistical planning by the Saudi government. Hotels and other services in the city are stretched to the limit during the pilgrimage.

The most holy site within this holy city is the Great Mosque. Within the Great Mosque sits the Black Stone, a large black monolith that is central to worship during the Hajj. In the Mecca area are several additional sites where Muslims worship.

Saudi Arabia is closed to tourists and Mecca itself is off limits to all non-Muslims. Road blocks are stationed along roads leading to the city. The most celebrated incident of a non-Muslim visiting Mecca was the visit by the British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton (who translated the 100 stories of the Arabian Knights and discovered the Kama Sutra) in 1853. Burton disguised himself as an Afghani Muslim to visit and write Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al Madinah and Mecca.

Mecca sits in a valley surrounded by low hills; its population is approximately 1.3 million. Although Mecca is definitely the religious capital of Saudi Arabia, remember that the Saudi political capital is Riyadh.

The Kaaba (or Qaaba; Arabic: الكعبة‎ al-Kaʿbah IPA: English: The Cube) is a cuboid-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred site in Islam. The Quran states that the Kaaba was constructed by Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic), and his son Ishmael (Ismaeel in Arabic), after the latter had settled in Arabia. The building has a mosque built around it, the Masjid al-Haram. All Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are. This is called facing the Qiblah.
One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so. Multiple parts of the Hajj require pilgrims to walk seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from above). This circumambulation, the Tawaf, is also performed by pilgrims during the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). However, the most dramatic times are during the Hajj, when about 6 million pilgrims gather to circle the building on the same day.

In the Quran

The Kaaba is inside the Masjid al Haram in Mecca

The Quran states that Abraham, together with Ishmael, raised the foundations of the holy house.^[^Quran^2:127^] God had shown Abraham the exact site, very near to the Well of Zamzam, where Abraham and Ishmael began work on the Kaaba's construction. After Abraham had built the Kaaba, an angel brought to him the Black Stone, a celestial stone that, according to tradition, had fallen from Heaven on the nearby hill Abu Qubays. According to a saying attributed to Muhammad, the Black Stone had "descended from Paradise whiter than milk but the sins of the sons of Adam had made it black".

After the placing of the Black Stone (in Arabic, الحجر الا سود — "alhajar alaswad") in the Eastern corner of the Kaaba, Abraham received a revelation, in which God told the aged prophet that he should now go and proclaim the pilgrimage to mankind, so that men may come both from Arabia and from lands far away, on camel and on foot.^[^Quran^22:27^] Going by the dates attributed to the patriarchs, Abraham is believed to have been born in roughly 2150 BCE, with Isaac being born a hundred years later. Therefore, Islamic scholars have generally assumed that the Kaaba was constructed by Abraham around 2130 BCE. The Kaaba is, therefore, believed by Muslims to be more than a millennium older than Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, which is believed to have been finished in 1007 BCE. These dates remain consistent with the Muslim belief that the Kaaba is the first and thus oldest mosque in history.

After Abraham and Ishmael

Left: Conceptual representation of the Kaaba, as built by Abraham according to Arabian tradition; Right: Representation of the Kaaba as it stands today

The pilgrimage, as established by Abraham, is believed to have been uncorrupted in its early years. Then the faith of Abraham failed to grip very many devoted followers. It was because "it presupposed too much initial spirituality in its adherents to grip a large community". Although there were always a few people who continued to maintain Abraham's teachings, this minority gradually came to have less power in Mecca, and soon the Kaaba became a shrine devoted to idols.

Qibla and prayer

Main article: Qibla

The Qibla is the Muslim name for the direction faced during prayer.^[^Quran^2:143–144^] It is the focal point for prayer.The direction faced during prayer is the direction of where the Kaaba is.

Before Muhammad

See also: Pre-Islamic Arabia and Jahiliyyah

The early Arabian population consisted primarily of warring nomadic tribes. When they did converge peacefully, it was usually under the protection of religious practices. Writing in the Encyclopedia of Islam, Wensinck identifies Mecca with a place called Macoraba mentioned by Ptolemy. His text is believed to date from the second century AD, about 500 years before the coming of Muhammad, and described it as a foundation in southern Arabia, built around a sanctuary. It probably did not become an area of religious pilgrimage until around 500 A.D. It was then that the Quraysh tribe (into which Muhammad was later born) took control of Macoraba, and made an agreement with the local kinanah Bedouins for possession. The sanctuary itself, located in a barren valley surrounded by mountains, was probably built at the location of the water source today known as the Zamzam Well, an area of considerable religious significance to Muslims.

In her book, Islam: A Short History, Karen Armstrong asserts that the Kaaba was dedicated to Hubal, a Nabatean deity, and contained 360 idols that either represented the days of the year, or were effigies of the Arabian pantheon. Once a year, tribes from all around the Arabian peninsula, whether Christian or pagan, would converge on Mecca to perform the Hajj.

Imoti contends that there were multiple such "Kaaba" sanctuaries in Arabia at one time, but this was the only one built of stone. The others also allegedly had counterparts of the Black Stone. There was a "red stone", the deity of the south Arabian city of Ghaiman, and the "white stone" in the Kaaba of al-Abalat (near the city of Tabala, south of Mecca). Grunebaum in Classical Islam points out that the experience of divinity of that period was often associated with stone fetishes, mountains, special rock formations, or "trees of strange growth." The Kaaba was thought to be at the center of the world with the Gate of Heaven directly above it. The Kaaba marked the location where the sacred world intersected with the profane, and the embedded Black Stone was a further symbol of this as a meteorite that had fallen from the sky and linked heaven and earth.

According to Sarwar, about 400 years before the birth of Muhammad, a man named "Amr bin Lahyo bin Harath bin Amr ul-Qais bin Thalaba bin Azd bin Khalan bin Babalyun bin Saba", who was descended from Qahtan and king of Hijaz (the northwestern section of Saudi Arabia, which encompassed the cities of Mecca and Medina), had placed a Hubal idol onto the roof of the Kaaba, and this idol was one of the chief deities of the ruling Quraysh. The idol was made of red agate, and shaped like a human, but with the right hand broken off and replaced with a golden hand. When the idol was moved inside the Kaaba, it had seven arrows in front of it, which were used for divination.

To maintain peace among the perpetually warring tribes, Mecca was declared a sanctuary where no violence was allowed within 20 miles (32 km) of the Kaaba. This combat-free zone allowed Mecca to thrive not only as a place of pilgrimage, but also as a trading center.

Edward Gibbon suggested that the Ka'bah was mentioned by ancient Greek writer Diodorus Siculus before the Christian era:

The genuine antiquity of Caaba ascends beyond the Christian era: in describing the coast of the Red sea the Greek historian Diodorus has remarked, between the Thamudites and the Sabeans, a famous temple, whose superior sanctity was revered by all the Arabians; the linen of silken veil, which is annually renewed by the Turkish emperor, was first offered by the Homerites, who reigned seven hundred years before the time of Mohammad.

—Edward Gibbon, Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, Volume V, pp. 223–224

However, Gibbon had misinterpreted Siculus's text. Siculus described the location of this temple to be on a bay that extends deep in land to a distance of about 500 stades (about 80 km) and that the entrance of this bay is obstructed by a rock extending into the sea. Here is the description from Diodorus Siculus:

Next after these plains as one skirts the coast comes a gulf of extraordinary nature. It runs, namely, to a point deep into the land, extends in length a distance of some five hundred stades, and shut in as it is by crags which are of wondrous size, its mouth is winding and hard to get out of; for a rock which extends into the sea obstructs its entrance and so it is impossible for a ship either to sail into or out of the gulf. Furthermore, at times when the current rushes in and there are frequent shiftings of the winds, the surf, beating upon the rocky beach, roars and rages all about the projecting rock. The inhabitants of the land about the gulf, who are known as Banizomenes, find their food by hunting the land animals and eating their meat. And a temple has been set up there, which is very holy and exceedingly revered by all Arabians.

—Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica volume iii.44, p. 217

There is no bay that matches this description along the coast near Mecca. Furthermore, Siculus describes this area as lying between the Thamudites and the Nabataeans, not the Thamudites and the Sabeans as Gibbon erroneously stated, which would put it much farther to the north, around the area of Tabuk. It is widely believed that this bay and temple described by Diodorus is in fact the bay adjacent to Ash-Sharmah in Tabuk Province.

In Makkan Trade and the Rise of Islam, Patricia Crone argues that the identification of Macoraba with Mecca is false, and that Macoraba was a town in southern Arabia in what was then known as Arabia Felix.

Crone was responded to by Dr. Amaal Muhammad Al-Roubi in his book "A Response to Patrica Crone's book".

G. E. von Grunebaum says,

Mecca is mentioned by Ptolemy, and the name he gives it allows us to identify it as a South Arabian foundation created around a sanctuary.

—G. E. Von Grunebaum, Classical Islam: A History 600-1258, p. 19

Many Muslim and academic historians stress the power and importance of the pre-Islamic Mecca. They depict it as a city grown rich on the proceeds of the spice trade. Crone believes that this is an exaggeration and that Mecca may only have been an outpost trading with nomads for leather, cloth, and camel butter. Crone argues that if Mecca had been a well-known center of trade, it would have been mentioned by later authors such as Procopius, Nonnosus, and the Syrian church chroniclers writing in Syriac. However, the town is absent from any geographies or histories written in the three centuries before the rise of Islam.

According to The Encyclopædia Britannica, "before the rise of Islam it was revered as a sacred sanctuary and was a site of pilgrimage." According to German historian Eduard Glaser, the name "Kaaba" may have been related to the southern Arabian or Ethiopian word "mikrab", signifying a temple. Again, Crone disputes this etymology.

Muhammad

A 1315 illustration from the Persian Jami al-Tawarikh, inspired by the story of Muhammad and the Meccan clan elders lifting the Black Stone into place when the Kaaba was rebuilt in the early 600s

At the time of Muhammad (CE 570–632 A.D), his tribe, the Quraysh, was in charge of the Kaaba, which was at that time a shrine containing hundreds of idols representing Arabian tribal gods and other religious figures. Muhammad earned the enmity of his tribe by claiming the Kaaba to be dedicated to the worship of the one God alone, and all the idols evicted. The Quraysh persecuted and harassed him continuously, and he and his followers eventually migrated to Medina in 622.

Islamic histories also mention a reconstruction of the Kaaba around 600 A.D. A story found in Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasūl Allāh, one of the biographies of Muhammad (as reconstructed and translated by Guillaume), describes Muhammad settling a quarrel between Meccan clans as to which clan should set the Black Stone cornerstone in place. According to Ishaq's biography, Muhammad's solution was to have all the clan elders raise the cornerstone on a cloak, and then Muhammad set the stone into its final place with his own hands. Ibn Ishaq says that the timber for the reconstruction of the Kaaba came from a Greek ship that had been wrecked on the Red Sea coast at Shu'ayba, and the work was undertaken by a Coptic carpenter called Baqum.

After this migration, or Hijra, the Muslim community became a political and military force, continuously repelling Meccan attacks. In 630 A.D, two years after signing the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Meccan Quraysh attacked the Bedouin Khuza'a, thereby breaking the peace treaty. The Muslims emerged as victors in the battle that followed this incident and Muhammad entered Mecca with his followers; they proceeded to the Kaaba. However, he refused to enter the Kaaba while there were idols in it, and sent Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and Mughira ibn Shu'ba to remove them.

Narrated Ibn Abbas: When Allah's Apostle arrived in Mecca, he refused to enter the Ka'ba while there were idols in it. So he ordered that they be taken out. The pictures of the (Prophets) Abraham and Ishmael, holding arrows of divination in their hands, were carried out. The Prophet said, "May Allah ruin them (i.e. the infidels) for they knew very well that they (i.e. Abraham and Ishmael) never drew lots by these (divination arrows). Then the Prophet entered the Ka'ba and said. "Allahu Akbar" in all its directions and came out and not offer any prayer therein.

—Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 59, Hadith 584

The Kaaba was re-dedicated as an Islamic house of worship, and henceforth, the annual pilgrimage was to be a Muslim rite, the Hajj, with visits to the Kaaba and other sacred sites around Mecca.

It is also the birth place of ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, the fourth caliph and cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

In Islamic history

The Kaaba has been repaired and reconstructed many times since Muhammad's day. Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr, an early Muslim who ruled Mecca for many years between the death of ʿAli and the consolidation of Ummayad power, is said to have demolished the old Kaaba and rebuilt it to include the hatīm. He did so on the basis of a tradition (found in several hadith collections) that the hatīm was a remnant of the foundations of the Abrahamic Kaaba, and that Muhammad himself had wished to rebuild so as to include it.
This structure was destroyed (or partially destroyed) in 683 A.D, during the war between Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and Umayyad forces commanded by Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef. Al-Hajjaj used stone-throwing catapults against the Meccans.
The Ummayads under ʿAbdu l-Malik ibn Marwan finally reunited all the former Islamic possessions and ended the long civil war. In 693 A.D he had the remnants of al-Zubayr's Kaaba razed, and rebuilt on the foundations set by the Quraysh. The Kaaba returned to the cube shape it had taken during Muhammad's time.
During the Hajj of 930 A.D, the Qarmatians attacked Mecca, defiled the Zamzam Well with the bodies of pilgrims and stole the Black Stone, taking it to the oasis region of Eastern Arabia known as al-Aḥsāʾ, where it remained until the Abbasids ransomed it in 952 A.D.
Apart from repair work, the basic shape and structure of the Kaaba have not changed since then.
The Kaaba is depicted on the reverse of 500 Saudi Riyal, and the 2000 Iranian rial banknotes.

Cleaning

The building is opened twice a year for a ceremony known as "the cleaning of the Ka'ba." This ceremony takes place roughly thirty days before the start of the month of Ramadan and thirty days before the start of Hajj.
The keys to the Ka'ba are held by the Banī Shayba (بني شيبة) tribe. Members of the tribe greet visitors to the inside of the Kaaba on the occasion of the cleaning ceremony. A small number of dignitaries and foreign diplomats are invited to participate in the ceremony. The governor of Mecca leads the honoured guests who ritually clean the structure, using simple brooms. Washing of the Ka'ba is done with a mixture of water from the Zamzam Well and Persian rosewater.

Fairy Meadows, Pakistan

2012-06-03T19:57:00.004-07:00

Fairy Meadows

Fairy Meadows is in the heart of breathtaking North Pakistan.
A place which provides an inspiring view of Pakistan's 2nd highest Mountain Nanga Parbat, which, at 8126 m,is the 9th highest mountain in the world.
The Fairy Meadows are lush green alpine pastures situated in the middle of a pine forest at an altitude of 3,306 m. The meadows have since long been a thrilling destination for polo lovers, back packers, climbers, wildlife researchers, photographers, painters & geologists, besides naturelovers who spend here a couple of days for real adventure.
The NANGA PARBAT BROAD VIEW Hotel & Camping Site located at a distance of five minutes hike from main village and other tourist resorts overlooks the five adjacent peaks of Nanga Parbat locally called Raikot Peak, Chongra Peak, Ganalo Peak & Susrobush Peak. It also presents an enchanting view of Raikot Glacier.

How To Get There

Fairy Meadows can easily be approached from the capital, Islamabad. Jeeps are available round the clock, carrying 6 passengers on one vehicle. A small Cafe in Jail village offers refreshments & lunch.

Routes to Fairy Meadows

Islamabd to Gilgit (2 Hours by Air).Gilgit to Raikot Bridge ( 4 Hours by Road). Raikot Bridge to Tatto (1.5 Hours 4 X 4 Jeep Drive).Tatto to Fairy Meadows ( 4 Hours Trek).
Islamabd to Chilas (14 Hours by Road).Chilas to Raikot Bridge (2 Hours by Road). Raikot Bridge to Tatto (1.5 Hours 4 X 4 Jeep Drive).Tatto to Fairy Meadows (4 Hours Trek)
Islamabd to Kaghan Valley 7 Hours by Road).Kaghan to Chilas via Babusar Pass 6 Hours by Road). Chilas to Raikot Bridge (2 Hours by Road).Raikot Bridge to Tatto (1.5 Hours 4 X 4 Jeep Drive). Tatto to Fairy Meadows (4 Hours Trek)
Daily flights to Gilgit from Islamabad

GPS Co-ordinates (Lat 35.3932495 ; Lon 74.585495)

Skardu Pakistan

2012-06-03T03:28:00.000-07:00

Skardu Pakistan.

Skardu is the main town of Baltistan along the wide bank of the river Indus. Skardu is the largest district of the Northern Areas. Baltistan is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, the Karakoram Range, Skardu is very popular with Mountaineering Expeditions. It is equally popular with high altitude trekkers, who treks to Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp and Concordia. Skardu by road, lies approximately 5 hours away from Gilgit and 10 hours drive from Besham. A daily flight to and from Islamabad is also in operation. The flight is always subject to weather.

Skardu has a character of its own and has a very interesting scenery. The Indus becomes wide and still here. The town is surrounded by dry rugged mountains and sand dunes.
Skardu Valley is Located in the Northern Area of Pakistan. Skardu Valley is part of the Baltistan. Baltistan is spread over an area of 26,000 square kilometres – just right below the jagged and glaciated ramparts of the Karakoram. Once part of Laddakh, it was known as Tibet-i-Khurd – Little Tibet. Archaeological exploration has proven that it was encompassed by the Silk Trade Route.
The Skardu region has the four of the world's fourteen Eight-thousander peaks (8,000 m and above) this makes it a heaven for trekkers expeditions enthusiasts and mountain climbers. The main tourist season is from April to October

Shangrila Lake, Skardu, Pakistan.
Shangrila Lake is also known as Lower Kachura Lake. It is a part of the Shangrila resort. Shangrilla Lake is located at a drive of about 20 minutes from Skardu. It is a popular tourist destination, and has a unique restaurant that is built on the fuselage of an aircraft that had crashed nearby.
Shangrila was established in 1983 with the opening of the first Resort Hotel in Skardu, Baltistan. It was named “heaven on earth” because of its spectacular beauty,and breathtaking view and peaceful atmosphere. Shangrila Resort Hotel was founded by the late Brig.(Retd) Muhammad Aslam Khan, the first commander of the Northern Scouts of the Pakistan Army

Shangrila was named after a book titled “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton. In the novel, the author narrates a tale in which an aeroplane crash landed near a riverbed, in the early 1920's. The surviving passengers came across some Buddhist monks from a nearby temple and sought their help. They were taken to a beautiful lamasery filled with a variety of fruits and flowers. The monks looked quite young, although they claimed to be hundreds of years old. The idyllic place was called Shangri-la, a Tibetan word meaning “Heaven on earth”.

The Iguazu Waterfalls

2012-06-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

The Iguazu Waterfalls

The Iguazu Waterfalls located on the border of the Brazilian State of Parana and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows through Brazil for most of its course. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Brazil and Argentina.

The first European to find the falls was the Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. The Iguazu Falls are arranged in a way that seems a reverse J. The border between Brazil and Argentina runs through the Devil's Throat. On the right bank is the Brazilian territory, which has just over 20% of the jumps of these falls, and the left side jumps are Argentines, which make up almost 80% of the falls. To completely and fully appreciate the falls, the recommendation is to visit both the Argentine and Brazilian side, as one side is a panorama of the other, and vice versa.A cloud of mist created from the plunging water can be seen kilometers away.The Iguassu Falls have a total of 275 falls and is 2.7 kilometers long where it finally combines with the Iguassu River. Some of the falls have a common height of 269 feet. However, the best of all is the Devil’s Throat, which is a u-shaped, 82 meters high, 150 meters wide and 700 meters long fall. The view of this fall is breathtaking. Out of all, more than two thirds of the falls lie in the Argentine Province.It is said that almost ten days of vacation time must be allotted to cover all the falls and do justice to the place. Since the falls are not evenly divided between the countries, enough time must be given to both the countries. No words or pictures can describe the real beauty of the falls. It has to be seen in person to fall in love with it. The tourists can reach the falls from either the Brazil Province or the Argentine Province. The national park of Brazil and Argentine are now a part of the UNESCO, world heritage site.

Iguazu Falls are one of the great natural wonders of the world and I would suggest a must see for every visitor to Argentina or Brazil

Mount Roraima

2012-06-02T01:49:00.002-07:00

Mount Roraima

Mount Roraima, also known as Tepuy Roraima and Cerro Roraima; Portuguese: Monte Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in South America.^: First described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596, its 31 km² summit area is defended by 400-metre-tall cliffs on all sides. The mountain includes the triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

Mount Roraima lies on the Guiana Shield in the southeastern corner of Venezuela's 30000 km² Canaima National Park forming the highest peak of Guyana's Highland Range. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to some two billion years ago in the Precambrian.

The highest point in Guyana and the highest point of the Brazilian state of Roraima lie on the plateau, but Venezuela and Brazil have higher mountains elsewhere, The mountain's highest point is Maverick Rock, 2810 m, at the south end of the plateau and wholly within Venezuela. The first recorded person to climb this tepuy was Sir Everard im Thurn in 1884.

This mountain also inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for his classic novel The Lost World in 1912. He envisioned cavemen and prehistoric animals running amok atop the summit. Although far-fetched, the idea is a valid one: the tepuys are regarded as 'islands in time' by scientists since species have developed in complete isolation on top of them over millennia

The top of the tepuy consists of quartzite (hard) and sandstones (softer when weathered), they appear black due to added organic matter (moss, fungi) over millions of years. Erosion on the top has created ponds and pols with crystal clear and crystal rain water, there are some areas with pink sands, which gives it a truly other world landscape feeling.

Climate

The tepuy's steep sides, surrounding rainforest, and altitude at summit create a unique climatic environment that is most notable for its changeability. Moist air rising off the surrounding rainforest in the tropical heat creates heavy rain clouds that billow up and across the summit of Roraima causing frequent showers and downpours. Due to the altitude, nights on the summit are cool. You may find yopurself having to ascend or descend the path up the cliff in heavy rain in which case there will be torrents of water rushing down the track and waterfalls in the upper areas that will hit you like a fire hose. You may also need to wait at river crossings until the river level goes down. Your guide will help you.

Maldive Islands

2012-05-31T23:52:00.002-07:00

Maldive Islands:

Sitting in the Indian Ocean, 435 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, 1,190 coral islands form an archipelago known as the Maldive Islands. Only 202 of the islands are inhabited, and 87 of those islands are exclusive resorts. The first settlers came from different parts of the world, so the islands are a melting pot of different cultures. Some of the music has African influences, but South Asian influence also plays a role in Maldives culture, and so does Islam. There are 270,000 full time residents and some of those residents are off springs of the original settlers who found the islands 3,000 years ago. Dhivehi is the native language, but English is spoken by most of the people living in the capital city of Male.

The Maldive Islands make up the smallest nation in the world, and it's also the lowest land mass in the world. Most of the islands are just a little over four feet above sea level, and all of them are in danger of disappearing due to global warming. The 2004 Tsunami had a major impact on the islands; a few of them were completely decimated by the flood. The government is taking steps to ensure the safety of the islands; the entire capital island is surrounded by a sea wall. The Nation's National Environmental Action Plan is raising awareness around the globe in order to help protect the islands, because tourism and the natural resources found on the islands determine the economic growth of the country.

The white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, and sparkling crystal clear waters that surround this nation filled with Robinson Crusoe islands are nothing, but spectacular. Surrounded by incredible underwater coral gardens and a climate that stays consistent all year long, make the Maldives a tropical paradise with no peers.

Maldive Islands in a Few Words
Some tourists ask: How long will this tiny nation be above sea level? Most people fear the islands will disappear over the next hundred years, but for those who are fortunate enough to visits this tropical paradise, the future doesn’t matter. Spending relaxing days and nights on a tiny island where time has no meaning is all anyone needs to enjoy life. Maldives Islands is an enchanting and mystical part of the world where the sand, sun, turquoise water, and the taste of the ocean breeze release you, so life is lived in a perpetual cycle of beauty.

Atlantis Hotel Resort In Dubai UAE

2012-05-31T12:30:00.001-07:00

Atlantis Hotel Resort

This Dubai luxury resort is located on Palm Island, a manmade, palm-tree-shaped island just off the Jumeirah coast. The property has access to a private beach. The Dubai Marina, Dubai Marina Mall and Emirates Golf Club are all about 6.5 km (4 mi) away.

Atlantis, the Palm is a hotel resort at Palm jumeirah in Dubai UAE. It is a joint venture between Kerzner International Limited and Istithmar PSJC and was opened on 24 September 2008. The resort is modelled after the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in Nassau, Bahamas Almost everything in it is underwater themed.
It Is Ranked # 35 of 431 Hotels in Dubai
Lowest price of the room is $335 It is A 5 star Hotel. The resort consists of two towers linked by a bridge, with a total of 1,539 rooms. There are two monorail stations connecting the resort to the main section of the Palm Jumeirah islands.Rooms at the hotel feature mini-bars, satellite television, Internet service and bathrobes. Suites at the Atlantis, The Palm feature dressing areas, walk-in wardrobes and jetted tubs

General

Room Service, Restaurant, Disabled Access, Bar / Lounge, Air Conditioned, Non-Smoking Rooms, Mini Bar, Cable / Satellite TV, In Room Movies, Coffee / Tea Maker, Hair Dryer, Complimentary Toiletries, TV, Disabled Accessible Rooms, Disabled Parking, Bathrobes, Shower, En suite, Private Bathroom, Bathtub/Shower Combination, Kids Club, Cots, Poolside Bar, Coffee Shop/Cafeteria, Breakfast in the Room, Ice Machine, Family Room, Bedding/Pillow Choices

Activities

Fitness Room/Gym, Swimming pool, Tour Desk, Massage / Beauty Centre, Tennis Courts, Golf Course, Medical Assistance Available, Sauna, Bath / Hot Tub, Private beach, Spa bath / Jacuzzi, Excursions, Garden, Beach (Direct Access), Nightclubs, Water Activities, Playground, Salon, Fitness Facilities, Jacuzzi, Steam Room, Massage, Spa & Wellness Centre, Steam Bath, Barber/Beauty Shop, Beauty Salon, Body Treatments, Facial Treatments, Child Pool, Pool Outdoor, Games Available

Services

Business Center, Concierge, Elevator / Lift, 24 Hour Reception, Dry Cleaning, Babysitting / Child Services, Housekeeping, Banquet Facilities, Conference Room(s), Currency Exchange, Multilingual Staff, Safe-Deposit Box, Security Guard, News Stand, ATM / Cash Machine, Secretarial Service, Porters, Wake-up Service, Meeting Rooms, Laundry service, Shops, Computer, Photocopier, Desk, Direct dial phone, Ticket Service, Facsimile, Ballroom, Audio/Visual Equipment, Flip chart, Exhibit Space, Supervised child care/activities, Executive Floor, Luggage Storage, Shops in Hotel, Souvenirs/Gift Shop, Express Check-In/Check-Out, Shoe Shine

Internet

High-speed Internet is available at this hotel. Wireless internet on site. Internet via modem/data port is available.

Parking

The hotel has free parking. Valet parking is offered at the hotel. Bus parking is available. There is an airport shuttle that runs from the hotel.

Awsome Places In Worlds To Visit

Aitutaki cook islands south pacific

Mount Pilatus Switzerland

Mount Pilatus Switzerland

Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE

Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE

Burj El-Arab, Dubai

Burj El-Arab, Dubai

Features

Rooms and suites

Restaurants

Rating

Reviews by architecture critics

Bolivia Road Of Death

Bolivia Road Of Death

Makkah Khana Kaba

Makkah Khana Kaba

After Abraham and Ishmael

Qibla and prayer

In Islamic history

Cleaning

Fairy Meadows, Pakistan

Fairy Meadows

Skardu Pakistan

Skardu Pakistan.

The Iguazu Waterfalls

The Iguazu Waterfalls

Mount Roraima

Mount Roraima

Maldive Islands

Maldive Islands:

Atlantis Hotel Resort In Dubai UAE

Atlantis Hotel Resort

General

Activities

Services

Internet

Parking

Check-in

Check-out

Aquaventure Water Park

A Beautiful view of Atlantis Hotel Resort At Night

Azhar(Azzi)