China

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing, be met & transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 2 (B, L, D) Full day trip to Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, silk store and the Temple of Heaven. In the evening (7:15~8:30PM), enjoy the Peking Opera Show(or Chinese Acrobat, or Chinese Kongfu show, choose one show from these three options, depending on your interest) - Tian'anmen Square: The largest city square in the world. - Forbidden City: The largest imperial palace in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years. Visit scenic spots: 1. The hall and the courtyard of supreme harmony, 2. The meridian gate, 3. the hall of supreme harmony, 4. the hall of complete harmony, 5. the hall of preserving harmony, 6. the huge of stone carving, 7. the hall of union, 8. the palace of earthly tranquility, 9. the imperial garden, etc. - Temple of Heaven: The place where the ancient emperors used to pray for the God's blessings on the whole nation. Visit scenic spots: 1. the hall of prayer for good harvest, 2. red stairway bridge, 3. the imperial vault of heaven, 4. echo wall, 5. triple sound stone, 6. the circular mound altar, etc.

Day 3 (B, L, D) Full day trip to the Great Wall, jade market and Ming Tomb. Enjoy a famous Peking Duck Banquet for dinner in the most famous Quanjude Restaurant.. - Great Wall: One of the seven wonders in the world and the symbol of China. (about 60 miles away from downtown, one and half hour's drive) Visit scenic spots: Badaling Geat Wall, Badaling fortress, beacon-towers, "looking-toward beijing stone", etc. - Ming Tomb: The only underground tomb of the thirteen tombs of the emperors in the Ming Dynasty. Visit scenic spots: 1.ling en gate, 2.ling en palace, 3.soul tower, 4.the great red gate, 5.the stele pavilion, etc.

Day 4 (B, L) We will drive to visit Hutong, the old Beijing lanes, nearby Rear Lake area (Shi Cha Lake) and the typical Chinese quadrangles by rickshaws bicycle ride, where you can experience the real life of ordinary people in Beijing while across many narrow streets, which lasts for about 2 hours, led by local guide and pass many famous old building, like the drum tower, silver bridge, etc. Have lunch in local family, home cooked Chinese dumpling, everyone loves it. After that, there will be a tea ceremony in local tea house to show you. Then visit Summer Palace in the afternoon. - Summer Palace: The largest and best-preserved royal garden in China with a history of over 800 years. Visit scenic spots: 1. East palace gate, 2. the hall of benevolence and longevity, 3. hall of jade billows, 4. the hall of joyful longevity, 5. the covered walkway, 6. the marble boat, etc.

Day 5 (B) Tranfer from hotel to airport or railway station, see off. Hotel Options: Five Star Hotel: Beijing International Hotel , Beijing Asia Hotel ????? Four Star Hotel: Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel ???? Three Star Hotel: Golden Palace Silver Street Hotel, Beijing Xuanwemen Hotel, Shatan Hotel ??? Economy Hotel: GreenTree Inn Beijing or New Dragon Hotel ?? Single Room Supplement: 5-star: 1500RMB; 4-star: 1000RMB; 3-star: 720RMB; Economy Hotel: 450RMB

China Travel

The first civilizations in China arose in the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys at about the same time as Mesopotamia, Egypt and India developed their first civilizations.

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. Paper, gunpowder, the compass and printing (both block and movable type) for example, are Chinese inventions. Chinese developments in astronomy, medicine, and other fields were extensive. A Chinese tomb contains a heliocentric model of the solar system, about 1,700 years before Copernicus. In mathematics, "Pythagoras' theorem" and "Pascal's triangle" were known in China centuries before their Western discoverers even lived.

China was also the first civilization to implement a meritocracy. Unlike other ancient cultures, official posts were not hereditary but had to be earned through a series of examinations. Based on mastery of the Confucian Classics and the literary arts (calligraphy, essay writing, poetry, painting), a prototype the exams were first conducted during the Han Dynasty. The system was further refined into the formal Imperial Examination System and opened to all regardless of family background during the Tang Dynasty. The Imperial Examination proved very successful, and save for a brief period during the Yuan Dynasty, continued to be used by all subsequent Chinese dynasties until the beginning of the 20th century, and till this day education is still taken very seriously by Chinese parents.

Everything Comes With A Price


Historically, East Asia existed in a China-centric order very different from the nation-state system which emerged in Europe. China is "Zhong Guo," the "Middle Kingdom." Foreigners of all nationalities are "Wai Guo Ren," literally "outside land people." Rather than sovereign states, the Emperor was sovereign over all "under heaven" and thus rulers seeking to be "civilized" would need to enter the tributary system. As the Middle Kingdom, China was surrounded by states which paid tribute to the Emperor. The Emperor did not receive ambassadors from these outlanders, only tribute bearers.

New kings in these surrounding countries were invested by the Emperor and granted seals of authority, thus giving them the "right" to rule. Many areas which are now considered part of China — Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Manchuria — were once tributary kingdoms. Other places not considered part of China — Malacca, Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Mongolia, Okinawa, Japan — were also tributaries at various times in history (Okinawa's Shuri Castle has an interesting exhibit on the tributary system). Of course at times the "tributary" states were actually more militarily powerful than the Chinese dynasty at the time but the idealized image of a harmonious order with China and the emperor at the center endured for centuries.

Tributary relations were complemented by academic, religious, political and cultural exchanges. Tributary rulers received protection, trade benefits, and advisers (academic, political, scientific, etc). In a sense, China really is the "center land." Chinese influence is quite apparent in the traditional culture of many of its neighbors, most notably Vietnam, Korea and Japan. Each of these countries adopted the Chinese writing system at some point, and it is still in use, to varying degrees and with certain modifications, in the latter two today. Confucian philosophy and social theory deeply influenced their societies. Indeed, Japan's ancient capital of Nara was modeled after the Tang dynasty capital of Chang'An (now Xi'an).

http://wikitravel.org/en/China

BELGIUM

Day One:
DAY 1 : DINANT
Embarkation in Dinant at 6:00 PM. Settling into the cabin is followed by introduction of the crew in the lounge over a welcome cocktail. Dinner on board the ship. Overnight in Dinant.

DAY 2 : DINANT - THE MEUSE VALLEY - LIEGE
Departure of the ship early in the morning with breakfast on board as we begin sailing on the Meuse River. This will be an exceptional cruise as the Meuse is known for the richness and variety of its scenery. We disembark at the RiviŠre Lock for an optional sightseeing trip by coach to the Guy Delforge Perfume Workshop, which is uniquely situated in the citadel of the town of Namur . Their slogan is that their "Perfumes are born and mature in the bowels of the citadel". Back on board the ship at about 12:00 Noon in Namur . Lunch is served on board as we begin sailing towards Huy. Arrival in Huy is at about 3:00 PM . We then depart on an optional sightseeing tour of Huy. This is a charming little town with a well protected old city centre that is dominated by a Gothic cathedral and a fort dating from the beginning of the XIX century that overlooks the town of Huy and the Meuse River . Embarkation from the town is between 6:00-7:00 PM in LiŠge which is Georges Simenon's native city. Dinner on board with the evening free to explore this very busy city. Overnight in Liege.

DAY 3 : LIEGE - NAMUR


Breakfast on board. In the morning, an optional sightseeing tour of LiŠge is offered. Liege is the main town for art and history in Wallony. The architecture is typical of the Renaissance era and the principality of LiŠge dates back to the X century. In the heart of LiŠge, you will see the bishop prince palace with certain parts of it that go back to the Renaissance. After the tour, we get back on board the ship for lunch as we depart Liege at about 12:00 Noon . In the afternoon, we stop at the Val Saint-Lambert Castle. An optional visit is offered to the castle that was converted into a museum of fine glassware and crystal making. Back on board the ship in Huy as we begin sailing towards Namur. Arrival in Namur at about 7:00 PM. Dinner and a gala evening on board is planned. Overnight in Namur.
Belgium is a member of the Schengen Agreement. For EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) citizens, an officially approved ID card (or a passport) is sufficient for entry. In no case will they need a visa for a stay of any length. Others will generally need a passport for entry.

There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: Not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union.

Airports in Europe are thus divided into "Schengen" and "non-Schengen" sections, which effectively act like "domestic" and "international" sections elsewhere. If you are flying from outside Europe into one Schengen country and continuing to another, you will clear Immigration and Customs at the first country and then continue to your destination with no further checks. Travel between a Schengen member and a non-Schengen country will result in the normal border checks. Note that regardless of whether you travelling within the Schengen area or not, some airlines will still insist on seeing your ID card or passport.

Keep in mind that the counter begins once you enter any country in the Schengen Area and is not reset by leaving a specific Schengen country for another Schengen country, or vice-versa.


Antwerp Street, City Square

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830. It was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II and has many war graves near the battle zones, most of them are around Ieper (in English archaically rendered as Ypres, with Yperite another name for mustard gas due to intensive use there in WWI). It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Comines Fete des Louches, 2008

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830. It was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II and has many war graves near the battle zones, most of them are around Ieper (in English archaically rendered as Ypres, with Yperite another name for mustard gas due to intensive use there in WWI). It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.



http://wikitravel.org/en/Belgium

Australia

Sydney is one of the most visited cities in Australia and is steeped in history with plent of sites, attractions and tours to keep most visitors busy for weeks, let alone a day.
The Sydney Harbor (technically, Port Jackson) offers a number of stunning views. But how much more delightful to see them from a different angle on the water, while moving at top speed in a jet boat, or cruising along on a sailboat.
Some are leisurely sail boat trips, where the gentle winds of the sea blow through your hair while you sip gin and talk about the weather. From that vantage point, you can relax and see how closely the sails on the ship match the curves of the Sydney Opera House.
Fish tails, powerbrake stops (in which the boat stops dead within two boat lengths), spins and more beat any theme park ride by a kilometer, the locals say. 700 horsepower diesels take the brave and the terrified on rides up to 80km/hr (48mi/hr). Rides last up to 30 minutes and some hold as many as 23 passengers. For those who want just to watch, not to catch, there are variety of scenic cruises that offer whale watching, along with views of Fairy penguins, seals, dolphins and many of the birds native to the area.
Lunch, dinner or sunset cruises are offered, too. There are afternoon cruises that last 2,5 hours and take a scenic tour of the eastern suburbs and the upscale Middle harbor. The 1,5 hour evening cruise takes riders into Darling harbor, where you get an excellent nighttime view of Sydney. The ship passes Garden Island naval base for a stunning view of the Opera House with all lights blazing.
There are even day or evening gondola rides for the romantically inclined. Set off from Cockle Bay and gently glide around the inner western area of Sydney Harbor. Rides are uncatered or catered, as you choose, and seat up to four.
Check out our specials from time to time as they will be highlighted on our price comparision page, these are usually operators who have seats available and want them filled at the last minute, can be quite a saving if you are a family.

Outback Mount Nameless Western Australia Travel Landscape Square


Sure it's got deadly spiders, snakes and sharks, but they don't stop people from coming here, never mind living here. And for good reason. From the prehistoric gorges of Kakadu National Park, to the white sails of the Sydney Opera House, Australia is a country as big your imagination. Kick back on a beach as white as your mother's wedding dress in Western Australia; lose yourself in the labyrinthine laneways of culture-rich Melbourne or be humbled by red desert sunsets over Uluru. Turn south to visit hundred year old giants that loom large in the forests of Tasmania or take on Sydney, a heady mix of surf, sun, money and sex, and you'll soon realise Australia is a place to be discovered, not feared.


Sydney Australia Travel Guys Flight Centre Travel Blog

The locals seem to be cursed with an insatiable yen for the unknown and they bend to it willingly, fleeing for weeks, months even, into that vast spot in the middle called the outback. And it's a big out back; you can travel indefinitely without coming within cooee of a phone call or an email. Nuts! Instead you have to make do with landscapes that shift from saffron to ochre beneath a seamless canopy of deep indigo. And then there are ancient Aboriginal cultures, dazzling salt pans, secretive reptiles, rough-cut canyons and pristine gorges. Some Australians simply go walkabout, traversing national parks filled with such devilish critters as koalas, sugar gliders and knee-high wallabies. Others whiz through world heritage rainforests on mountain bikes or apply ropes to their limbs, chalk to their hands, truly skimpy shorts to their nether regions and scale lofty summits like bronze-backed insects. And some simply launch themselves into the sky with parachutes attached to their backs.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia

Pakistan

The history of Pakistan traces back to the beginnings of human life in South Asia. Pakistan is home to the Indus Valley civilization, which is amongst the oldest in the world. Prior to the 1900's the area of Pakistan was the area from which the Muslims ruled over Central and Southern Asia for over 300 years. Today Pakistan is made up of people from various races including Arabs from after the Islamic expeditions, Persians from Bukhara and Samarkand, Turks from Central Asia and the native Sindhus who were converted to Islam.

The official name of Pakistan was used after the partition of (British) India into the 2 nation-states of India and Pakistan in 1947. However, the word Pakistan was first used by Ch. Rehmat Ali back in 1933 in his declaration, Now or Never - calling for its separation from the Empire. Afterwards, British-ruled India was divided into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and secular India. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Jammu and Kashmir is ongoing between India and Pakistan.

[edit] Terrain
Pakistan is one of those few countries in the world which has every kind of geological structure. It has the sea, desert (Sindh & Punjab), green mountains (North West Provice), dry mountains (Balochistan), mountains covered with ice, rivers, rich land to cultivate (Punjab & Sindh), water resources, water falls, forests etc. The North West Frontier Province and Gilgit-Baltistan contain the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush. Pakistan's highest point is K2, at 8,611 meters, which is the second highest peak in the world. The Punjab province is a flat, alluvial plain whose rivers eventually join the Indus River and flow south to the Arabian Sea. Sindh lies between the Thar Desert the Rann of Kutch to the east, and the Kirthar range to the west. The Balochistan Plateau is arid and surrounded by dry mountains. Pakistan experiences frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe, especially in north and west.

[edit] Climate
Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north. Flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August). Fertile and sub humid heat in the Punjab region.

Karachi, Pakistan travel


Getting around the country has become much easier in recent years with the completion of some motorways, and an increase in private airlines.


Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) [6] serves numerous domestic destinations and is the only airline to serve the three airports in the north of interest to trekkers or climbers: Chitral, Gilgit, and Skardu. There are usually two flights from Islamabad to these cities daily, but they are often canceled due to bad weather, and often over-booked &mash; show up early to guarantee a seat.

Other domestic carriers include Aero Asia International [7], Shaheen Air International [8] and Airblue [9].

Pakistan Railway [10] provides passenger rail service. The stations tend not to have their timetables in English, but sales agents can usually explain everything to you. There are several different classes of fares depending on amenities. Foreign tourists and students with an ISIC card can get 25% and 50% discounts, respectively, by first visiting the PTDC (Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation) office, getting q verification certificate there, and bringing it with them to the train's commercial ticket office (which is different from the regular ticket office, but usually close by).

People of Pakistan

A large portion of travel between cities in Pakistan is carried out by bus. Travelling between Karachi and any of the country's other major cities by bus may take days, and is usually advised against, because of highway robbery, known locally as 'dacoitry'. With that exception, however, travel by bus is often the cheapest and most convenient alternative. The Dae-Woo company runs a regular bus service between several major cities, with air-conditioned buses and seats booked one day ahead. While rather unexpensive, they are still almost five times as expensive as the cheap and uncomplicated rides offered by minibuses or larger buses between the major bus stations of the cities. Fares are often (though not always) paid directly on the bus, there is no aircondition, and sometimes very little knee space, but you get where you are going all the same, and I have never met with anything but kind interest and friendly conversation on my many rides. Buses leave almost incessantly from the major bus stations for all the major cities, and many smaller locations, so booking ahead is neither possible nor necessary on the simpler buses. When travelling between major cities, smaller buses are to be preferred over the larger ones, as the larger ones tend to take up passagers along the way, and therefore travel more slowly.

The situation is similar for local transport. While the organization of local transport may look a little different between cities, there is usually an active bus service running through the city, with varying levels of government control.

For local transport within cities, auto rickshaws are a cheap and flexible alternative. A development of the bicycle rickshaw, the auto rickshaw is a small vehicle powered by a two-stroke or four-stroke engine. The original gasoline versions constantly emit a stuttering noise and foul blue-black smoke, but many are opting for the CNG(compressed natural gas) versions, which are less polluting and a little quieter. Blue-and-yellow auto rickshaws take passengers, other colors tend to be privately owned. Always negotiate a price before entering the rickshaw.

wikitravel.org/en/Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of three countries named for their royal families, along with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and also Liechtenstein. The family were sheikhs of Nejd, the area around Riyadh, but were driven out by a neighbouring tribe, hiding with their relatives, the sultan of Kuwait. Then in 1902, young Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud and a few dozen lads rode out to raid their home territory. As it turned out, the invaders had been ruling badly, so many locals joined them. They not only re-captured Riyadh, but much of the surrounding territory.

After that, Abdul Aziz set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. The area united under him became known as Saudi Arabia.

In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its sand for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. A burgeoning population, unemployment, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns.

[edit] Economy
Saudi Arabia is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proven reserves), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the private sector.

Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. Riyadh expects to have a budget deficit in 2002, in part because of increased spending for education and other social programs.

The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

Unemployment among young Saudis is a very serious problem. While part of this can be explained by Saudi reluctance to take many types of work, it is also true that imported labor is much, much cheaper than that of the locals.

Al Faisaliah Complex

Riyadh looks like any other cosmopolitan city with its neon lights and skyscraper skyline, but nightlife here goes as far as your neighborhood coffee shop or a visit to your favorite restaurant. The dress code dictates that women regardless of nationality have to wear the abaya, and men must wear long sleeves. There are a number of recreational parks in the city. Riyadh, which means “the gardens” in Arabic, is the capital of Saudi Arabia, located in the Central Province. In an advantageous location in the Hanifa valley, the city and surroundings are very green and boast many parks. Summers bring extreme heat and dryness, followed by mild winters and cool nights with occasional rain.

Saudi Arabia Yours to Discover

People tend to think of Saudi Arabia as an expanse of scorchingly hot desert punctuated with oil wells, and for most of the time in most of the country, they would be absolutely right. From May to September, the central areas of the country (basically everything except the coasts) bake in temperatures that average 42°C and regularly exceed 50°C in the shade. In July and August, in particular, all who can flee the country and work slows down to a crawl. The coasts, on the other hand, are moderated by the sea, which usually keeps temperatures below 38°C — but at the price of extreme humidity (85-100%), which may even be more uncomfortable than the dry heat of the interior, especially at night. Only the elevated mountainous regions stay cool(er), with the unofficial summer capital of Taif rarely topping 35°C and the mountaineous Asir region cooler yet.

In winter, though, it's a surprisingly different story. Daytime highs in Riyadh in December average only 7°C, and temperatures can easily fall below zero at night, occasionally even resulting in a sprinkling of snow in the southern mountains. The winter is also the only season when it rains at all in most of the country, although in many years this is limited to one or two torrential outbursts. In the south, though, this pattern is reversed, with most rain falling during the Indian Ocean's monsoon season between May and October.

http://www.wayfaring.info/category/countries/saudi-arabia/

Norway

Norway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The fjords in the west of the country are long narrow inlets, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the sea penetrates far inland. Norway was an old Viking kingdom. Economically it is known for its oil and seafood exports.

Norway is a sparsely populated country, roughly the same land size as Great Britain or Germany. It has a population of only 4.76 million people but a land area of 385,155 square kilometers. Thus, for each inhabitant there is 70,000 square meters of land, but the vast majority of this land is a rocky wilderness which is completely unusable for agricultural purposes. As a result, Norway has a large number of completely unpopulated areas, many of which have been converted to national parks. Even outside the national parks, much of the land is unspoiled nature, which Norwegians strive to keep unspoiled.

In winter, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and snowboarding are very popular. In summer, hiking and biking are obvious ways to enjoy the enormous mountain areas. For the adventurous, kayaking, wildwater rafting, paragliding, cave or glacier exploration are possible. Car tourists will enjoy driving along the fjords and mountains in the west or to the midnight sun in the north. In short, Norway has a lot to offer in terms of nature. Norwegians take pride in keeping fit and being sporty (a Sunday walk is not 20 min to the pub but rather three-four hours or more in the forest or up a mountain).

Norway is on a large peninsula shared with Sweden in the north of Europe. In the north, it also borders Finland and Russia. A large but loosely defined northern part of of Norway and Sweden, as well as parts of Finland and Russia outlines an area known as Sapmi (Sameland), which is where the most of the Sami people traditionally lived. Today, most of the Sami people live in the capital, Oslo.

A rugged landscape shaped by the Ice Age, shows forested hills and valleys, mountains, waterfalls, and a long coastline with fjords, islands, and mountains growing directly up from the sea. Norway's highest point is Galdhøpiggen, 2469m (8100ft) in the Jotunheimen region that lies midway between Oslo and Trondheim, but away from the coast. In the far north (Finnmark), you will find flatter open spaces. Several of the worlds greatest waterfalls [2] are in Norway, particularly in the western fjords and the mountain region.

Norway's primary income is the petroleum industry in the North Sea. It also has several other natural resources such as fish and minerals, some industry, and a healthy technology sector. Politically, it is dominated by a widespread and continued support for the Scandinavian model, which means high taxes and high government spending to support free schools, free healthcare, an efficient welfare system and many other benefits. As a result the unemployment rate in Norway is extremely low (about 2%).

The Norwegian people have rejected membership in the European Union (EU) in two independent popular votes in 1972 and 1994, both times just by a few percent, after being vetoed out of membership by France in the 50s and 60s. However, being a member state of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen agreement, Norway is closely connected to the EU, and integrated as a full member in most economic matters, as well as in customs and immigration matters. This is of great economic importance to Norway.

Norway is a Christian country, so Sunday is considered a holy day and most business are closed Sundays. Many gas stations are open 24-7, some malls are partly open and restaurants are normally open, but this varies from place to place. Christmas and Easter are major holidays in Norway, and most Norwegians are on vacation for more than one week. Formally it is a Christian country with a dominant Lutheran majority of near 90 %, but this number is skewed by a type of automatic membership of the state church, where people become automatic members when they're baptised or if one of the parents is a member. In reality, roughly 3/4 is atheist or agnostic. Because of this, Norway has become rather liberal in moral issues and thus more similar to southern neighbors like Denmark and the Netherlands. Prostitution is (as of 1.1.2009) illegal in Norway. Homosexuality is accepted by most people and recently (2008) same-sex marriage was given the same legal status as traditional marriage. For instance, a previous male minister of finance and prominent figure in the conservative party is in partnership with a prominent male business manager.

As one of the richest countries in the world and with a strong currency, most visitors should be prepared for greater expenses than at home. In addition, Norway has a very compressed wage structure which means that even the typical low skill work is relatively well paid. For the same reason, firms try to keep the number of staff as low as possible, even for low skill service work. On the other hand, many attractions in Norway are free of charge, most notably the landscape and nature itself.

Norway is a country for every age

Because of the gulf stream, the climate in Norway is noticeably warmer than what would otherwise be expected at such a high latitude. Almost half the length of Norway is north of the arctic circle. Summers can be moderately warm (up to 30 degrees C), even in northern areas, but only for limited periods. The length of the winter and amount of snow varies. In the north there is more snow and winters are dark; on the southern and western coast, winters are moderate and rainy, while further inland the temperature can fall below -25 degrees C. Some mountain areas have permanent glaciers.

In Northern Norway there is 24 hour sunshine in the summer and no sun at all at mid-winter. Although Southern Norway can not enjoy the midnight sun, at midsummer the night is very short even in Oslo - it doesn't get really dark at all.

Norway Travel: Oslo/Bergen-Travel Video PostCard

Norway generally has big differences in daylight, temperature and driving conditions across seasons. Travellers are therefore advised to obtain specific information about seasonal variations when planning a trip. Note that seasonal variations crucially depend on region as well as altitude. Note in particular that the area with midnight sun (north of the arctic circle) also has winter darkness (polar night) when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all.

Norwegian weather is most pleasant during the summer (May to early September). If you like snow, go to Norway in December to April. Along the coasts and in southern part of West Norway there is little snow or frost and few opportunities for skiing even in winter. In the mountains there is snow until May and some mountain passes opens end of May. If you come in the beginning of May some passes can be still closed, but since the snow is melting very quickly, you will get a possibility to enjoy plenty of waterfalls before they shallow or disappear. And in this time the number of tourists is very small. Spring in Norway is quite intense due to the abundance of water (melting snow) in conjunction with plenty of sunlight and quickly rising temperatures (typically in May).

Be aware that daylight varies greatly during the year. In Oslo, the sun sets at around 3.30 PM in December. North of the Arctic Circle one can experience the midnight sun and polar night (winter darkness). However, even at Oslo's latitude, summer nights exist only in the form of prolonged twilight during June and July, these gentle "white nights" can also be a nice and unusual experience for visitors. The polar (or northern) light (aurora borealis) occurs in the darker months, frequently at high latitudes (Northern Norway) but occasionaly also further South.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Norway

Iceland

Took a FREE walking tour around the centre of the city for about 2 hours. We didn't actually walk too far, but got some interesting information about the city, it's people and it's culture. I was amazed that almost everybody's ancestory is known and recorded back as far as the original settlers. It was also interesting to hear about the geneology of Icelanders... the male line is predominantly linked to Denmark (the good old Vikings) and the female line is linked to Ireland! Our guide reckoned, in true romantic fashion, that the Vikings which had arrived to Ireland, fell in love with the Irish cailins (girls) and they decided to settle on this amazing island to the north!!! (Perhaps he was just charming us Irish so as to get a decent tip!!) It was also nice to hear that the Icelandic language remains unchanged from it's origins... the earliest written documents can be as easily read by Icelanders as a book published today. I think the language is fascinating and would dearly like to learn more than the few basic phrases I picked up.

Spot the whales
Tjornin lake
see all photos » On that note I must admit that the vast majority of Irish, and indeed English people should really be ashamed when it comes to other languages. Too often we 'expect' people to speak to us in English and make no effort to attempt their language. I hate that! BUT, hats off to all the people I've met and dealt with on my travels - your ability to switch over and converse in English truly amazes me. It was most evident to me after our walking tour, when we stopped for a bite to eat on one of the local squares where a group of young boys (aged 8-14) were skateboarding and hanging out. They would be talking together and without any hestiation, they would switch to English and hold a perfectly fluent conversation with us. I'd love to see Irish kids try that in reverse!!!!


Hello... Mr. Whale... are you there?
see all photos » Anyhow, back to the days activities...

After lunch, we headed for the docks and took a Whale-watching tour which went out into Faxafloi Bay. Now, I've done a few whale-watching trips before, so I knew what signs I was looking for. Not long into our trip, we encountered some dolphins and got some great views of the puffins (Boy, do they flap their wings!). Then, the smell came...stinking! There is nothing worse than the smell of whale breath- you'd think there was something dead and rotten around. Anyhow, we were blessed to see a pair of Minkes, which is quite unusual, as they tend to be solitary more often than not. On our return journey, things seemed to be quiet, the whales were nowhere to be found when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a whale breach the water. I couldn't believe it as no one around me saw it. THEN, amazingly, it breached a further 4 times!!! Funny thing was, the guide didn't spot it at all, so the majority of the people on the boat, didn't see it either. I think I should become a whale watcher, I'd be good at it!!!

Landed in Keflavic airport where the bus was waiting to transport us to the capital, about 40mins away. It was raining lightly when we arrived adn we were told to expect it at some stage each day.

Checked in to Apartment K and were taken aback by the extremely high standards that were evident in every room, which was to be our home for the next 8 nights. We would have been happy being locked into it for the week, it was that nice! I would recommend these Apartments to anyone thinking of staying here. Apparently, some have even availed of them as Honeymoon suites, they're that good - better than a 4* hotel and not far off a 5* one, in my opinion.

First thoughts
Main Street, Reykjavik
see all photos » After unpacking, we decided to take a stroll and locate the Pizza Company, which came highly recommended by the owner of the apartment. On leaving the building, I was a little taken aback... we were staying on the main street of the city, but it didn't look like any of the main streets of any of the capital cities I've been in before. Nope, this was more like a side street. One-way, one lane traffic and small, yet quaint, boutiques and jewellery shops aligning it. There were no big department stores, no traffic lights, no crowds! A strange sight to behold in a capital city. Yet, it grew on me very quickly and it will be a main street I won't easily forget.


View from Apartment
see all photos » After having a tasty, yet expensive, pizza, we took a short walk further along the street, window shopping and getting our bearings before returning to the luxurious Apartment K to relax and prepare for day 2

OK, so we're in Iceland and the first port of call for anyone travelling here is usually a visit to the Blue Lagoon and we're no different!

Because we had no car hired, we decided to travel to/from the Lagoon with Iceland Excursions, who provide the transport, reduced entry tickets, collect you from your hotel/apartment and drop you back, while the driver gives you that little extra info on the journey.

What's that mud on your face!
The famous mud
see all photos » The Blue Lagoon is about 40mins out of the city, not too far from the airport and is set in the midst of an expansive lava field. The facilities are top class and you can't help but relax while bathing in the geothermal seawater surrounded by lava rocks adn fresh air.

On entering the lagoon you have a little giggle at all the people covered in a white thick mud, but then this white mud (silica & algae) is world famous for it's positive effects on the skin, so you just join the club and laugh a yourself too! Other treatments are available, some for a further price, but worth it if you really need to relax. The temperature of the water varies from spot to spot, so it's easy to find the place that suits you best.


Entrance through lava field
see all photos » It really is a relaxing experience sitting out in the open air in warm water and treating your skin. What an experience it must be when the place is covered in snow!

After a few hours chilling, we caught the bus back home, cooked up a nice dinner, went for a little stroll around the city and took an early night.

Iceland - Geysir: blue waters

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway, then Denmark, achieving full independence in 1944.

Iceland experiences a rather mild climate for a country on such a northern latitude, yet weather patterns are known to be volatile, conditions changing frequently. During the summer months, Iceland never reaches full darkness, and in northern areas a Midnight Sun can be seen. Iceland's stunning landscape provides areas of geothermal activity, mountains, waterfalls and glaciers. It's cities although small, provide both a taste of traditional culture and the chance to experience the Icelandic way of life

Iceland on dirtbikes


http://www.visiticeland.com/

sweden

The midnight sun, the snowbound winters, meatballs, herring, Vikings and Volvos, ABBA and the Hives - whatever your pre-existing notions about Sweden may be, a visit to this multifaceted country is bound to both confirm and confound them. Though you’re unlikely to be greeted at the shore by throngs of mead-swilling berserkers in longships, evidence of the Vikings and their pillaging days is easy to find. A stroll through the Swedish countryside will often lead to a picnic on some ancient king’s burial mound. Cycling routes frequently pass through fields crowned with ship-shaped stone graves. In cities and alongside roadways, rune stones staunchly declare the historical equivalent of ‘Ingmar was here’. But Sweden’s days as a warlike nation are long gone. Instead, its domestic and international policies serve as models of neutrality and consensus-building. This is, after all, the birthplace of the Nobel Peace Prize. Travellers today are more likely to be slayed by visions of pastoral beauty - intense green countryside, impenetrable forests, little red cottages atop remote islands and, everywhere, Sweden’s famously clear blue water.

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That’s not to say all the excitement ended thousands of years ago - far from it. While tradition reigns in places like Dalarna in the Swedish heartland and the Sami territory up north, much of Sweden today buzzes with a more contemporary energy. A wave of immigration in recent years has added spark and variety to the cultural milieu. Urban centres like Stockholm, Göteborg (otherwise known as Gothenburg) and Malmö consistently churn out cultural artefacts for an international audience (think IKEA, H&M, Absolut Vodka). The Island of Gotland, lying roughly equidistant between Sweden and Latvia, is Sweden's most richly historical area but also has a hip party vibe. Travellers come to Sweden as much for the flash clubs and ground-breaking new restaurants as they do for wilderness hikes and visits to wooden-horse factories.

Sweden


A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995, and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Travel Guide - Stockholm, Sweden

Although having been a military power and spanning about three times its current size during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. Having long remained outside military alliances (including both World Wars), the country has a high peace profile, with internationally renowned names such as Raoul Wallenberg, Dag Hammarskjöld, Olof Palme and Hans Blix. Sweden is a monarchy by constitution, but king Carl XVI Gustaf has no executive power. The country has a long tradition of Lutheran-Protestant Christianity, but today's Sweden is a secular state with few church-goers.

Sweden has a capitalist system and is a developed post-industrial society with an advanced welfare state. The standard of living and life expectancy rank among the highest in the world. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, but decided by a referendum in 2003 not to commit to the European Monetary Union and the euro currency. Leadership of Sweden has for the larger part of the 20th century been dominated by the Social Democratic Party, which started out at the end of the 19th century as a labor movement, but today pursues a mix of socialism and social-liberalism. Since the most recent election, a coalition of center-right liberal/conservative parties has come into power.

http://swedentravelnet.com/

India

The Taj Hotel, Mumbai
As expected landing in Mumbai at 2.30 in the morning provided us with a full on assault to all the senses. The noise (lorries have 'Ok Horn Please' written on them to encourage anyone unsure over whether or not to use the device), the smell and the heat. Our guidebook informed us that it's best not to take a taxi from the airport into Mumbai between 2 and 6 in the morning as they are often hijacked at this time. We didn't read this until afterwards though. The taxi journey itself served to fully demonstrate that we were now in India. It's about 45 minutes from the airport to the Moti Hotel and for the most of that journey we were passing thousands of people sleeping on the pavement, under bridges or on roundabouts.

Sleep was the order of the day when we arrived. When we woke at about midday we met our hotel owner, Raj who was very welcoming - probably helped by the fact that we had with us the bottle of scotch he'd instructed me to pick up for him from duty free in Singapore. Our hotel was just round the corner from the Gateway of India
The Gateway to India
and the Taj Hotel (where part of the terrorist attacks occurred 18 months ago), so we wandered round these for a bit then headed across to the other side of the peninsula to Marine Drive and Chowpatty beach.

On our second day we visited an orphanage which Valentina had found. The lady suggested we bring fruit and chocolate for the children. So during the day we set off to Crawford market to try and find something suitable. After the 3km walk in 34 degree heat we were told by a couple of shifty looking characters at the entrance that we couldn't go into the market unless we had a guide. Surprisingly we were not entirely convinced this was true so we had to sneak in round the back. We decided mangoes would be a good idea as they came in boxes of 24. After getting various quotes of around 600 rupees we came across some young purveyors of the fruit. These lads seemed to be keen to sell us something for the fun of dealing with westerners. Frantic undercutting ensued between them as they each tried to secure our cash. Eventually having tasted the goods we went for the
Alphonso variety at 300 rupees a box. Very pleased with our business there we were too and a series of photos were taken by all parties in the deal (and many who weren't). Carrying the mangoes on the way back, I became a different species in the eyes of the locals. On the way there I was stared at like an alien (as has become the norm for most of the trip) but now with my fruit on my shoulder I was one of them and received words of encouragement, pats on the back and smiles from most people I now passed. Strange.

On our third day in Mumbai we took a tour to the city's biggest slum and the second largest in the world, Dharavi. It's an amazing place, not the complete picture of poverty you might expect. It's a city within a city, containing over a million people and has all the facilities it's inhabitants need - shops, schools, hospitals etc. These facilities are in places vastly insufficient, 6 toilets being shared by over a thousand people for example. Dharavi also has it's own industries such as pottery, textiles and increasingly recycling which help produce a turnover
Leopolds Cafe
The bullet holes from the Mumbai attackof over $665 million a year. Although most people are here because they can't afford to live anywhere else many people were given a house as part of government attempts to clear the area. Some of these people rent out that house and continue to live in the slum. Our guide for example was telling us about a friend of his who's an air stewardess and owns two apartments in New Mumbai which she rents out while she lives in the slum.

En route to the slum we were shown the world's largest open air laundry, Dhobi Ghat (a sight much more impressive than it sounds).

In our first three days in India I'd say there were more people trying to rip us off than in the previous 8 months combined. Any financial transaction where the price is not clearly written will mean a westerner will probably pay at least 5 times more than the locals. In some instances we just accept this but more often than not my pride refuses me to allow it as it makes me feel like a fool. A prime incident being when we were in the taxi to an orphanage. The driver

wanted 300 rupees for a journey that on the meter costs 60. Unfortunately this debate only began once we were in the car so we had to jump out in the middle of the packed traffic as we refused to pay that much. 300 rupees is about 4 gbp but it's the principle of the matter. One of the less sophisticated attempts to swindle cash out of us occurred when we were waiting for our bus out of Mumbai. Standing at the bus stop a man approached us and we had the following conversation;

Him: I work for the bus company and my boss says you have to pay me 50 rupees for showing you where your seat is when the bus gets here.
Me: Did he really? I think we'll find our own seat thanks.
Him: So you don't want my help?
Me: No thanks.
Him: Do you want some hash?

Our next stop was Aurangabad where we arrived at around 6 in the morning after an uncomfortable coach journey through the night. After catching up on our sleep we visited Daulatabad fort. The following day we went to the Ellora Caves. Both of these sights were

very impressive however my overriding memory will be of the vast numbers of people wanting to take their picture with us. The problem with this is when it's a group of around 20 or so and they each want an individual picture on each of their cameras as well as numerous group pictures on each camera. I'm happy to meet my fans but there is only so much of me to go around.

Next up was a mammoth journey north to Rajasthan and Udaipur. We weren't able to go direct so had to get two buses. The first was a sleeper and we had our own kind of cabin which was more like a fish tank. This was fine though. The second bus however didn't have air conditioning so for six hours in 40 degree heat we bounced along north west India. Valentina sitting near the window had the added issue of the dust blowing in her face. We were pleased to arrive. We didn't exert ourselves particularly during our time in Udaipur, we visited the Palace and Temple but mostly just lounged about. It is a very nice place for that though.

After another horrendous bus journey
lasting about 16 hours without air conditioning we arrived in Jaisalmer. As is the norm in India we were greeted by a large group of touts trying to get us into their rickshaw, hotel or travel company. Sure enough 20 minutes later we were sat opposite a man trying to sell us a Camel Safari in the desert. Having just driven through the desert for 5 hours I couldn't see any reason why I'd want to wander round it on a camel for two days and pay for the privilege. When I expressed this to the salesman adding that the 43 degree heat made it particularly unappealing he responded by saying 'it's not hot in the desert'. Despite this insult to our intelligence a day and a half later I was boarding my trusty steed (Johnny) and Valentina was doing the same on Shamil and Mr Khan was leading us into the uninviting, arid wilderness. It turned out to be pretty hot in the desert and after two hours, at about 9.30am, we got ourselves under a tree and into some shade. Mr Khan prepared us some masala chai and a nice brunch of curry and chapattis. We stayed under

that tree for 6 hours before we dared venture out into the blistering heat again. At around 6 we arrived at some sand dunes which was where we were due to spend the night. This part of the trip was quite enjoyable, it felt a bit biblical sitting under a starry sky in the desert with our camels. Any enjoyment was short lived however when a sandstorm arrived at around 10. From where I was sleeping I shouted across to Mr Khan for instructions as to the standard procedure in such situations, his chilling response was 'nothing'. So we just lay there getting pelted by sand for 3 hours before eventually falling asleep. The next day took on a similar format to the first and the sight of the jeep coming to collect us at around 6 in the evening was an incredibly welcome one.

Goa: fishermen move their boat


From the foothills of the Himalayas to the backwaters of Kerala, to the slums of Calcuta, to the ashrams, to the beaches of Goa.... India will fascinate, shock and excite.

So, strap on your seatbelt for a rollercoaster of a travel experience around this incredible sub continent. You will love it or hate it. You'll not forget it.

India is nicey. It is spicey. It is dicey, and if you are not careful it will be bery bery pricey my friend. Beware of touts and scams.

Travel Video, Kerala, India


In our first three days in India I'd say there were more people trying to rip us off than in the previous 8 months combined. Any financial transaction where the price is not clearly written will mean a westerner will probably pay at least 5 times more than the locals. In some instances we just accept this but more often than not my pride refuses me to allow it as it makes me feel like a fool. A prime incident being when we were in the taxi to an orphanage. The driver

wanted 300 rupees for a journey that on the meter costs 60. Unfortunately this debate only began once we were in the car so we had to jump out in the middle of the packed traffic as we refused to pay that much. 300 rupees is about 4 gbp but it's the principle of the matter. One of the less sophisticated attempts to swindle cash out of us occurred when we were waiting for our bus out of Mumbai. Standing at the bus stop a man approached us and we had the following conversation

http://www.passingthroughindia.com/main_page.html

Poland

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland currently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The establishment of a Polish state is often identified with the adoption of Christianity by its ruler Mieszko I, in 966, when the state covered territory similar to that of present-day Poland. The Kingdom of Poland was formed in 1025, and in 1569 it cemented a long association with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by signing the Union of Lublin, forming the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The commonwealth collapsed in 1795, and Poland's territory was partitioned among the Kingdom of Prussia, the Russian Empire, and Austria. Poland regained its independence as the Second Polish Republic in 1918, after World War I, but was later occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. Poland lost over six million citizens in World War II, emerging several years later as the People's Republic of Poland within the Eastern Bloc under Soviet influence.

During the Revolutions of 1989, communist rule was overthrown and Poland became what is constitutionally known as the "Third Polish Republic". Poland is a unitary state, made up of sixteen voivodeships (Polish: województwo). Poland is a member of the European Union, NATO, United Nations, World Trade Organization, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).




Our site provides visitors with photographs and brief outlines of villages and towns in Poland; offers news from Poland in English; alongwith details of places of interest, tourist attractions, and major cities throughout Poland such as Gorzow, Krakow; Poznan and Szczecin. If you want to know something about Poland this is the place for you! If you want to locate photographs - either contemporary or historic - of any location in Poland do contact us. We might well be able to help. Our aim is to allow English speakers the chance to see photographs of most locations with over 5,000 residents in Poland, and villages of all sizes in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) and Western Pomerania.

You might want to try searching for towns and places of interest using the search box below. If you can't find what you are looking for don't despair, we might have added it recently and it might not yet have been indexed. If this is the case try the links above or contact us and make a request for information on any aspect of life in Poland or photographs of any village, town or city in western Poland.


Krakow (Cracow) lies in the southern part of Poland on the Vistula River in a valley at the foot of the Carpathian Plateau. It is a capital of Lesser Poland Voivodeship, as well as the third largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland.

The city covers an area of 327 square kilometres (126.2 square miles). It lies in a region of temperate climate. The population of Krakow is around 750,000 and 1,400,000 in the metropolitan area. The population density is 2,314 inhabitants per square kilometre.

The name of the city is derived from the name Krakus, the legendary founder of the city, the ruler of the Lechitian (Polish) tribe. Although the town originated in the 7th century, the first mention of Prince Krakus dated back to 1190. Krakow got the city rights on June 5, 1257.

For centuries Krakow was the capital of Poland (from 1038 to 1596), the seat of kings, drawing great scholars and artists from the whole world. It still remains the spiritual heart of Poland. In 2000 Krakow gained the status European Capital of Culture. It has 28 museums and public art galleries, some of the best in the country. It is a major centre of local and international tourism. Seven million visitors come here every year. To the most famous landmarks belong Main Market Square with St. Mary's Basilica and the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, the Wawel Castle, the National Art Museum, the Zygmunt Bell at the Wawel Cathedral, and the medieval St Florian's Gate with the Barbican along the Royal Coronation Route. The historic centre of the town (Old Town, Kazimier and the Wawel Castle) was inscribed in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

Krakow is ranked as the fourth industrial city in the country, with metallurgic, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries dominating. The share of the private sector in Krakow industry has considerably increased over the past decade-and-a-half. International investment, tourism and the property market have grown toward the Western European average. Administratively, Kraków is divided into 18 administrative districts, each with a degree of autonomy within its own municipal government.

http://www.polandforall.com/

Russia

The political state of Russia emerged following the expansion of the principality of Muscovy - emerging from Mongol domination to conquer and absorb the surrounding principalities. The Romanov dynasty continued this expansionist policy. Peter I extended Muscovy's rule to the Baltic Sea, and the Russian Empire came into being. The dramatic fall of the Romanov dynasty, the formation of the USSR under Lenin, the brutal dictatorship of Stalin and the Cold War placed the USSR at the forefront of world politics. The USSR dissolved under Gorbachev, and 15 separate republics were formed in 1991. Although vastly reduced territorially, Russia remains a vast and powerful state, retaining political influence in the region and worldwide. This one is going to make Americans jealous. Members of a gang who sent two “black widow” suicide bombers into the Moscow Metro have been killed by secret agents, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said yesterday, reports UK’s Times. One of those killed by the FSB had escorted the women suicide bombers to Moscow from the North Caucasus region of Russia and another had led the women to the underground network on the day of the attacks, Mr. Bortnikov, the FSB chief said. Three people believed to have organized the terror attack were killed after refusing to surrender he told President Medvedev. “To our great regret, we did not manage to seize them alive. They offered bitter armed resistance and were destroyed,” he added. President Medvedev said that “there was nothing to be sorry about.”

“I wonder how many pieces they were sliced & diced into...” asked us one of our readers. Regardless of the amount of slicing and dicing, the way Russia’s FSB avoided dealing with legalities of a lifetime sentence versus a death penalty was truly remarkable. European laws and human rights organizations pressed Russian government to issue moratorium on capital punishment in 1996. On November 19, 2009, the Constitutional Court of Russia extended the national moratorium "until the ratification of 6th Protocol to the European Convention of Human Rights," of which Russia is already a signatory, effectively banning capital punishment during peacetime. We sincerely hope that terrorists continue their “bitter armed resistance” when detained by FSB, FBI, or CIA agents. A Russian warship hunted down an oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates and special forces rappelled on board Thursday, surprising the outlaws, who surrendered after a 22-minute gunbattle. Twenty-three Russian sailors were freed, reports MSNBC. The dramatic Indian Ocean rescue came a day after pirates seized the tanker, which was heading toward China carrying $50 million worth of crude. One pirate was killed and 10 others were arrested, officials said.

The Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov had rushed to the scene following Wednesday's seizure of the Liberian-flagged tanker, Moscow University. Special forces troops rappelled down to the tanker from a helicopter, Rear Adm. Jan Thornqvist, the EU Naval Force commander, told an Associated Press reporter. "The operation's success was due to the surprise factor, said a Russian military officer aboard the warship. "The pirates were taken by surprise. They did not expect such resolute measures from us," Capt. Ildar Akhmerov told RIA Novosti news agency.

The pirates were to be taken to Moscow to face criminal charges. Russia Blog does not envy the pirates fate in Russian prisons, assuming they survive the "relocation." President Medvedev hinted that hard times are awaiting them. "Perhaps we should get back to the idea of establishing an international court and other legal tools" to prosecute pirates, he said. "Until then, we'll have to do what our forefathers did when they met the pirates."




Moscow: St Basil's Cathedral at night

For centuries the world has wondered what to believe about Russia. The country has been reported variously as a land of unbelievable riches and indescribable poverty, cruel tyrants and great minds, generous hospitality and meddlesome bureaucracy, beautiful ballets and industrial monstrosities, pious faith and unbridled hedonism.





These eternal Russian truths coexist in equally diverse landscapes of icy tundra and sun-kissed beaches, dense silver birch and fir forests and deep and mysterious lakes, snow-capped mountains and swaying grasslands – those famous steppes. Factor in ancient fortresses, luxurious palaces, swirly spired churches and lost-in-time wooden villages and you’ll begin to see why Russia is simply amazing.
http://www.russia-travel.com/

Canada

Today on campuses across Canada, university officials and Conservative politicians will be announcing the first winners of the Canada Excellence Research Chairs competition. Sometimes referred to by academics as the “uber-chairs,” the CERCs seek to add an extra layer of, well, elitism (and believe me, I mean that in a good way) on top of the hundreds of federally-funded Canada Research Chairs who’ve already transformed Canadian research.
The goal of the CERCs is to give 20 chairholders and their research teams up to $10 million each for seven-year research programs. That’s a lot of money and, I suspect even more important, a solid long-term commitment to do good science without having to spend half your time doing grant applications for next year. The program is explicitly designed to draw international along with domestic talent, although one of the interest twists is that for the preliminary, short-list round, universities submitted research projects without saying who they had in mind to do the work.
I immigrated to Canada about three years ago. I was born and raised in Syracuse, NY in a residential area called Strathmore. It was a nice neighborhood; homeland of Onondaga Park, Syracuse’s Historic Preservation District.

I moved from Strathmore to attend Syracuse University, majoring in Broadcast Journalism. I was very happy with my university experience but if there was anything that journalism had taught me, it was that I needed some real life experience too. And, to gain it, I would have to step outside my Syracustic comfort zone.

Okay, so I didn’t venture off to India or anything, but come on, I had been living in Syracuse all my life! And, I knew that Canada had cities like Toronto and Montreal, which embraced a great variety of cultures that I could surround myself with.

Deciding between Montreal and Toronto was tough. Both cities had a lot to offer. But I was very attracted to the idea of Montreal- a bilingual city. French Canadian culture and politics fascinated me and I thought it would be good to learn a new language.

I figured the best way to integrate myself was to apply to school. So I applied for a student visa at College Platon, a language school in the city’s Plateau area, in order to learn French. A few months later, I got my acceptance and it was finally time to say goodbye to Syracuse.

I did quite a bit of traveling back and forth from Syracuse to Montreal, trying to find an apartment near school. It was a great area, surrounded by trendy bars, shops, restaurants and a wonderful community of local artists. What a change from my home town! It was every bit as cool as New York City, but so much more intimate. I was in love.

I found myself a small studio apartment on St. Viateur Street (just across the street from the best bagel shop in the world). Once I was settled in, the job search began. I desperately needed a part-time job while I was going to school. This was a bit tricky though, considering the language barrier. The Canadian business directory became my new form of literature. I called just about every broadcasting, media, and newspaper outlet I could find, over a month’s span. I attended copious interviews, until finally, I got hired!

It was a part-time job as a technical writer for a pharmaceutical company. Not that I had much experience, but they needed English writers and I was willing to do anything at that point.

I became very good friends with one of my work colleagues and she helped me improve my French. She was like my own personal tour guide, introducing me to all the best kept secrets of the city. We went to great local restaurants; the Jean Talon market; theatre productions; live music shows; jazz clubs…. Needless to say, I fell madly in love with this girl and after six months, we moved in together.

After about two years of living together, I decided to propose, and lucky for me, she said “yes”. I was thrilled. By this point, I was done school and had started working as a Personality Afternoon Host for AM Talk Radio station, CJAD. I am currently still working at the station. My wife is now a Senior Medical Writer and Research Assistant for another pharmaceutical company.




Canada Photos - Pictures from Canadian Provinces


CANADA: The land of nature, untouched scenery, native culture, amazing wildlife, modern industry and endless wilderness - just to mention a few impressions which come to our mind when we are thinking about Canada. It is a country of contrast, culture and diversity.
A land mass between the Atlantic along the east coast and the Pacific Ocean at the western coastline, to the south it borders to the United States of America, while the Northern-Western border facing Alaska and the high canadian arctic in the east facing Greenland. With a total of close to 10 million km2 or roughly 3.9 sqm it has almost the same size as Europe.

Trip Across Canada

A land mass between the Atlantic along the east coast and the Pacific Ocean at the western coastline, to the south it borders to the United States of America, while the Northern-Western border facing Alaska and the high canadian arctic in the east facing Greenland. With a total of close to 10 million km2 or roughly 3.9 sqm it has almost the same size as Europe.

http://www.canada.travel/selectCountry.html