Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Things you can do in Jordan

Home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world,JORDAN,officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is not only a country dense with history but also full of mesmerizing beauty and Arab heritage.


You see conjuring images of sheikhs, camels, deserts and Arabic culture all around but Jordan is so much more. Explore Jerash, one of the largest and most well-preserved Roman ruins in the world. Discover the mysteries of the Dead Sea, the dramatic scenery of Wadi Rum and of course, not forgetting the most spectacular of all: the red rock city of Petra.


Jordan is a country for all seasons. In winter it offers therapy at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth where “floating” rather than “swimming” is a unique adventure in the extremely saline and mineral rich waters. There are no fish or any kind of swimming, squirming creatures living in or near the water. So, you really don’t need to worry when you dive in it. A unique combination of several factors makes Dead Sea’s total attraction: the chemical composition of its water, the filtered sunrays and oxygen-rich air, the mineral-rich black mud along the shoreline, and the adjacent fresh water and thermal mineral springs.


The adventurous travelers can practice year round a variety of water sports at the resort of Aqaba, on the Red Sea, home of one of the best coral reefs in the world, where fantasy, sun and sea meet the charms and atmosphere of antiquity. For relaxation, water sports like snorkeling,para- sailing,fishing etc, and winter warmth, Aqaba is warm, sunny and inviting, fringed with palm trees, lapped by the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, cooled by a steady northerly breeze, and ringed by mountains that change in color with the change of the hours. In one of the most exciting discoveries in recent times, archaeologists in Aqaba have unearthed what they believe to be the world’s oldest church, from the late 3rd century AD.


The more romantic visitor can camp in Bedouin tents or sleep right under the stars, climb mountains or ride camels on the very trek followed in desert of Wadi Rum by Lawrence of Arabia. A journey to Wadi Rum is a journey to another world. A vast, silent place, timeless and starkly beautiful Wadi Rum is one of Jordan’s main tourist attractions being the most stunning desertscape in the World. Serious trekkers will be drawn to Wadi Rum, with challenging climbs some 1750 m high, while casual hikers can enjoy an easy course through the colorful hills and canyons. Naturalists will be drawn to the desert in springtime, when rains bring the greening of the hills and an explosion of 2000 species of wildflowers. Red anemones, poppies and the striking black iris, Jordan’s national flower, all grows at will by the roadside and in more quiet reaches.


In summer, Petra, the ancient rose-red city carved in mountain rock is your ultimate and astonishing destination. Petra sights are at their best in early morning and late afternoon, when the sun warms the multicolored stones, you can view the majesty of Petra as it was seen first when discovered in 1812 after being lost by the 16th century

Sunday, December 12, 2010

New 7 Wonders of the World

Coatepeque continues on to the second round of the New 7 Wonders of the World


The Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador announced that Lake Coatepeque has successfully passed on to the second round for the selection of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

The New7Wonder Foundation will select the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World in 2011.

The candidacy of Lake Coatepeque has been fostered by a group of private sector entrepreneurs who in December 2008 formed the Lake Coatepeque Tourism and Cultural Committee.

Between now and July 7th, the competition will contemplate 261 worldwide destinations in the second round of which 77 will be selected. On July 21st, a panel of experts will announce the 21 destinations that will compete for two years in the final round, to determine the 7 New Natural Wonders of the World.

Monday, November 15, 2010

World 7 Wonders 2010, CNN version

Recently, renowned foreign media, namely CNN, introducing the 7 wonders of the world’s latest version for 2010. Apparently a lot of changes of the 7 wonders of the world that they release. Some of the wonders of the world that were previously entered into the list of 7 wonders of the world, but now some have shifted his position, was replaced by another new world wonders. Whatever the results of their assessment, the result is indeed a miracle on earth. This is a list of 7 wonders of the world’s newest 2010 version of CNN:

1. Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON, one of world 7 wonder

Grand Canyon, Colorado river

Grand Canyon is a National Park located in the United States, precisely in the Arizona primary. Grand Canyon is a vast area, which has steep cliffs that are very deep. These chasms formed by the flow of the Colorado River over

Sunday, November 14, 2010

What would you nominate as today’s 7 Wonders of the World

7 Wonders of the World

  • Tourists on a banca explore the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park at Kabayugan town, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, western Philippines, February 13, 2011. The park is attempting to be voted one of the new 7 Wonders of the World.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

New Wonders and Ancient Wonders of The World

1) Christ the Redeemer:


The 105-foot-tall (38-meter-tall) 'Christ the Redeemer' statue
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was among the "new seven wonders
of the world" announced on July 7, 2007 following a global poll
to decide a new list of human-made marvels.

The winners were voted for by Internet and phone,
American Idol style.

The other six new wonders are the Colosseum in Rome,
India's Taj Mahal,the Great Wall of China, Jordan's
ancient city of Petra, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru,
and the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza in Mexico.
Content courtesy: National Geographic


2) Great Wall of China:


This newly elected world wonder was built along China's
northern border over many centuries to keep out
invading Mongol tribes.

Constructed between the fifth century B.C. and
the 16th century,the Great Wall is the world's longest
human-made structure, stretching some 4,000 miles
(6,400 kilometers). The best known section was built
around 200 B.C. by the first emperor of China,
Qin Shi Huang Di.

3) The Colosseum, Rome, Italy :


The only finalist from Europe to make it into the top seven
the Colosseum in Rome, Italy-once held up to 50,000 spectators
who came to watch gory games involving gladiators,
wild animals, and prisoners.

Construction began around A.D. 70 under Emperor Vespasian.
Modern sports stadiums still resemble the Colosseum's
famous design.



4) Petra, Jordan:


Perched on the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was
the capital of the Nabataean kingdom of King Aretas IV
(9 B.C. to A.D. 40).

Petra is famous for its many stone structures such as
a 138-foot-tall (42-meter-tall) temple carved with classical
facades into rose-colored rock. The ancient city also
included tunnels,water chambers, and an amphitheater,
which held 4,000 people. The desert site wasn't known to
the West until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
came across it in 1812.



5) Machu Picchu, Peru:


One of three successful candidates from
Latin America, Machu Picchu is a 15th-century mountain
settlement in the Amazon region of Peru.

The ruined city is among the best known remnants of the
Inca civilization,which flourished in the Andes region of
western South America. The city is thought to have been
abandoned following an outbreak of deadly smallpox,
a disease introduced in the 1500s by invading
Spanish forces.

6)Chichen Itza, Mexico:


Chichen Itza is possibly the most famous temple city of the Mayas,
a pre-Columbian civilization that lived in present day Central America.
It was the political and religious center of
Maya civilization during the period from A.D. 750 to 1200.

At the city's heart lies the Temple of Kukulkan
(pictured)-which rises to a height of 79 feet (24 meters).
Each of its four sides has 91 steps-one step
for each day of the year, with the 365th day
represented by the platform on the top.


7) Taj Mahal, India:


The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, is the spectacular
mausoleum built by Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
to honor the memory of his beloved
late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Construction began in 1632 and took about 15 years
to complete. The opulent, domed mausoleum, which stands
in formal walled gardens, is generally regarded as
finest example of Mughal art and architecture.
It includes four minarets, each more than 13 stories tall.

Shah Jahan was deposed and put under house arrest by
one of his sons soon after the Taj Mahal's completion.
It's said that he spent the rest of his days gazing
at the Taj Mahal from a window.


8) The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt:


The Egyptian pharaoh Khufu built the Great Pyramid in
about 2560 B.C. to serve as his tomb. The pyramid is
the oldest structure on the original list of the seven wonders
of the ancient world, which was compiled by Greek scholars
about 2,200 years ago. It is also the only remaining
survivor from the original list.

The Great Pyramid is the largest of three Pyramids at Giza,
bordering modern-day Cairo. Although weathering has
caused the structure to stand a few feet shorter today,
the pyramid was about 480 feet (145 meters) high when it
was first built. It is thought to have been the planet's tallest
human-made structure for more than four millennia.

9) The Colossus of Rhodes, Greece :


In contrast to the pyramids, the colossus was the shortest lived
of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Completed in 282 B.C.
after taking 12 years to build, the Colossus of Rhodes was felled by
an earthquake that snapped the statue off at the knees a mere
56 years later.

The towering figure-made of stone and iron with an outer skin
of bronze represented the Greek sun god Helios, the island's
patron god. It looked out from Mandraki Harbor on the
Mediterranean island of Rodos (Rhodes), although
it is no longer believed to have straddled
the harbor entrance as often shown in illustrations.

The Colossus stood about 110 feet (33 meters) tall,
making it the tallest known statue of the ancient world.
It was erected to celebrate the unification of the island's
three city-states, which successfully
resisted a long siege by the Antigonids of Macedonia.


10) The Lighthouse of Alexandra, Egypt:


The lighthouse was the only ancient wonder that had a
practical use, serving as a beacon for ships in the dangerous waters
off the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, now called El Iskandariya.

Constructed on the small island of Pharos between 285 and 247 B.C.,
the building was the world's tallest for many centuries. Its estimated
height was 384 feet (117 meters) -equivalent to a
modern 40-story building- though some people believe
it was significantly taller.



The lighthouse was operated using fire at night and polished
bronze mirrors that reflected the sun during the day.
It's said the light could be seen for more than 35 miles
(50 kilometers) out to sea.

The huge structure towered over the Mediterranean
coast for more than 1,500 years before being seriously
damaged by earthquakes in A.D. 1303 and 1323.



11) The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece:


The massive gold statue of the king of the Greek gods
was built in honor of the original Olympic games, which
began in the ancient city of Olympia.

The statue, completed by the classical sculptor Phidias
around 432 B.C., sat on a jewel-encrusted wooden throne
inside a temple overlooking the city. The 40-foot-tall
(12-meter-tall) figure held a scepter in one hand and a small statue
of the goddess of victory, Nike, in the other both made from
ivory and precious metals.

The temple was closed when the Olympics were banned
as a pagan practice in A.D. 391, after Christianity became
the official religion of the Roman Empire.

The statue was eventually destroyed, although historians
debate whether it perished with the temple or was moved to
Constantinople (now Istanbul) in Turkey and burned in a fire.


12) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq :



The hanging gardens are said to have stood on the banks of the
Euphrates River in modern-day Iraq, although there's some doubt as
to whether they ever really existed.

The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II supposedly created the
terraced gardens around 600 B.C. at his royal palace in the
Mesopotamian desert. It is said the gardens were made to please
the king's wife, who missed the lush greenery of her homeland in
the Medes, in what is now northern Iran.

Archaeologists have yet to agree on the likely site of the
hanging gardens,but findings in the region that could be
its remains include the foundations of a palace and a nearby
vaulted building with an irrigation well.

The most detailed descriptions of the gardens come
from Greek historians. There is no mention of them in
ancient Babylonian records.



13) The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Turkey :


The famous tomb at Halicarnassus-now the city of Bodrum-was built
between 370 and 350 B.C. for King Mausolus of Caria, a region
in the southwest of modern Turkey. Legend says that the king's grieving
wife Artemisia II had the tomb constructed as a memorial to their love.

Mausolus was a satrap, or governor, in the Persian Empire, and his
fabled tomb is the source of the word "mausoleum." The structure
measured 120 feet (40 meters) long and 140 feet (45 meters) tall.

The tomb was most admired for its architectural beauty and splendor.
The central burial chamber was decorated in gold, while the exterior
was adorned with ornate stone friezes and sculptures created by
four Greek artists.

The mausoleum stood intact until the early 15th century,
when Christian Crusaders dismantled it for building material
for a new castle. Some of the sculptures and frieze sections survived
and can be seen today at the British Museum in London, England.




14) The Temple of Artemis, Turkey :


The great marble temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis was
completed around 550 B.C. at Ephesus, near the modern-day town
of Seluk in Turkey.

In addition to its 120 columns, each standing 60 feet (20 meters) high,
the temple was said to have held many exquisite artworks, including
bronze statues of the Amazons, a mythical race of female warriors.

A man named Herostratus reportedly burned down the temple
in 356 B.C. in an attempt to immortalize his name. After
being restored, the temple was destroyed by the Goths
in A.D. 262 and again by the Christians in A.D. 401 on the orders
of Saint John Chrysostom,then archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul).

Friday, October 15, 2010

Vote for Bu Tinah Island Among the New 7 Wonders of Nature

bu-tinah island

The World Cup to find the world’s New 7 Natural Wonders is still going on, until 11/11/2011 and the winners are going to be the ones who get more votes worldwide. The New 7 Wonders of Nature is competition to select the best 7 natural places in the world among 500 places. Bu Tinah a bio-diverse island to the western shores of Abu Dhabi has reached to the final 28 places, and it asking for your vote, to be from the new 7 wonders of nature. Bu Tinah is the only finalist from the Arabian Gulf. after the break you will find more details about BuTtinah island and how to Vote for Bu Tinah

According description from New7wonders ”off the western shores of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, lies a unique natural treasure, wild and undisturbed by human activity: Bu Tinah Island. Bu Tinah’s thriving ecosystem forms a unique living laboratory with key significance for climate change research. An undisturbed paradise, Bu Tinah has much to teach mankind about environmental protection and survival. This distinctive natural habitat has shallow waters, seagrass beds and tall mangroves, set amid extensive coral reefs. It hosts beautiful and endangered marine life. Seabirds, including flamingos and osprey, various species of dolphins and the critically endangered hawksbill turtle live in Bu Tinah. The island’s waters host the world’s second-largest population of dugong, a large marine mammal that is threatened worldwide. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve – the region’s largest marine reserve. Its protection and survival must be ensured.”

I encourage you, all the bloggers and the rest of the media to spread the word about Bu Tinah and the rest of natural sites. to increase our knowledge and awareness of these beautiful places and how to protect them.

For more information go to new7wonders.com

How to Vote for Bu Tinah island:

Vote By SMS: Simply text Bu Tinah and send it to 3888. Each SMS costs AED 2 only and you can vote as many times as you like.

Note: Available to UAE residents only.