landmark

Sydney Harbour Bridge

james.bell — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:27:47 +0100

5 Cumberland Street,
Sydney.

Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most renowned bridges in Australia. It was opened in 1932 and is still marvelled at for its design and its magnitude. Why not try to climb all 200 stairs which will lead you to Pylon Lookout enabling you to view the whole city, as well as renowned attractions such as Sydney Port and Sydney Opera House.

You can also visit BridgeClimb which enables you to reach the highest point of Sydney Harbour Bridge, or discover its history at the Pylon Lookout museum which displays objects and tools used to make the bridge as well as information about JJC Bradfield, the engineer responsible for building the bridge.

The museum also includes a model of the bridge and a display showing the construction process. The galleries will unveil some of your burning questions such as how many rivets where used during the building process and how many people crossed it before it was opened.

Sydney Guide | Monuments in Sydney

Chinatown

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:58:08 +0100

Chinatown,
Bangkok

Chinatown in Bangkok is one of the only districts in Bangkok which has escaped modern development and the rise of the skyscrapers. The area is mainly inhabited by Chinese which have been living there for generations and so consider themselves as Thais rather than Chinese.

Chinatown is not one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and very little English is spoken in the area. However, there are a number of things you must see while in Chinatown, such as Wat Traimit, home to the largest golden Buddha in the world, and Wat Mangko Kamalawt and Li Thi Miew Temple.

The most famous street in Chinatown is Yaowarat Road which is lined with gold shops and street markets selling Thai souvenirs. The most famous gold shop in the area, Tant To Gung is in Chinatown, so don't leave the area without having a look.

Bangkok Guide

The Grand Palace, Bangkok

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:24:07 +0100

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is definitely a tourist attraction not to be missed during your visit to the city. Behind the walls surrounding the complex, are luxurious palaces, government buildings and famous temples which form a small city located on Ratanakosin Island. The palace was built in 1782 for King Rama I and was his home for 150 years.

One of the most popular attractions within the palace grounds are Wat Phra Keow, otherwise known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha which is renowned as the most sacred temple in Thailand and has a Buddha made from carved jade. Other tourist attractions are Wat Po, the famous Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and Chakri Maha Prasad Throne Hall which is found within the palace.

Bangkok Guide | Historical buildings in Bangkok

Wat Pho – The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

james.bell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:08:59 +0100

Thai Wang Road and Maharat Road,
Bangkok

Wat Pho is the largest temple in Bangkok and is home to a colossal sized, gold plated, reclining Buddha, measuring 46m long and 15m high. Within the grounds of Wat Pho there are about 1,000 Buddhas which originate from Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, two Thai cities.

Each year, thousands of visitors come to see the world's largest reclining Buddha in Wat Pho and make a wish by placing a coin in one of the pots on the walls of the temple. Or, if you want to try a Thai massage, you can have one at the temple massage centre.

Bangkok Guide | Temples in Bangkok

Kensington market, Toronto

james.bell — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:48:06 +0100

Kensington Market,
Toronto.

Kensington Market was founded at the start of the 20th century and is a multicultural and dynamic district which gets its name from the open-air markets which lines the streets. It is one of the oldest districts in the city with narrow, busy streets which are packed with shops and restaurants.

It was mainly Jews who lived in Kensington Market when it was first founded. However, immigrants from the Caribbean, East Asia and the rest of the world began to move into the area as the years went by.

Kensington market, Toronto

james.bell — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:48:06 +0100

Toronto City Hall, Toronto

james.bell — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:38:50 +0100

100 Queen St. W.,
Nathan Phillips Square,
Toronto

One of the city icons is Toronto City Hall which is a skyscraper built at the start of 1960 and is located in Nathan Phillips Square.

It was designed by a Finnish architect Viljo Revell in the shape of an eye, with two semicircular buildings which represent the eyelids and a huge meeting room in the centre which represents the pupil.

In front of the building you will see Nathan Phillips Square with a fountain which is used as an ice rink during the winter months. There are open-air concerts held in the area and it is also where the annual New Year's Eve party is held.

Yonge Street, Toronto

james.bell — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:28:51 +0100

Yonge Street is one of the most famous streets in Toronto and it features in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world, measuring 1,178 miles.

There are many tourist attractions and shopping centres located along this street and it is renowned for having more than 600 shops, 150 bars and restaurants.

Some of the many attractions in this street are Toronto Eaton Centre, Dundas Square, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Toronto Public Library. You will also be able to see live theatrical performances or attend a performance at one of the theatres in Yonge Street.

Yonge Street divides the east of the city from the west and is used for public celebrations, concerts and open-air shows.

Empire State Building

javier — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:01:37 +0200

5th Avenue 305
New York

The Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue and is renowned for its role in the famous Hollywood film, King Kong. The building was opened in 1931 and is 450m tall with 102 floors and boasts beautiful views of the whole city. It was the tallest building in the world when it was first erected, however, today, it is the second tallest building in the United States just behind the Sears Towers in Chicago.

The observatory is located in the highest part of the skyscraper and you can visit it by day or night. There are 73 lifts in the building so you will not have to climb the 1,860 stairs to reach the last floor of the building.

The building has starred in a number of films such as Independence Day and Sleepless in Seattle. It was damaged 1945 when an aeroplane crashed into the building causing a minor fire and it has been scaled by the French climber Alain Rober, otherwise known as Spiderman.

New York Guide

CN Tower

javier — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:01:36 +0200

301 Front Street West
Toronto
Ontario

The CN Tower in Canada or the Canadian National Tower was the highest structure in the world, measuring 553.33m. Construction of the tower began in 1973 and it was opened in 1976 to improve communications in the city which had deteriorated because of the skyscrapers which were shooting up all over the city.

Since it was built, it has become one of the most famous attractions in the city with tourists coming from all over the world to scale the building.

The first stop on the way up the tower is the outdoor observation level with a glass floor standing 342m above the ground. Climb a little further to the next observation level where you will find the CN Tower coffee shop, Horizons Café at 346m high.

On the top floor of the tower is the Sky Pod which stands at 447m and is the most popular attraction. It is the highest observation point in the world and on a clear day it boasts very impressive views over the city centre and its outskirts.

Another attraction which welcomes more than two million visitors each year is the 360 restaurant which is located at 351m high and offers panoramic views over Toronto.