The Leshan Giant Buddha – The Stone Statue Known For Its Solemn Stillness

The Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest stone statue of Buddha in the world. It is situated near Leshan in China. The stone statue is headed towards the Mount Emei. The statue is considered as the tallest one in the world. It is not only the tallest but also the largest figure of Buddha. It is designed in the traditional Chinese style and gives a brief insight about the architecture of the Tang Dynasty. The giant figure is about 71 meters high. It took a very long time to complete the statue taking around 90 years and thousands of artisans to fully design and built it. The construction began in the 713 and was completed in 803. The stone carved figure was designed and constructed by Haithong. He was the biggest follower of Buddha and when he was collecting the amount for building the statue he was greatly harassed. So he donated his eyes to shoe how strong his beliefs were. When he died the construction was left in between then after a huge span of time, a disciple of Haithong thought of completing the work of his master. Thus it was finally completed by him in 803.

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Bokor National Park – Abode For Endangered Species

Bokor National Park

The Bokor National Park is officially known as the Preah Monivong National Park. The National Park of Cambodia covers a distance of nearly 1581 sq km. It is the primary wooded area of the nation and is quite prosperous in the terms of the prevalent flora. This park provides a hostage to globally endangered animals like the tiger, chestnut – headed partridge and also the green peafowl. Apart from all this the place is a rainforest with some perpetual calls of birds and bugs. The central attraction in the national park is the Popokvil Waterfalls and the discarded hill station of Bokor.
The moist evergreen wooded land of Bokor comprises of a deciduous forest in its northern part. It is a home for a variety of rare and threatened  animals that embrace the Indian Elephant, leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, Malayan Sun Bear, Pileated Gibbon, Pig – tailed Macaque, snow loris, red muntjac deer, lesser mouse deer, pangolin, yellow throated martin, small Asian mongoose and a huge variety of the civet, porcupine, squirrel  and bats. Over 300 species of birds reside in this national park that includes a variety of hornbills. The Bokor National Park of Cambodia is threatened by poaching and illegal logging in its northern extremities the even now. In the 1990′s there was a proposal of transforming this National Park in the World’s Heritage site. But unfortunately the administration was not able to take the initiative to this project because of the economic inability.
On the leading edge of the Bokor National Park you will come across an informative chart. This visual aid will give you the information of about the rare animals dwelling in the park. It will also draw your attention towards the challenges met by the ecologists of this area in preserving the wildlife of the park. The plans to re – establish some resorts and lodges in this area are yet not implemented. Conversationalists hold a hope that the astute tourism development will be a source of income to both the local community as well as the management of the park. The best way to arrive at the Bokor National Park is via motorcycle. You can also hire the motodop (motorcycle drivers). The benefit of this is that you will get innumerable taxi drivers that converse in English. So they can serve you as linguist and guides to this National Park. You can also rent your own car and driver. The boulevard at the acme of the hill is quite jarring. I hope that you will have a great time in this region. You will have a great time at this spot.

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Washington DC

Washington DC, United States

Washington DC is the capital of the United States. More formally known as the District of Columbia, this federal district is not part of any one state, though it is bordered by the states of Maryland and Virginia. Washington DC is home to many of the important government buildings of the United States, including the White House and the US Capitol Building. But that’s not all this magnificent city is known for.
Washington DC is also a hotbed a culture, housing some of the finest art and history museums in the United States. And of course, there are the many impressive monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, the towering Washington Monument and reflecting pool, the Jefferson Memorial, the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the US Marine Corps Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Other popular stops for visitors include the Library of Congress, and the 19 museums operated by the Smithsonian Institution. The city is also known for its performing arts centers, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (home to the National Symphony Orchestra), the Washington National Opera, and the Washington Ballet. Nature-loving tourists flock to the city in the spring when the cherry blossom trees that line the city’s streets are in full bloom.

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Togean Island A Mythical Beach Paradise

The Togean Islands have been out of the sights and the minds of many people since a long time. The ignorance of the Indonesian Government towards this tourist spot has rendered it undeveloped. The islands have served as the vanguard for many groups of conversationalists. Many efforts were made so that the spot can gain the status of the Togean National Park. Nevertheless, due to the slow – moving machinery of the bureaucratic helms in Jakarta the spot has never seeded the status of the national park. The efforts are now in action to grant the local marine preservation rights to this area. It is expected that the process will gain a speed and encourage the local dwellers of this place to guard the area properly. This will bring the required revenue to the common dwellers of this area of Sulawesi. The travelers of this place have to undergo a long tour. The place makes you have the benefit of the lazy days.  You can enjoy the sunbathing, beachcombing, scuba diving and snorkeling.  You may explore the dense wooded forests of this beach. The lifestyle of the people of this area is simply appealing and tempting.

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Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus)

There are two species of land iguana found in the Galapagos; this species Conolophus subcristatus, is found on six islands and Conolophus pallidus is found only on Santa Fe. This species is very large, growing to lengths of over a meter. The short head is blunt and the back legs are thick and powerful, with long sharp claws on the toes. It is yellowish in colour with blotches of white, black, rust and brown and a row of spines passes along the centre of the neck and back.

Galapagos land iguanas are active during the day. They maintain their body temperature by basking in the sun to warm up and seeking shade when they become too hot. In the morning they can be found basking, but during the heat of midday they tend to retreat into shade. At night they sleep in burrows which they dig themselves. This species is omnivorous but tends to mainly eat plants and the fruits and pads of cactus trees. They may remove the spines with their claws, and these cacti provide them with plenty of moisture during dry spells. This species has an interesting relationship with Galapagos finches; the iguanas often raise themselves from the ground and allow the finches to remove ticks from their bodies.

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Noordhoek Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

If an expansive white sand beach is what you’re looking for, Noordhoek Beach near Cape Town, South Africa can’t be beat. Only 35km (22 miles) from the center of Cape Town, Noordhoek beach is ideal for walkers and those seeking a horseback ride on the beach. There are also two excellent surf spots off the beach called the Hoek and Dunes. On the southern end of the beach you can find a century old wrecked steamship named the “Kakapo.” The beach is fairly isolated and lacks development so swimmers and surfers should use caution in the water. There are a couple restaurants near the beach, but for accommodation your best bet will be in Cape Town proper. A gorgeous view of the beach can be had from the top of nearby Chapman’s Peak.

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The Top 5 National Parks in Alaska

Autumn on Telaquana Lake in Lake Clark National Park Alaska

Denali National Park

Denali National Park It's more than a mountain. Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. The park was  established as Mt. McKinley National Park on Feb. 26, 1917. The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The Park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976.

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