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Tiananmen SquareSquares, Streets & Urban Spaces in Beijing, China Meaning ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace‘, Tiananmen Square is now, conversely, best known internationally for the protests that took place there in 1989 leading to the massacre of students and intellectuals. The most famous image of the square is probably the photo of ‘The Unknown Rebel’, the lone protestor facing down four tanks. Prior to 1989 Tiananmen Square hosted numerous other major events in China’s history including the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China by Chairman Mao and subsequent anniversary celebrations and several other key labour protests. The open, flat expanse of Tiananmen Square stretches between two massive sets of gates at either end, san trees or benches, only the 40m high carved pale stone plinth, the Monument to the People’s Heros and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong break the central concrete flatness. Floodlights with cameras and police patrol the edges. The walls enclosing the Forbidden City run along one edge and a museum now runs along another. For fact fiends, Tiananmen Square is also the world’s largest square: 800m x 500m.
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Review by Photo by flickr user d'n'c |
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BagatelleGardens in Normandy, France Bagatelle is widely known for its rose gardens. There was originally only one rosary, but a second was later added - one displaying traditional rose specimens and the other showing the evolution of this queen of flowers. Roses are labelled by name, origin, class, and year of introduction. Bagatelle is also used for exhibitions and other cultural events. A must for flower and garden lovers.
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Review by Photo by flickr user loran |
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Great Barrier ReefCoral Reefs in Great Barrier Reef, Australia Diving for me is a magical experience and diving the Great Barrier Reef was the one of the finest and exotic dives that I’ll never forget. Not only is it the largest reef on this planet, it’s also a home to countless species of corals and fish life which can be found no where else. Not to mention the Great Barrier Reef is a centre of coral diversity – great for coral lovers. While I was pursuing my masters degree I dived extensively on various dive spots around Townsville (Wheeler's reef, Davis reef, Broad Hurst Reef, Bowden Reef, just to name a few) and witnessed the very wonders of the magnificent reef. Personally I preferred diving outside the main Barrier Reef since water visibility is much better compared to the inside. A must see for everyone is coral spawning and this well documented on the Great Barrier Reef. Corals are animals and they reproduce once every year for a couple of nights during which all corals simultaneously let go of their eggs and sperms packaged in a bundle. Millions of bundles are released. It’s like being in a situation where the snow is falling upside down. Personally I prefer to dive the Great Barrier Reef, whether its outer or inner reefs, during the dry, cool months since the water visibility is much better during this season. As for getting to the reef, live-aboard is much better if you're prone to sea sickness. A lot of dive centres can predict the day and time corals will spawn and often base their drive trips around this event. Again there no guarantees in nature, it may happen or it may not – plan well and take a chance.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Leonard Low |
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Temple of Confucius (Kongmiao)Temples in Beijing, China Now the Beijing Capital Museum, the Beijing Temple of Confucius was originally built in 1302 as a place to pay homage to - you guessed it - Confucius. The massive complex (22,000m square) is second only in size and importance in Confucius worship to the Temple of Confucius in Qufu in Shandong Province, which was where Confucius lived. Four huge courtyards make up the complex around raised rectangular gates, halls and pavilions. The main hall is called Dacheng or Great Accomplishment Hall and is where the largest memorial ceremonies are held, but it has the character of a museum rather than a temple due to the stone tablets listed with names and labels which decorate it and the next door souvenir shop. The courtyards with their gnarled cypresses, including one which is said to be able to tell which people are good and which are evil, are much more to Confucius’s style of thought.
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Review by Photo by worldreviewer |
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Lemur Town (Berenty Lemur Reserve)Wildlife in Madagascar 80% of Madagascar’s plants and animals are unique to the island making it a tropical paradise of unusual creatures and experiences. Among the most unique looking of Madagascar’s inhabitants are the lemurs, with their huge eyes and expressive faces, and chameleons, with their amazing camouflage techniques. Berenty Reserve is the world's largest lemur reserve and study facility, and home to six different types of lemur. Berenty has been open for 70 years, and the lemurs, though wild, have grown used to humans and will dance around and demand bananas from visitors (especially the ring-tailed lemurs, who are the most out going and saunter around the park with their stripy tails in the air.). Two of the Berenty lemur species are nocturnal and there is a camp on the site where you can stay and go for evening lemur spotting walks. The reserve is also home to several kinds of snakes (though not deadly), flying foxes, and magical chameleons. Madagascar is a fantastic place for budding botanists to visit with its unusual Dragon’s Blood trees, spiny forests and baobabs. The best weather conditions for visiting Madagascar are between May and October (but Berenty’s lemur cubs are usually born between September and October.).
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Review by Photo by flickr user belgianchocolate |
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