Monday, January 28, 2013

Burj Al Arab, Dubai - Officially Rated a Seven Stars Hotel

The Seven Star team’s most recent travel agenda included a review of the “world's most luxurious hotel,” Burj Al Arab. The Seven Stars team presented the Seven Stars Award in December 2012 after an review of Dubai's most iconic building to the management and staff of Burj Al Arab. "The level of service we experienced during our stay at Burj Al Arab was what one would expect from a true Seven Stars hotel," said Mr. Buehrmann, President of Seven Stars and Stripes.

Burj Al Arab, Dubai - Officially Rated a Seven Stars Hotel
New York, NY, January 24, 2013 --(PR.com)-- www.sevenstarsandstripes.com/magazine.asp

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE Received the Seven Stars and Stripes Award

The Seven Star team’s most recent travel agenda included a review of the “world's most luxurious hotel,” Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs). Although no longer the world’s tallest hotel, Burj Al Arab is still Dubai's most iconic building, featuring the world’s tallest atrium (180 meters = 590 ft), residing on its own man made island and resembling the billowing sail of a dhow. The Seven Stars team presented the Seven Stars Award in December 2012 after an review of Dubai's most iconic building to the management and staff of Burj Al Arab. "The level of service we experienced during our stay at Burj Al Arab was what one would expect from a true Seven Star hotel or resort. This hotel is uncompromisingly well managed by GM Heinrich Morio and his team is impeccably well trained; definitely living up to its reputation," said Mr. Buehrmann, President of Seven Stars and Stripes. The Seven Stars team has been reviewing the finest hotel, resorts, spa and restaurants around the globe for over a decade and were on their way home from South Africa where they filmed the Seven Stars Travel Show at "Karkloof," Africa's first Seven Stars "Safari Spa."

10 Of The Coolest Hotel Suites In The World

10 Of The Coolest Hotel Suites In The World

Ever wondered what the most expensive hotel suite in the world is, the most extravagant, with the most beautiful natural scenery, a celebrity hotspot, or the most off-the-wall? This list of the coolest hotel suites on the planet will answer all of these questions, as well as give you a visual look at these awesome hotel rooms with photos and video, and maybe even help you start planning your next trip. If you are after a holiday with a difference, then check out these stunning hotels!

Russia's Ten Ritziest Hotels

Russian hotels regularly top “world’s most expensive” lists, so it should come as no surprise that rooms across the country take luxury to new levels.

Here are 10 of the most over-the-top experiences that money -- lots of it -- can buy.

The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

The Ritz-Carlton, MoscowEven breathing here can cost a fortune. 

Forget vodka. At the O2 Lounge crowning the Ritz-Carlton you can order shots of oxygen to go with your sushi, while looking down on Red Square and the Kremlin.

Rooms come with polished cherrywood furniture, Frette linens, feather bedding and heated marble bathroom floors.

The Ritz-Carlton Suite has a grand piano, library and sauna, as well as drop-dead-gorgeous views of St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Gothic iron staircases and black pillars lead to the Lobby Lounge, where the who’s who of Russian society eat caviar: beluga, salmon, golden.

The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, Tverskaya St. 3, Moscow; +7 495 225 888; from RUB 29,000 (US$931) per night; www.ritzcarlton.com

Amalfi Coast, Italy Travel Guide

The Amalfi Coast lies in the southwestern region of Campania, Italy. For its extraordinary beauty and its iconic medieval cliffside Mediterranean fishing villages, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A View of Positano
Positano looking back along the coast to Praiano. Amalfi Coast, Italy - photo by Atilla2008

Declared one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its undisputed beauty and the uniqueness of its natural landscape, the Amalfi Coast is the land characterised by the oxymoronic combination between mountain and sea, the farmer and the fisherman. The mountain, that thanks to the intense work of man, has been adapted to the demands of life over the ages. It plunges steeply into a sea, creating charming coves, deep fjords, cliffs, caverns, bays, natural arches and small pebble beaches; natural elements that have created, over the centuries, an enchanting, sinuous and seductive landscape: it is certainly not a coincidence that this area is known as the land of the Sirens, in the Homer's epic poem "Odysseus". Typical houses, painted in warm pastel colors, follow the natural slope of the foothills of Mounts Lattari, leaning against each other, creating a very picturesque landscape. From the characteristic terraces, built with dry stone walls, expands the intense scents of the lemon groves, the vineyards, the broom, the bright colors of bougainvillea which, combined with the smell of salt air, creates a unique sensory experience.

Thirteen are the pearls of this land, located along a stretch of road among the most scenic in the world, ripped from the bare rock, which give the tourists strong emotions, pleasant memories and a strong desire to return as soon as possible to this little piece of heaven on earth:

- Vietri sul Mare, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, coming from Salerno, famous throughout the world for the production of ceramics, with its intense and vivid colors, and the beautiful hill towns of Albori and Raito;
- Cetara, a small fishing village, that has become famous over the years for its fishing related products, creating culinary specialties appreciated world-wide, such as the salted anchovy sauce and red tuna, for example;
- Maiori, the ancient Reghinna Major, which, despite the wide promenade and appearance of the new town, hides a very charming old town, made up of narrow streets and alleys, dominated by the imposing castle of San Nicola de Thoro Plano, to the north, and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare, to the west;
- Tramonti, a group of villages and districts set among the green mountains, covered with vineyards, away from the clamor of the other coastal countries, well known for its authentic flavors, the excellent wines and dairy products;
- Minori, the ancient Reghinna Minor, with the remains of the Roman Villa of the I century A.D., the magnificent Basilica of Santa Trofimena and the tasty hand-made pasta, gastronomic specialty of the town;
- Atrani, one of the smallest municipalities in Southern Italy, with its picturesque square and the ancient church of San Salvatore de' Birecto (X century), where during the times of the ancient Maritime Republic of Amalfi, the Dukes (Dogi) received their official investiture;
- Ravello, which, with its breathtaking views, at the top of its 350 meters above sea level, with its beautiful patrician villas (Rufolo and Cimbrone), the cathedral of San Pantaleone and its architectural treasures, have enchanted over the centuries important writers, artists and chiefs of state, such as: Boccaccio, Wagner, DH Lawrence, V. Woolf, Gore Vidal, Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart, JF Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline, and many others;
- Scala, full of fascinating corners over the coastline and important monuments. It is the oldest town of the Amalfi Coast and was the birthplace of Fra' Gerardo Sasso, founder of the Knights of Malta;
- Amalfi, the first of the four Maritime Republics in Italy, with its imposing Cathedral entitled to St. Andrew, preceded by an imposing staircase, the ancient arsenals of the Republic, the Cloister of Paradise and the Paper Museum, in which tourists and curious can admire the antique methods of production of the precious handmade paper of Amalfi;
- Conca dei Marini, a village overlooking the deep blue sea with the spectacular Emerald Grotto, the scenic church of San Pancrazio, the austere convent of Santa Rosa, perched to the rock, where the famous "sfogliatella Santa Rosa" was realized for the first time;
- Furore, also known as "the town that does not exist", with its deep fjord characterised by a wild beauty, the "en plein air" murals and the small villages scattered along the slopes of the mountain;
- Praiano, with its narrow streets scented of geraniums, the beach of La Praia, the Saracen towers, the majolica dome of the Church of St. Luca the Evangelist, the impressive Monastery of Santa Maria a Castro and its romantic sunsets, admiring the bay of Positano, the Sorrento Peninsula and the Faraglioni of Capri;
- Positano, the pearl of the Divine Coast, with its typical "Moda Positano" sandals and linen clothes craft shops, the charm of its old noble palaces, the Church of the Assumption (near which were recently unearthed the remains of a Roman villa) and the charming panorama of the "Li Galli" islands in the background.

Positano
Positano, Amalfi Coast - photo by oןɹɐɔcarlo

The Amalfi Coast (Italian: Costiera Amalfitana) is a stretch of coastline on the southern coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula in the Province of Salerno in Southern Italy. The Amalfi Coast is a popular tourist destination for the region and Italy as a whole, attracting thousands of tourists annually. During the 10th–11th centuries, the Duchy of Amalfi existed on the territory of the Amalfi Coast, centered in the town of Amalfi. The Amalfi coast was later controlled by the Principality of Salerno, until Amalfi was sacked by the Republic of Pisa in 1137. Since then the Amalfi coast has experienced a crisis. But after the unification of Italy the Amalfi coast has enjoyed a huge economic revival, prompted even by the international tourism. In 1997, the Amalfi Coast was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape.

Like the rest of the region, the Amalfi Coast lies in a Mediterranean climate, featuring warm summers and mild winters. It is located on the relatively steep southern shore of the Sorrentine Peninsula, leaving little room for rural and agricultural territories. The only land route to the Amalfi Coast is the 40 kilometres (25 miles) long Strada Statale 163 which runs along the coastline from the town of Vietri sul Mare in the east to Positano in the west. Thirteen municipalities are located on the Amalfi Coast, many of them centered around tourism.

The Amalfi Coast is known for its production of limoncello liqueur as the area is a known cultivator of lemons, known as sfusato amalfitano in Italian, which are grown in terraced gardens along the entire coast between February and October. Amalfi is also a known maker of a hand-made thick paper which is called bambagina. Other renowned local products are a particular kind of anchovies (local Italian: alici) from Cetara, and the colorful handmade ceramics from Vietri.

The Ten Best Castles in Europe

Castles originated in Europe over a thousand years ago. These fortresses were one of the original defense systems, and erecting the structures on hills or just beyond moats was a functional choice. Castles were built to house rulers, impose power, and above all, spurn would be attackers. Conforming to these basic principles of utilitarian design, the strongholds now appear solitary, majestic, and frozen in time. The attackers are long gone, and now a steady stream of camera clutching invaders breach the castles daily, ready to inspect the epic grandeur of the past.



While Europe has hundreds of excellent castles, these ten all have design, character, and history that sets them apart. Some occupy the center of bustling cities, while others lurk in forgotten countrysides. Spanning eight countries across Europe, each of these castles has a story to tell.



best castles in europe
Prague Castle
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Nearest airport: Prague Airport

Year originally built: 870

Inhabitants: Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors, and presidents of the Czech Republic

Interesting fact: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Prague castle is the largest castle complex in the world.



Top 25 Hotels in the World - Travelers' Choice 2013

Here are the most beautiful hotels in 2013, as voted by Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice 2013.



Resort pool and beach

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii


“The site of the hotel is beyond lovely—nestled on the shore among the blackened lava flows and banyan trees. I can't speak to the area around the resort, because it's so beautiful that honestly, you don't feel the desire to venture out.”


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Most Beautiful Pictures of Inca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Inca is a town on the Spanish island of Majorca. The population of the municipality is 25,900 (2004) in an area of 58.4 km².

There is a junction station Majorca rail network with trains to Palma, the island's capital, to Sa Pobla, and to Manacor.

Inca is home of the footwear company "Camper".

Inca is known for its wine cellars. The town, like its neighboring municipality Binissalem, was a mass producer of wine from the 17th to 19th centuries when phylloxera destroyed the industry and its inhabitants turned to other activities such as tanning and leather craftsmanship. Many old wine cellars are being used as restaurants for serving traditional Mallorcan dishes like sopes mallorquines, tombet and gató d'ametlles.
FIND HOTELS IN INCA, BALEARIC ISLANDS, SPAIN

Red, like Ferrari.

Monday, January 21, 2013

The Most Beautiful Pictures of Victoria Beach, Manitoba, Canada

Victoria Beach is a rural municipality located on the southeastern shores of Lake Winnipeg. It is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Winnipeg, the provincial capital of Manitoba, Canada. Its land area is 20.279 km² (7.83 sq mi), making it the smallest rural municipality in Manitoba. It is slightly less than half the size of the next-smallest Rural Municipality of East St. Paul. It lies on a small peninsula that extends into Lake Winnipeg, and is almost completely surrounded by the lake, but does share a small southern land border with the Rural Municipality of Alexander. Elk Island Provincial Park lies on an island in the north end of the municipality.

The Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Victoria Beach is a so-called "resort municipality". Some of the finest beaches in Manitoba are located within the boundaries of the municipality.

As of spring 2011, Victoria Beach has a permanent population of 450 residents, but during the summer vacation season the population swells to about 16,000 people. Unlike other resort areas, (such as Grand Beach) the municipality has no campgrounds, no picnic areas or tourist attractions. The community is operated by The Rural Municipality of Victoria Beach for the purpose of providing permanent residents and cottagers with a relaxed, private, enjoyable atmosphere, without excessive public traffic and commercialization.

FIND HOTELS IN VICTORIA BEACH, CANADA

The Great Divide

The Mop

DSC_0268 - Version 2

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Most Beautiful Pictures of Romania (500px)

Romania (România) is a country located north of the Balkan Peninsula on the western shores of the Black Sea. It is a country of great natural beauty and diversity and a rich cultural heritage. Romania enchants visitors with its scenic mountain landscapes and unspoilt rural areas, but also with its historic cities and its busy capital. Over the last decade, it has seen significant development and is one of the most recent members of the European Union. Still, it may surprise some of its visitors who are used to western Europe. Romania is a large country which can sometimes be shocking with contrasts: some cities are truly Western Europe; some villages can seem to have been brought back from the past. While it has significant cultural similarities with other Balkan states, it is regarded as unique due to its strong Latin heritage. Things for which Romania is famous include: the Carpathian mountains, Constantin Brancusi, wine, medieval fortresses, Mircea Eliade, Dacia cars, Dracula, stuffed cabbage leaves, Nadia Comaneci, the Black Sea, Gheorghe Hagi, sunflower fields, painted monasteries and the Danube Delta.

Romania is an amazingly beautiful country. Check out some wonderful pictures below:

Rainbow  by Guy Cohen (guy_santos)) on 500px.com
Sighisoara
Rainbow by Guy Cohen
Morning walk by Stefan Andronache (StefanAndronache)) on 500px.com
Bucharest
Morning walk by Stefan Andronache
The Herd by Guy Cohen (guy_santos)) on 500px.com
The Herd by Guy Cohen
Sunset Trip ...  by Liron Hamelnick (LironHamelnick)) on 500px.com
Sunset Trip ... by Liron Hamelnick
The Transfăgărășan by Tony Goran (tonygoran)) on 500px.com
The Transfăgărășan by Tony Goran

The Transfăgărășan (trans (over, across) + Făgăraș) or DN7C is the second-highest paved road in Romania, and considered by some[who?] to be the most dramatic. Built as a strategic military route, the 90 km of twists and turns run north to south across the tallest sections of the Southern Carpathians, between the highest peak in the country, Moldoveanu, and the second highest, Negoiu. The road connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia, and the cities of Sibiu and Pitești.The road climbs to 2,034 metres altitude. The most spectacular route is from the North. It is a winding road, dotted with steep hairpin turns, long S-curves, and sharp descents. The Transfăgărășan is both an attraction and a challenge for hikers, cyclists, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts alike.In September 2009 the cast and crew of the British television show Top Gear were seen filming along the road.[2] The segment appeared in first episode of Series 14 which first aired November 15, 2009. They were in the country on a grand tour with an Aston Martin DBS Volante, Ferrari California and a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. Jeremy Clarkson, the Top Gear host, had said about Transfăgărășan that "this is the best road... in the world"
Autumn Elegy by Stefan Andronache (StefanAndronache)) on 500px.com
Autumn Elegy by Stefan Andronache

The Garden Cişmigiu in Bucharest. The oldest and most beautiful place of leisure in the capital city Romania.

The Most Beautiful Pictures of Beijing, China

Beijing (北京 Běijīng) is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China, and also its second largest city after Shanghai. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. Beijing is the political, educational and cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions.

The city is well known for its flatness and regular construction. There are only three hills to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of the famous Forbidden City). Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis.

Beijing was host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

御花園 - The Imperial Garden, Beijing, China

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Most Beautiful Pictures of Udon Thani, Thailand

Udon Thani City Pilar
Udon Thani City Pilar

Udon Thani City Pilar
Udon Thani City Pilar

Wat Pho Thisomporn in Udon Thani
Wat Pho Thisomporn in Udon Thani

Wat Pho Thisomporn in Udon Thani
Wat Pho Thisomporn in Udon Thani

Wat Pho Thisomporn in Udon Thani
Wat Pho Thisomporn in Udon Thani

01 April 2010 Wat in the Morning Mist
Wat in the Morning Mist
A Wat is the place where Thai Buddhists go to worship. Their architecture is beautiful. Some Wats, like this one, are contained in a larger compound.

01 April 2010 Udon is Waking Up
Udon is Waking Up - About 7:30 in the morning, the town started to wake up and light traffic started to flow. It will be far busier later in the day.

Tuc Tuc - Udon Thani
Tuc Tuc - Udon Thani

Tuc Tuc - Udon Thani
Tuc Tuc - Udon Thani

Uprising
Flight from Bangkok-Udonthani (Northeast direction from BKK)
Thailand

Live to Ride
Live to Ride
Biker Udon-Thani, Thailand

Harley-Davidson Biker Club, Udon-Thani, Thailand
Harley-Davidson Biker Club, Udon-Thani, Thailand

2008 2 3 Udon Scooter Races 078
2008 Udon Scooter Races

the pannarai hotel garden2
the pannarai hotel garden

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Nong Prajak Park, Udon Thani, Thailand

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Nong Prajak Park, Udon Thani, Thailand

Chinese Temple
Chinese Temple in Udon Thani (Thailand)

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View from hotel, Udon Thani, Thailand

Untitled

Udon Thani temple 6
Inside a Buddhist compound in Udon Thani, Thailand

Udon Thani temple 5
Inside a Buddhist compound in Udon Thani, Thailand

Udon Thani temple 8
Inside a Buddhist compound in Udon Thani, Thailand

Udon Thani temple 7
Inside a Buddhist compound in Udon Thani, Thailand

Tuktuk 6
A tuktuk, or motorized rickshaw, in Udon Thani, Thailand

elvis never die
elvis never die
he just moved to thailand

flower lights
flower lights

The Bookhouse Udon Thani
The Bookhouse & Coffee Shop Udon Thani

PICT1135

udon intersection
udon intersection

Thailand 2009: Udon-Thani
Noodles!

Thailand 2009: Udon-Thani
Drink!

PICT1112

PICT1141

PICT1135

the pannarai hotel swimming pool2
the pannarai hotel swimming pool

the pannarai hotel swimming pool6
the pannarai hotel swimming pool

Room at the Silver Reef Hotel
Room at the Silver Reef Hotel

100_1668

19072008159.jpg
Nong Prajak Park, Udon Thani, Thailand

Thai Dessert - Udon Thani, Thailand
Thai Dessert - Udon Thani, Thailand

Dead Buses
Dead Buses

Im und Em
Nong Bua Lamphu

Thai-Style Beef and Garlic - Udon Thani, Thailand
Thai-Style Beef and Garlic - Udon Thani, Thailand

Vægdekoration
Vægdekoration

Tags: thai, udon, thani, children, issan, nikkor, udonthaniprovince, travel, asia, asianfood, nun, thaiwedding, Thailand, Udon Thani

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