Travel book

Bonjour Mon Ami! Paris needs no formal introduction – synonymous with culture, architecture, food and fashion. That je ne sais quoi of the French capital makes it the dream destination for many. So would you want to leave Paris ‘Before Sunset’ or would you take our word and spend a ‘Midnight in Paris’?! The mesmerizing wrought-iron spire of the Eiffel Tower piercing the skyline, the Arc de Triomphe guarding the most glamorous avenue, the Champs Elysees, the regal Notre Dame cathedral, lamp lit bridges spanning the Seine and art nouveau cafes spilling onto wicker-chair-lined terraces.

Machu pichu

One of the most recently discovered ruins, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu continue to astound historians, archaeologists and historical enthusiasts alike. A mystery of its real purpose surrounds the place and historians till date continue to debate on the matter. A hotspot within the ruins itself, The Temple of the Sun is known for having windows perfectly positioned to let the rays of the sun inside in intricate patterns. Apart from the archaeological site itself, the panoramic view of the Huayna Picchu peak is a breathtaking sight you can never forget. Adventure seekers can also trek along the beautiful Inca trails which offer the most honest experience of Peru’s Incan heritage. Machu Picchu is packed throughout the year, but once you experience it yourself, you cannot help but want to keep going back for more.

The grand canyon

Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic sites in the region, providing several stunning vistas as you go along. This almost 40 km long canyon is a large and the most famous canyon in Yellowstone. It is hugely popular among visitors due to its scenic views of the Lower and Upper falls, as well as the fascinating pink and yellow coloured rocks. There are several viewpoints and points of interest along the length of the canyon. The canyon’s beautiful shades of colours are an iconic part of Yellowstone. The mineral stains due to the activities of water have given the rocks of the canyon such a pleasant tint of colours, it is truly a sight to behold. The geology of the canyon is not completely clear. It was created due to erosion over hundreds of thousands of years, and the geothermal nature of the area is still prevalent, which can be seen by the hot springs throughout the canyon.

The land where adventure wait

New Zealand lies in the Pacific Ocean, to the southwest. New Zealand promises beautiful landscapes and serene, equally beautiful coastlines that you can drive along, listening to the sound of the surf. The country is also known for its adventure sports activities as well as its museums, art galleries and other heritage attractions.

Bora-bora

“Welcome to the fantasy of a dreamy island with utmost perfectional beauty”- This is how the pictures of Bora Bora entice you for a vacation. A part of French Polynesia, this magical island has some of the most beautiful sights to behold- a tropical island surrounded by the amazing blue lagoon and coral reefs, accompanied by small islets (Motus) scattered around Bora Bora. Bora Bora has a lot more to offer apart from its indulging over-water and beach-side resorts. When you get slightly bored of sunbathing and your supercool tan starts looking like burnt skins, you can always turn to some great adventures for an extraordinary experience. There are a couple of underwater activities that also allow you to interact with the enigmatic marine life.

The heritage of England

Standing on the Thames River, London is the capital of England as well as the most populous city in Great Britain. The city is a confluence of the old and the new and is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. It is a city with numerous attractions of all sorts including great architecture and heritage. London is made of two ancient cities which are now merged together to form the capital. The two cities are The city of London and the City of Westminster. Together, they are known as Greater London. London attracts over 15.3 million international tourists in a year. The numerous attractions in the city like the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster’s Abbey and Nelson’s Column attract a large number of visitors

Colosseum, Rome

Great barrier reef

Stretching for 2300 kilometres off the east coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is one of nature’s greatest marvels. It is officially the biggest structure made by living organisms and can be seen from even outer space!! Blessed with abundant marine flora and fauna, visitors are always enthralled by the sheer beauty of this unique ecosystem. Snorkelling and diving are some of the most popular activities here to get a first-hand experience of the marine life. Apart from the many reefs themselves, there are hundreds of tropical islands and golden sun-kissed beaches along the reef. These islands and beaches are the perfect setting for those who wish to take a break and bask under the sun. When you are looking for some time away from the beaches and the reef, take helicopter rides to truly experience the beauty of the region. Gifted with natural beauty straight from heaven, it is no surprise this natural wonder is one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Iceland

Amongst the most coveted travel destinations, Iceland is one of the most surreal and magnificent countries in the world. Located close to the Arctic Circle, it offers amazingly dramatic and breath-taking landscapes and exotic natural phenomena. Summer is the best time to visit, owing to the mild temperatures and a plethora of available activities from hiking fjords to playing golf at midnight. However, no time is a bad time to visit this spectacular snow-covered country.

Maldives

The Maldives, a tropical haven of immaculate beaches, are an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands grouped into natural atolls, out of which only a few are inhabited. Time stands still in the Maldives as you lie on the white sand beaches, hearing the crystal clear waves crash against the seashore, swim with the manta rays and reef sharks and feast on a wide array of fishes with the locals. Be it adventure or leisure, Maldives is your answer. With its sun-kissed beaches, palm-fringed islands, crystalline lagoons and pristine waters, Maldives enthrals and draws visitors all year round. The resorts here are an entire island itself usually, including stay options like overwater bungalows.

Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004, with the exterior completed five years later in 2009. The primary structure is reinforced concrete and some of the structural steel for the building originated from the Palace of the Republic in East Berlin, the former East German parliament. The building was opened in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. It was designed to be the centerpiece of large-scale, mixed-use development. The decision to construct the building was based on the government’s decision to diversify from an oil-based economy, and for Dubai to gain international recognition.[citation needed] The building is named in honor of the former president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi and the UAE government lent Dubai money to pay its debts. The building broke numerous height records, including its designation as the tallest building in the world.

Burj Khalifa was designed by a team led by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the firm that designed the Sears Tower in Chicago, a previous record holder for the world’s tallest building. Hyder Consulting was chosen to be the supervising engineer with NORR Group Consultants International Limited chosen to supervise the architecture of the project. The design is derived from the Islamic architecture of the region, such as in the Great Mosque of Samarra. The Y-shaped tripartite floor geometry is designed to optimize residential and hotel space. A buttressed central core and wings are used to support the height of the building. Although this design was derived from Tower Palace III, the Burj Khalifa’s central core houses all vertical transportation except egress stairs within each of the wings. The structure also features a cladding system which is designed to withstand Dubai’s hot summer temperatures. It contains a total of 57 elevators and 8 escalators.

At a certain point in the architectural and engineering process, the original Emaar developers experienced financial problems and required more money and economic funding. Sheikh Khalifa, the then-ruler of the United Arab Emirates, granted monetary aid and funding, hence the changing of the name from “Burj Dubai” to “Burj Khalifa”. The concept of profitability derived from building high-density developments and malls around the landmark has proven successful. Its surrounding malls, hotels, and condominiums in Downtown Dubai have generated the most revenue from the project as a whole, while the Burj Khalifa itself made little or no profit.

The critical reception of Burj Khalifa has been generally positive, and the building has received many awards. However, there were numerous complaints concerning migrant workers from South Asia who were the primary building labour force. These centered on low wages and the practice of confiscating passports until duties were complete.

Glow worm cave

The name “Waitomo” comes from the Māori words wai, water and tomo, hole or shaft. The local Māori people had known about the caves for about a century before a local Māori, originally from Kawhia, Tane Tinorau, and English surveyors, Laurence Cussen and Fred Mace, were shown the entrance in 1884 and Tane and Fred did extensive explorations in 1887 and 1888. Their exploration was conducted with candlelight on a raft going into the cave where the stream goes underground (now the cave’s tourist exit.) As they began their journey, they came across the Glowworm Grotto and were amazed by the twinkling glow coming from the ceiling. As they travelled further into the cave by poling themselves towards an embankment, they were also astounded by the limestone formations. These formations surrounded them in all shapes and sizes.

They returned many times after and Chief Tane independently discovered the upper level entrance to the cave, which is now the current entrance. Visitor access improved when the railway was extended to Ōtorohanga in 1887. By 1889 Tane Tinorau and his wife Huti had opened the cave to visitors and were leading groups for a small fee. Thomas Humphries, (Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor of Auckland 1889 – 1891) did a full study later the same year, noting graffiti had already been inscribed on the ‘most delicate portions’ of the cave, though noting “The natives are now taking great care of the caves”, but recommending that government take over the cave to provide more visitor facilities. About 500 tourists visited the cave in the first two years. After years of attempts to buy the caves, the government used the Scenery Preservation Act 1903 and the Public Works Act 1905 to take them over for £625. In 1906, after an escalation in vandalism,[citation needed] the administration of the cave was taken over by the government. In 1910 the Waitomo Caves Hotel was built to house the many visitors.

Tourist Hotel Corporation, a state-owned business, took over in 1957. The hotel was sold to Southern Pacific Hotels Corporation in 1990 and, in 1994, they agreed a licence for the caves with DOC and the Māori owners, selling it to Tourism Holdings Limited in 1996.

In 1989, the land and cave were returned to the descendants of Chief Tane Tinorau and Huti who comprise many of the employees of the caves today. The descendants receive a percentage of the cave’s revenue and are involved in its management and development under the 1990 Waitomo Deed of Settlement.

Fill your life with adventure, not with things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.

The city of light (Paris)