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12/03/2021

Hyangwonjeong is one of the most beautiful spots in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul - South Korea.

It is also known as "Pavilion of Far-reaching fragrance" and the wooden bridge is called Chwihyanggyo ("intoxicated with fragrance").

This two-story hexagonal pavilion on a small artificial island in the middle of a pond on the northern grounds of Gyeongbokgung -- was built by King Gojong around the time of the construction of the royal couple’s private quarters, between 1867 and 1873.

The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea on Wednesday unveiled the unique floor heating system found at the pavilion.

Korea’s traditional heating system ondol generates warmth using direct heat from wood smoke that travels underneath the floor. Pavilions often come with ondol systems.

The uniqueness of the heating system found in Hyangwonjeong lies in how the smoke travels along the sides of the first floor, not through the center.

It is the first-ever pavilion to have such an ondol system, according to the Ganghwa National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, a subsidiary of the Cultural Heritage Administration responsible for the building’s repair work.

23/02/2021

Trấn Quốc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, is located on a small island near the southeastern shore of Hanoi's West Lake, Vietnam.

It was originally constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Lý Nam Đế (from 544 until 548), thus giving it an age of more than 1,450 years. When founded the temple was named Khai Quoc (National Founding) and was sited on the shores of the Red River, outside of the Yen Phu D**e. When confronted with the river's encroachment, the temple was relocated in 1615 to Kim Ngu (Golden Fish) islet of Ho Tay (West Lake) where it is now situated. A small causeway links it to the mainland.

The last major repair to the temple was undertaken in 1815 when the main sanctuary, reception hall and posterior hall of the dead were renovated. The pagoda is one of the main parts of the Trấn Quốc Temple for it holds the important monk's ashes. Most of the pagodas were made in the 17th century.

Monks have lived at the Trấn Quốc Pagoda for centuries, teaching the ways of Buddhism to the public. Before the visitors start arriving, the monks pray at the multiple shrines spread around the grounds. Monks do not get married and therefore do not live with families at the pagoda. Over the years, the temple was variously named An Quoc (Pacification of the Realm) and Tran Bac (Guardian of the North) as well.

19/02/2021

Hormuz Island, Iran.
Hormuz is a historic port in the strategic strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf that controls the shipment of petroleum from the middle east.

A vibrant multipurpose cultural residential community, designed by ZAV architects as part of a broader initiative on Iran’s Hormuz Island, was built with CalEarth trained Superadobe specialists.
Hormuz is a historic port in the strategic strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf that controls the shipment of petroleum from the middle east.

The small scale of the domes makes them compatible with the building capabilities of local craftsmen and unskilled workers. The earthbags are filled with the dredging sand of the Hormuz dock.

The domes can accommodate a variety of programs, with most of them providing living accommodation. Other domes contain communal areas with space for residents to do laundry or dine in an on-site café. There are also rooms dedicated to handicrafts, prayer, and even a tourist information area.

Built with earth-based materials, these colorful domes were constructed with the help of local residents looking to revive their local economy.

Photography: Payman Barkhordari, Tahmineh Monzavi, Soroush Majidi, DJI

30/01/2021

The Church of the Transfiguration is the most remarkable part of the Pogost located on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia (Medvezhyegorsky District), Russia.

It is not heated and is, therefore, called a summer church and does not hold winter services. Its altar was laid June 6, 1714, as inscribed on the cross located inside the church. This church was built on the site of the old one which was burnt by lightning. The builders' names are unknown. A legend tells that the main builder used one axe for the whole construction, which he threw into the lake upon completion with the words "there was not and will be not another one to match it".

The church has 22 domes and with a height of 37 meters is one of the tallest wooden buildings in Northern Europe. Its perimeter is 20×29 meters. It is considered that the 18-dome church on the southern shore of Lake Onega — built in 1708 and destroyed by fire in 1963 - was its forerunner.

According to the Russian carpentry traditions of that time, the Transfiguration Church was built of wood only with no nails apart from the domes and roof shingles. There are approximately 180,000 nails securing the 60,000 roof shingles. All structures were made of scribe-fitted horizontal logs, with interlocking corner joinery — either round notch or dovetail — cut by axes.

The basis of the structure is the octahedral frame with four two-stage side attachments (Russian: прируб, "prirub" from "rubit" meaning "to cut wood"). The eastern prirub has a pentagonal shape and contains the altar. Two smaller octagons of similar shape are mounted on top of the main octagon.

The structure is covered in 22 domes of different size and shape, which run from the top to the sides. The refectory is covered with a three-slope roof. In the 19th century, the church was decorated with batten and some parts were covered with steel. It was restored to its original design in the 1950s.

The church framework rests on a stone base without a deep foundation, except for the western aisle for which a foundation was built in 1870. Most wood is pine with spruce planks on the flat roofs. The domes are covered in aspen.

25/01/2021

A stunning view of El Nido, Palawan, Philippines ❤️

El Nido, officially the Municipality of El Nido, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 41,606 people.

It is about 420 kilometres south-west of Manila, and about 238 kilometres north-east of Puerto Princesa, Palawan's capital. A managed resource protected area, it is known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, limestone cliffs and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago.

El Nido is currently ranked #4 in Condé Nast Traveler's list of "20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World."
CNNGo has called it the Best Beach and Island destination in the Philippines for its "extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem.

24/01/2021

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2).

Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century as such it is also described as a "Hindu-Buddhist" temple.

It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

Angkor Wat was listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1992.

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology.

18/01/2021

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in the American Southwest, on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. It includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to as Upper Antelope Canyon (or The Crack), and Lower Antelope Canyon (or The Corkscrew).

The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means 'the place where water runs through rocks'. Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí, or 'spiral rock arches'. Both are in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. They are accessible by guided tour only.

Antelope Canyon is a popular location for photographers and sightseers, and a source of tourism business for the Navajo Nation.
It has been accessible by tour only since 1997, when the Navajo Tribe made it a Navajo Tribal Park. Besides the Upper and Lower areas, there are other slots in the canyon that can be visited, such as the Canyon X which is also part of the same drainage as Antelope Canyon. All visits are through one of several licensed tour operators. It is not possible to visit the Canyon independently.

17/01/2021

Taung Kalat (also known as Mount Popa) is a Buddhist monastery and temple complex in the Mandalay Region, Myanmar. The site is built on a tall volcanic plug, and is one of several prominent nat spiritual sites in the vicinity of nearby Mount Popa.

The temple complex is located on top of a 737ft tall volcanic plug; this rock formation was formed by geologic activity around Mount Popa, an extinct volcano.

The site is a popular pilgrimage destination, and is considered a source of nat spiritual energy. The 777 steps leading up to the monastery were once maintained by U Khandi, a famous Burmese hermit.

07/01/2021

Hohenzollern Castle is the ancestral seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern.
The third of three hilltop castles built on the site, it is located atop Mount Hohenzollern, above and south of Hechingen, on the edge of the Swabian Jura of central Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

The first castle on the mountain was constructed in the early 11th century. Over the years the House of Hohenzollern split several times, but the castle remained in the Swabian branch, the dynastic seniors of the Franconian-Brandenburgian cadet branch that later acquired its own imperial throne. This castle was completely destroyed in 1423 after a ten-month siege by the free imperial cities of Swabia.

The second castle, a larger and sturdier structure, was constructed from 1454 to 1461, which served as a refuge for the Catholic Swabian Hohenzollerns, including during the Thirty Years' War. By the end of the 18th century it was thought to have lost its strategic importance and gradually fell into disrepair, leading to the demolition of several dilapidated buildings.

The third, and current, castle was built between 1846 and 1867 as a family memorial[citation needed] by Hohenzollern scion King Frederick William IV of Prussia. Architect Friedrich August Stüler based his design on English Gothic Revival architecture and the Châteaux of the Loire Valley. No member of the Hohenzollern family was in permanent or regular residence when it was completed, and none of the three German Emperors of the late 19th and early 20th century German Empire ever occupied the castle; in 1945 it briefly became the home of the former Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany, son of the last Hohenzollern monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II.

31/12/2020

Ratchaprapha Dam / Rajjaprabha Dam / Cheow Lan Dam is a multi-purpose dam in Ban Cheow Lan, Tambon Khao Phang, Ban Ta Khun District, Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

Its purpose is electricity generation, irrigation, flood control, and fishing. Construction started on 9 February 1982. It was inaugurated on 30 September 1987. King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave the dam the name "Rajjaprabha", meaning 'light of the kingdom'.

The lake attracts over 70,000 tourists every year. Due to its scenery, it has been called "Guilin, Thailand". Much of the lake is under the supervision of Khao Sok National Park.

Khao Sok National park is the largest area of virgin forest in southern Thailand and is a remnant of rain forest which is older and more diverse than the Amazon rain forest.

30/12/2020

Lake Gover, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Valle d'Aosta, Italy.

The artificial Lake of Gover is located near the main town of Gressoney-Saint-Jean. During the summer season sport fishing is enjoyed in the lake: during winter, instead, the lake is transformed into a natural skating rink.

This lake, surrounded by century-old pines and firs, is in a magnificent location for admiring the chain of Mount Rosa.

Castello Savoia (Savoy Castle) can be reached from the lake along the ‘Regina’ (Queen) trail, a short and easy walk amidst the woods, taking about 20/30 minutes.

Furthermore, in the summer season a spacious equipped playground with entertainment for children is available near the lake.

29/12/2020

Brúarfoss Waterfall is located in the west of Iceland, roughly one hour and twenty minutes east of Reykjavik. The waterfall takes its name from a stone arch that once stood over it, acting as a bridge for those who wished to cross.

Brúarfoss (meaning 'Bridge Falls') is a relatively small waterfall compared to many of its Icelandic counterparts, but its diminutive size does nothing to take away from its staggering beauty. Both locals and seasoned travellers regard Brúarfoss as one of the country’s hidden gems, often labelling it 'Iceland’s Bluest Waterfall.'

10/12/2020

10/12/2020

A stunning scenery of a wooden house by the lake in Bolu Golcuk National Park, Turkey.

Golcuk Nature Park in Bolu plays an important role in eco-tourism in Turkey.
It has a beautiful walking trail all around the lake approximately 1.2 km.

Bolu Province is a province in northwestern Turkey. It's an important midpoint between the capital, Ankara and the largest city in the country, Istanbul.

Bolu is famous for its dense forests, fauna and modern hot spring facilities. With its lakes, plateaus, hot springs, mountains, and forest recreation areas; Bolu is an ideal place for relaxing, camping, hunting and skiing.

02/12/2020

The Shotover River is located in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand.

The name correctly suggests that this 75-kilometre long river is fast flowing, with numerous rapids.
The river flows generally south from the Southern Alps on its journey running through the Skippers Canyon, draining the area between the Richardson Mountains and the Harris Mountains, before flowing into the Kawarau River east of Queenstown.

The river is used for commercial white water rafting trips and jet boating rides which operate out of the nearby tourist resort of Queenstown. There is also a canyon swing site on the river a short distance upriver from Arthurs Point. Three jet boat operators have rights to use the river, as do two rafting companies.

The river was named Shotover by the first European, William Gilbert Rees to settle on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in 1860. He named it after his business partner, George Gammie's English estate, Shotover Park.

The river had been previously called Tummel by two Scottish pioneers named Donald Angus Cameron and Angus Alphonse Macdonald who had passed through the area before Rees arrived.

The Māori name for the river is Kimi-ākau which means looking for the coast which is probably a reference to the area as a route to the West Coast in search of Pounamu.

01/12/2020

Tràng An is a scenic area near Ninh Bình, Vietnam renowned for its boat cave tours.

Trang An wharf is located 3 km south of Hoa Lu ancient capital, 7 km from Ninh Binh city to the west along Trang An boulevard, 16 km from Tam Diep city in the north through Tam Coc.

Trang An - Tam Coc zone has an area of more than 6,172 ha, which is a special protection area of scenic spots. This special protection zone is located within Hoa Lu special-use forest, belonging to Hoa Lu ancient capital preservation plan and also under the planning of Trang An World Heritage site with an area of 12,252 ha.

In the Trang An landscape complex, the center of Hoa Lu ancient capital in the north, Tam Coc - B**h D**g tourist area is in the south and Trang An eco-tourism area is in the central position. These three areas are linked together by Hoa Lu special-use forest on limestone mountains and rivers, lakes and swamps

On 23 June 2014, at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

28/11/2020

The Weissensee is a lake in the Austrian state of Carinthia within the Gailtal Alps mountain range.

The highest situated Carinthian bathing lake shares its name with the municipality of Weissensee on the northern and southern shore.

The western shore of the glacial lake is located near the Kreuzberg Saddle mountain pass of the Bundesstraße road from Greifenburg to Hermagor. A smaller mountain road runs from the Drava valley via Stockenboi to the eastern end. Despite its elevation of 930 mAA (3051 ft), the lake surface can reach 24 degrees Celsius in the summer months, while in winter the water freezes over completely and allows skaters to move freely on the ice.

The view of the Alpine Village at the Weissensee lake will mesmerize you 😍😍

25/11/2020

Located not too far from Mount Bromo near the village of Sapih, in the Lombang district, Madakaripura Waterfall is about three hours’ drive from the capital of East Java, Surabaya (Indonesia).

The spectacular waterfall lies hidden at the end of a deep valley in the foothills of the Tengger mountain range.

The trekking is about 20 minutes crossing rivers and a rocky path, set amongst beautiful sceneries along the way, before reaching the entrance.

A statue of Majapahit‘s great Commander Gajah Mada, in a seated position of deep meditation greets visitors before they continue further on foot.
According to local folklore, it was the final meditation place of Gajah Mada, during the great Javanese kingdom of Majapahit