Taiwan

Taiwan

Formosa ("Beautiful Island")

"Formosa is what the Portuguese called Taiwan when they came here in the 16th century and saw the verdant beauty of the island.

Located off the southeast coast of the Asian Continent at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan and the Philippines and right in the center of the East-Asian island arc, Taiwan forms a vital line of communication in the Asia-Pacific region. It covers an area of approximately 36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles) and is longer than it is wide. Two-thirds of the total area is covered by forested mountains and the remaining area consists of hilly country, platforms and highlands, coastal plains and highlands, coastal plains and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches along the entire country from north to south, thus forming a natural line of demarcation for rivers on the eastern and western sides of the island. On the west side, lies the Yushan (Yu Mountain) Range with its main peak reaching 3,952 meters, the highest mountain peak in Northeast Asia.

The Mountains

Alishan

Taiwan has been abundantly endowed with mountains; 258 of its peaks are more than 3,000 meters high, making Taiwan geographically unique. As mountains can be found anywhere, mountain climbing is a popular leisure activity in Taiwan. One can choose to hike the mountains on the outskirts of the city or accept the challenge of climbing one of the numerous high mountains, following 

the course of streams and valleys, tracing back to the source of rivers, or crossing entire mountains. In any case, lush scenery will unfold your eyes and it will not take too long for you to be convinced of the beauty of Taiwan's 
mountains.

Alishan Forest Railway

        Hehuan Mountain

National Park

Taroko National Park

In addition, there are eight national parks which offer a variety of distinct topographic landscapes: the Taroko National Park, focused on a narrow ravine created by a river which has cut through the mountains; Yushan National Park, containing the highest landmark of Taiwan and also the highest peak in Northeast Asia; Shei-pa National Park, featuring dangerously steep slopes; Yangmingshan National Park, with its volcanic craters and lakes; Kenting National Park, encompassing the only tropical area in Taiwan which breathes a truly Southeast Asian atmosphere; Kinmen National Park, which greets visitors with white coral and shell beaches and other geological wonders. Finally, both culture and natural attrations await your discovery at Taijiang National Park.

Kenting National Park

Sea World

Penghu Islands

Taiwan has a very rich marine ecology. You can see a groups of bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and pan tropical spotted dolphins jumping out of the Pacific Ocean along the east. Azure seas and magnificent coral reefs can be found in Kending (Kenting) at the southern tip of Taiwan, and on Green Island and the Penghu Archipelago. This is a place for you to discover and be amazed.

Scuba Diving in Green Island, Taiwan

Eco-park

Green World Ecological Farm in Hsinchu

Taiwan has a warm and humid climate and a variety of terrain, including sandbars, plains, basins, hills, plateaus, and mountains. As a result, the country is home to abundant animal and plant life, including various endemic species, and can therefore be regarded as one gigantic eco-park. Because of the formation of mud flats and mangroves along the coast, large numbers of migratory birds from around the world are attracted to Taiwan, where they use these coastal areas as a temporary shelter and rest area before they resume their journey. In spring and summer time, there are the birds that leave the tropics behind to spend this season in Taiwan, such as the eye-catching fairy pitta, known in Chinese as the eight-color bird. During autumn time, birds from colder northern areas come to Taiwan to spend the winter, such as the black-faced spoonbill. The gray-faced buzzard will be right on time to participate in the Double Ten celebrations (Taiwan's national day) in October each year, and there are also countless other migratory birds that use Taiwan either as a stopover or as their final destination, one way or the other adding exuberant vitality to the island's wildlife.

The Toco Toucan @ Green World Ecological Farm in Hsinchu

Recreation Farms

Afternoon at Fushoushan Farm

Stretching 340 kilometres from Su-ao south to the Hengchun Peninsula, the Central Mountains boast many of Taiwan tallest peaks. Nature has also uniquely endowed this area in terms of terrain, landscape, and plant and animal ecology. These natural assets and the vibrant local aboriginal culture make this area one of taiwan’s top ecotour destinations. Eight recreation areas and farms are located along the Central Mountains. In the north are the Qilan and Mingchih forest recreation areas; in the central region are the Wuling, Fushoushan, and Qingjing farms; int he south one can find the Kaohsiung Recreation Farm in Meinong, Kaohsiung City and the recreation farm and the Chiayi Farm Ecological Resort; and in the east in Donghe Recreation Farm. These eight major recreation farms invite visitos with scenic beauty and rich ecological attractions, bringing one up close and personal with  the mystery and power of nature.

Qingjing Sheep Farm

Sheep in the Farm

Other destinations...

→Taipei 101

Taipei 101, with a mass of shops on the lower floors, incorporating many top brands under the LVMH group, such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, etc. The fourth floor houses the Page One bookstore from Singapore, with the highest-roofed coffee house in Taipei and many fine restaurants.

→Danshui Fisherman's Wharf

The Sunset view here at the Fisherman’s Wharf is considered as one of the eight famous worth seeing sceneries of Danshui. Lovers and families are fond to relax and enjoy leisure time here. The Lover’s Bridge is another must-see spot of the wharf; visitors will be able to see the changes of light projecting on the bridge.

Due to the beautiful sceneries of the place, literature, and art performances plus concerts are held frequently. Visitors are able to watch and enjoy the performances free to charge. If you have time, you might wish to buy a cup of coffee and take a seat at the benches and feel the romantic wind breeze.
From the Fisherman’s Wharf, visitors are able to travel to Danshui Old Street or Bali by taking a cruise or ferry ride here.

→Sun Moon Lake

The Sun Moon Lake, located in the middle of Taiwan, with an elevation of 748 meters above sea level, is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. The southern part of Lalu Island is shaped like a new moon, and the northern part is shaped like a sun; hence the name Sun Moon Lake.

The most famous sights around Sun Moon Lake are the Itashao, Lalu Island, the Xuanzang Temple, the Ci-en Pagoda, and the Wenwu Temple and so on. The natural forests bordering these roads are good places for bird watching. There are a lot of birds that live on the mid-elevation, such as the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Grap-throated Minivet, Formosan Yuhina, Gray Tree Pie, Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Bulbul, Muller's Barbet, and the Black Bulbul.

   Discovery at Taiwan...

                                                               

Paris, France

Paris

Paris, the capital of France, and to many, the cultural capital of the world, has been a prominent tourist destination for decades. Yearly, over 45 million people visit Paris to see an experience its fascinating sights and rich culture. Most famous of the sights is the stunning Eiffel Tower which dominates the Paris skyline. Other popular attractions include the Louvre Museum, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame cathedral. Paris is also home to multiple opera houses, endless exquisite restaurants, and incredibly hotels. It’s a tourist friendly city that is easy to explore on foot, by bike, hop-on hop-off bus, or public transportation.

The Louvre Museum in Paris

As museums go, the Louvre in Paris is quite simply a mammoth. The word "museum" may even be unfitting when it comes to the Louvre: the collections are so vast, diverse, and breathtaking that visitors may have the impression of navigating a maze of distinct artistic and cultural worlds.

Housed in the Palais du Louvre (Louvre Palace), the former seat of French royalty, the Louvre emerged in the 12th century as a medieval fortress, slowly evolving toward its status as a public arts museum during the French Revolution in the late 18th century. Since then, it has become the globe's most-visited museum, and an enduring symbol of French excellence in the arts.

Spanning eight thematic departments and 35,000 pieces of artwork dating from the antiquity to the early modern period, the Louvre's permanent collection includes masterpieces by European masters such as Da Vinci, Delacroix, Vermeer, and Rubens, as well as unsurpassed Greco-Roman, Egyptian, or Islamic arts collections. Frequent temporary exhibits often highlight particular artists or movements, and are almost always worthwhile.

The most recent addition to the Louvre was the construction of the glass pyramid, which functions as the museum's main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the renowned American architect I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the sunlight to come in on the underground floor.

The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the surrounding buildings, but today it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum a spacious central entrance without the need to touch the historic patrimony.

Eiffel Tower

You couldn't possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you do not want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its top from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall (984 ft); when it was completed at the end of the 19th century it was twice as high as the Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.

The man behind the Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel, known from his revolutionary bridge building techniques, as employed in the great viaduct at Garabit in 1884. These techniques would form the basis for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. He was also known for the construction of the Statue of Liberty's iron framework.

The structure took more than two years to complete. Each one of the about 12,000 iron pieces were designed separately to give them exactly the shape needed. All pieces were prefabricated and fit together using approx. 7 million nails.

 The Tallest

Inaugurated March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower would be the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.

Eiffel Tower At Night

Opera House

Home to the Paris Opera, the beautifully ornate Palais Garnier in Paris, France was built as part of the great Parisian reconstruction project and was founded by Louis XIV in 1669.

Paris Opera Commentary

"Although described by a contemporary critic as 'looking like an overloaded sideboard', it (the Paris Opera House) is now regarded as one of the masterpieces of the period. Here Garnier triumphed over a cramped and difficult site, handling the carriage-ramps and approach steps, the foyers and staircases, both in section and plan, with confidence and skill. The style is monumental, classically based and opulently expressed, as the times demanded, in an elaborate language of multicoloured marbles and lavish statuary. Throughout his life, Garnier was criticized for his excessive use of ornament, as Napoleon and Haussman are still accused of being inspired by an out-of-date and imperialist showmanship expressed in a language already debased. Such critics forget that every city needs its occasional monuments and occasions of grandeur, and that thanks largely to these three men, Paris remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world."

— John Julius Norwich, ed. Great Architecture of the World. 

Holland

Holland

Holland has a large number of tourist attractions and it draws vacationers from all over the world. The famous places in Holland are famous either for some particular reason or the places are visually beautiful. The list below is given for your quick reference. 

Nelis' Dutch Village

Dutch Village brings the Netherlands, from 100 years ago, to life with picturesque walks, canals, flowering gardens and authentic Dutch architecture. Visitors can ride a Dutch chair swing and carousel, visit the Fresian farmhouse and barn with live animals and tour the Wooden Shoe Factory.

Dutch Dancers perform in front of our huge Golden Angel street organ

De Klomp Wooden Shoe and Delftware Factory

Wooden shoe carver 

Tours of the premises are offered as craftspeople demonstrate wooden shoe carving and the making of blue and white delftware.

Windmill Island

Windmill Island is a 36 acre heritage park filled with manicured flower gardens and Dutch architecture. In May we offer over 175,000 tulips, then in June the extensive gardens change to annual flowers. The highlight of our site is our authentic Dutch windmill, DeZwaan, dating to the 1760's and brought from the Netherlands in 1964. This 125 foot windmill is a symbol of the Dutch heritage of this area and is the only original Dutch windmill exported to America. It is still a working windmill producing stone ground flour for sale.

Veldheer Tulip Gardens

Veldheer's was founded in 1955 by Vernin Veldheer as a hobby with 100 red tulips & 300 white tulips. By 1997 there had been over 4 million tulips, 500,00 Daffodils, 10,000 Hyacinths & 20,000 other spring flowers planted.

Tulips blooming near a windmill in Holland Michigan

Stadsschouwburg 

For all theatre loving people, Stadsschouwburg is the ideal place. It is known for dramas but at times opera and ballet also takes place. 

Van Gogh Museum 

A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It provides the opportunity to keep track of the artist's developments or compare his paintings to works by other artists from the 19th century that are in the museum's collection. The museum also holds an extensive offer of exhibitions on various subjects from 19th century art history. 

Starry Night - Vincent van Gogh, 1888 Van Gogh Museum 

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Great Barrier Reef

A Natural Wonder

One of Australia's most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world's largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the worlds most beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches.

The Great Barrier Reef is world renowned for it's amazing scuba diving locations. Bommies, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life stretch for the entire 2,300km length of the reef.

Dive the Great Barrier Reef

If you are a certified diver or a snorkeller, the Great Barrier Reef has some of the best ocean life in the world. If you have never dived before, the Great Barrier Reef offers some great places to learn to dive.

There are a wide range of dive sites along the Great Barrier Reef, there are calm, protected, shallow spots around the islands, perfect for first-timers, there are gentle reef sites, rich in fish life and corals and the deeper sites on the outer reefs for those with some experience. All sites are best reached by boat ranging from luxury cruisers to spectacular sail boats. For those visitors who have never put their head under the water, but want to see if they can enjoy snorkelling or diving, there are excellent one-day, first-time dive trips.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef offers a range of diving experiences for both the beginner and the experienced diving expert. Diving expeditions depart daily from all the major cities and towns along the coast and from most island resorts. No matter where you stay on the reef, you are always within a 20 - 60 minute boat ride of an excellent diving spot.

Bluestar fish

Christmas tree anemone