Cappadocia in Turkey, Nevsehir

 Turkey - Nevsehir  Comments Off
Jun 272013
 

Introduction :
Cappadocia is a historic region located in the Nevsehir province of Turkey. Cappadocia consists of a region of exceptional natural wonders characterized by its fairy chimneys and unique moon like landscape together with a rich and unique heritage of history and culture in the region. As such, it was listed in the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO in 1985. The region of Cappadocia was also notably used as a filming spot for the film Ghost Rider : spirit of Vengeance and the leading actor Nicolas Cage saying he was amazed by the wonders of Cappadocia.

View of the church from the garden
Aerial view and landscape of Goreme
Image attribution to wadgey @ Flickr

View of the church from the garden
The renowed and unique fairy chimneys of Cappadocia
Image attribution to Turken @ Wiki

Pigeon Valley between Uchisar and Goreme
Pigeon Valley between Uchisar and Goreme
Image attribution to blieusong @ Flickr

Pigeon Valley between Uchisar and Goreme
The stone chimneys at Urgup
Image attribution to Nazzarenoagostinelli @ Wiki

History :
The first recorded history of Cappadocia dates back as early as the 6th century BC when the name was mentioned in the trilingual inscriptions of the early Achaemenid kings. During the late Bronze Age, Cappadocia was known as Hatti and was the homeland of the Hittite people. During the era of Alexandra the Great, he tried to rule the area through one of his commanders but somehow a Persian aristocrat became the king of the Cappadocians and extended the borders to as far as the Black Sea. The following rulers in the area was the Romans and eventually it became part of the Ottoman Empire for the centuries and now remains as part of Turkey as a popular tourist destination with a unique and beautiful landscape coupled by its rich historical and cultural heritages.

A house built on the landscape of Cappadocia
A house built on the landscape of Cappadocia
Image attribution to Mbz1 @ Wiki

A house built on the landscape of Cappadocia
A cave home craved out from one of the stone chimney
Image attribution to gogap @ Flickr

Unique chimneys near Goreme
Unique chimneys near Goreme
Image attribution to katenev @ Flickr

Winter time in Goreme
Winter time in Goreme
Image attribution to Beetjedwars @ Wiki

Sunset in Cappadocia
Sunset in Cappadocia
Image attribution to Jason @ Flickr

Getting there :
The closest airport to the Cappadocia is the Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) which is around a 1 hour bus trip to the destination. Alternatively, a direct bus trip to the Cappadocia from the international airport of Istanbul can be arranged but it would take up to 12 hours to reach the attraction.

 Posted by at 2:56 pm

Maui Island in USA, Hawaii

 USA - Hawaii  Comments Off
Jun 192013
 

Introduction :
Maui is the second largest island in the US state of Hawaii with a population of around 144, 000 and measures 727 square kilometres in area. Maui Island is known for its long stretches of beautiful beaches as well as the Haleakala Crater and the House of the Sun. Maui Island is also the breeding ground for the Humpback whale with a rich variety of underwater life and also boosts great hiking trails to some of the most wonderful sceneries around the island.

View of the church from the garden
Aerial view of the island and its city
Image attribution to masteryofmaps @ Flickr

The Waimoku Falls
The Waimoku Falls
Image attribution to masteryofmaps @ Flickr

The Waimoku Falls
The Seven Sacred pools is located near the Kipahulu district
Image attribution to masteryofmaps @ Flickr

The Iao needle is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Maui
The Iao needle is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Maui
Image attribution to joshsimerman @ Flickr

One of the Tiki statues around the island
One of the Tiki statues around the island
Image attribution to creamaster @ Flickr

History :
The Polynesians were believed to be the first people to settle on the island sometime before 450 AD in two waves from the Marguesas followed by the settlers from Tahiti around 700 AD. The oldest temple enclosures are located in Haleki’i and Pihana at 1200 AD and was according to legend built by the Menehune on a single night with stones on the Paukukalo Beach. The first European encounter on the island was made by the Spanish when a shipwrecked on the islands occured during the 16th century and the first European explorer to see the island was British explorer Captain James Cook in 1786 but he never set foot on it until 8 years later it was set foot on by French Admiral Jean Francois de Galaup.

The Haleakala Crater
The Haleakala Crater

One of the Tiki statues around the island
Marine life at the Underwater world of ocean center
Image attribution to disneyite @ Flickr

Sun rise at the House of the Sun
Sun rise at the House of the Sun
Image attribution to daveynin @ Flickr

Tropical rain forest of the island
Tropical rain forest of the island
Image attribution to daveynin @ Flickr

The Keanae point is a cape in Maui
The Keanae point is a cape in Maui
Image attribution to masteryofmaps @ Flickr

Getting there :
The nearest airport to Maui Island is the Kahului Airport (OGG) with most flights originating from the Honululu International Airport

Sagrada Familia Church in Spain, Barcelona

 Spain - Barcelona  Comments Off
Jun 092013
 

Introduction :
Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic church located in the city of Barcelona in Spain. It is an unfinished masterpiece designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi and construction began in 1882. Despite the church still being under construction, it was already appraised world wide as the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture as well as making it into the list of the 12 treasures of Spain. The Sagrada Familia was also designated as a World Heritage Site since 1984 while still in the midst of construction under the Works of Antoni Gaudi due to its outstanding and creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology during his time.

Standing out in the city of Barcelona
Standing out in the city of Barcelona
Image attribution to Federick @ Flickr

View of the church from the garden
View of the church from the garden
Image attribution to melaniejo @ Flickr

Entrance of the church at the streets
Entrance of the church at the streets
Image attribution to cristinavalencia @ Flickr

The sophisticated details of the ceilings
The sophisticated details of the ceilings
Image attribution to Stevo1000 @ Wiki

History :
The Sagrada Familia was built from the inspiration of a church at Loreto in Italy by Catalan author who was the founder of the Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Josheph after visting Vatican in 1872. The original designer was Francisco Paula del Villar but in 1883 Antoni Gaudi took over the design of the church and changed it dramatically. When Gaudi died in 1926, the church was still half completed and construction halted during World war II and the Spanish Civil War. The full construction of the Sagrada Familia is estimated to be completed between 2026 and 2028.

The symbolic details of the facade
The symbolic details of the facade
Image attribution to Brianza2008 @ Wiki

Closer look on the detailed cravings at the facade
Closer look on the detailed cravings at the facade
Image attribution to marit17461 @ Flickr

Stained glass windows in the church
Stained glass windows in the church
Image attribution to vtveen @ Flickr

Majesty interior of the church
Majesty interior of the church
Image attribution to norimaki @ Flickr

Getting there :
The nearest international airport to the Sagradra Familia is the Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) and it only takes around 45 mins to reach the attraction by car or train.

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