Interesting Tourist places and things

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The Royal Residence - England


Leeds Castle a former royal palace begun in the 12th century, Leeds Castle has to be one of the most beautifully situated medieval castles in England, projecting into its natural lake, and surrounded by 500 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens.



About six miles southeast of Maidstone, on the A20, stands Leeds Castle, situated on two islands in a lake, formed by the River Len. It has been described as the loveliest castle in the world.

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The Incredible Monastery of Taung Kalat.



Built atop an extinct volcano plug, the Buddhist monastery of Taung Kalat is one of the most breathtaking sites in Burma and the world.



Many people call the hill on which the monastery was built, Mount Popa, but they’re mistaking it with the much higher volcano, close by. The hill is called Taung Kalat and though it looks like a mere bump when compared to Mount Popa, climbing it is quite a task. There are seven hundred seventy seven steps to from the bottom, all the way to the Buddhistmonastery.



The locals believe Nats (37 demigod-like beings) live inside Taung Kalat hill and judging by the heavenly views from up there, they just might be right.



Climbing up Taung Kalat, you’re bound to run into some adorable Macaques, but be careful, they’re wild creatures and are likely to snatch anything you lay on the ground, before you even have the chance to blink. Taung KalatMonastery and its surroundings are truly unique, but unless the Burmese government intervenes soon, they will degrade beyond recovery.

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Star fort Bourtange -Netherlands


Bourtange


Approximately 25 km away from my hometown you find the star fort of Bourtange. The fort was built in 1568 by William I of Orange because he wants to control the only road between Germany and the city of Groningen. Later in 1594 the fort became part of the fortifications on the border between the northern provinces of the Netherlands and Germany. It was never captured by enemies.


Bourtange fortification


Between the years 1593 and 1851 the star fort was a very important one before it was given up in 1851 and Bourtange became a normal village. In the 1960s the municipal of Vlagtwedde decided to renovate the fort which took place between 1967 and 1992. Today it's a lovely open-air museum and visitors feel like going back in old times.


Church at Bourtange

Many activities take place there during the year like presentations of canon shootings; guided tours across the fort, a middle age festival and a nice and cosy christmas market at 2 weekends in december.


Centre of the village

It's a great place to stroll around the whole year.