Interesting Tourist places and things

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Top 10 Most Expensive Streets in The World

New Bond Street (London) : $810



Bond Street is a major shopping street in London which runs through Mayfair from Piccadilly in the south to Oxford Street in the north. It is one of the principal streets in the West End shopping district and is more upmarket than nearby Regent Street and Oxford Street. It is in the Mayfair district of London, and has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century. Technically “Bond Street” does not exist: The southern section is known as Old Bond Street, and the northern section, which is rather more than half the total length, is known as New Bond Street. This distinction, however, is not generally made in everyday usage.
Price-per-square foot, per year: $810
Price in 2007: $813



Ginza (Tokyo) : $794



It is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. It is recognized as one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world. Many upscale fashion clothing flagship stores are located here. Prominent are Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci. A recent addition is the 12-story Abercrombie & Fitch flagship.
Price-per-square foot, per year: $794
Price in 2007: $683

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A Tourist place: Bali




One of Bali's most important sea temples, Pura Tanah Lot ("Temple of Land in the Middle of the Sea") is a spectacular sight, especially at sunset.




The tiny island was formed by the gradual erosion of the ocean tide over thousands of years. The temple of Tanah Lot is said to have been founded by the 16th-century priest Nirartha, one of the last priests to come to Bali from Java.




The temple of Tanah Lot stands on a rocky island just off the southwest coast of Bali. One of Bali's most sacred sea temples, Tanah Lot is dedicated to the guardian spirits of the sea. The temple itself is said to be guarded from evil by the sea snakes that inhabit the caves below.



The temple itself is not accessible to visitors, but magnificent views can be had from a variety of points nearby. Crowds especially gather on the terraces nearby to watch the glow of the sunset behind the temple. Naturally, there are plenty of souvenir shops and cafes with a view to keep you well-supplied while doing so.

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Amazing cave painting in Lascaux



Visitors stare, amazed by the cave art in Lascaux, south west France.

The expressive lines and bold colours are dramatic and exciting, conveying the energetic animals roaming alongside the artist responsible for these paintings thousands of years ago.

However, the pictures you see are actually replicas of real artwork produced in prehistoric times residing in the cave next door.



The originals - thought to be some of the oldest paintings in the world - had to be locked away in the Lascaux Cave in 1963 to preserve them from deteriorating as a result of visitors' humidity and warmth.

It had in the region of 100,000 visitors each year and the combination of so many people and strong lighting started to have a detrimental effect on the 17,000-year-old exhibition.



However, managers of the tourist site did not want to deprive future visitors from seeing these prehistoric works.

And so, they created Lascaux II - an exact replica of the cave and art - painted by local artist Monique Peytal.

Located on the same hill as the original, this large-scale copy took 10 years to complete and now receives approximately 300,000 art lovers every year.



It many not be the original but that doesn't make these chambers any less stunning.

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Top 10 Tallest Lighthouses in the World


Jeddah Light *World’s Tallest Lighthouse



The tallest lighthouse ever constructed in the world is the concrete and steel Jeddah Light in Saudi Arabia. This mega structure is 133 meters tall. This spectacular lighthouse is located at the end of the outer pier on the north side of the entrance to Jeddah Seaport.



Perry Memorial Monument World’s 2nd Tallest Lighthouse



Tallest Lighthouse in North America
World’s Most Massive Doric Column

The Perry Memorial Monument in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, USA is the tallest lighthouse in North America. It is the 2nd tallest in the world with a height of 107 meter. This is also the world’s most massive Doric column. This memorial, which is a lighthouse at the same time, is visited by 200,000 people each year.



Yokohama Marine Tower *World’s Tallest Skeletal Steel Lighthouse



World’s 3rd Tallest Lighthouse
Tallest Lighthouse in Japan

The impressive Yokohama Marine Tower is considered as the 3rd tallest lighthouse in the world with a height of 106 meters. This lattice tower with an observation deck at a height of 100 meters is located in Yokohama, Japan. It was built in 1961 is the tallest in Japan.


Ile Vierge Lighthouse *World’s 4th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s Tallest Traditional Lighthouse
Tallest Stone Lighthouse in Europe

The Ile Vierge Lighthouse which is made of granite stone is the world’s tallest traditional lighthouse. This 82.5 meter tall structure which was completed in 1902 is located in Finistere, France. It is also the tallest stone lighthouse in Europe.

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Top 10 Tallest Lighthouses in the World

Lighthouse of Genoa *World’s 5th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s 2nd Tallest Traditional Lighthouse
Tallest Lighthouse in the Mediterranean

The Lighthouse of Genoa is the world’s 2nd tallest traditional lighthouse with a height of 76 meters. This stone lighthouse, which is located in Genoa, Italy, is the tallest in the Mediterranean. This lighthouse which was built on the hill of San Benigno is one of the oldest standing structures of its kind in the world.


Phare de Gatteville *World’s 6th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s 3rd Tallest Traditional Lighthouse

Another tall stone lighthouse is the Phare de Gatteville. Gatteville-le Phare is also in France. This 75 meter tall lighthouse which is made of granite was completed in 1835. It is also known as Pointe de Barfleur Light. Phare de Gatteville is the world’s 3rd tallest traditional lighthouse.


Lesnoy Mole Rear Range Light *World’s 7th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s Tallest Range Light
World’s 4th Tallest Traditional Lighthouse
Tallest Lighthouse in Russia

The Red-White colored Lesnoy Mole Rear Range Light is a metal lighthouse located in St. Petersburg, Russia. This 73 meter high structure is the tallest in Russia. It is also the lighthouse with the tallest range light in the world. Lesnoy Mole Rear Range Light is the world’s 4th tallest traditional lighthouse.



Mulan Tou Lighthouse *World’s 8th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s 5th Tallest Traditional Lighthouse
Tallest Lighthouse in China

Mulan Tou Lighthouse is the world’s 8th tallest lighthouse. This 72 meter tall structure in Hainan, China is the world’s 5th tallest traditional lighthouse. This concrete lighthouse, which was completed in 1995, is the tallest in the country. It is also known as the Hainan Head.

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Top 10 Tallest Lighthouses in the World


Baisha Men Lighthouse *World’s 9th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s 6th Tallest Traditional Lighthouse

Another tall lighthouse in China is the Baisha Men Lighthouse. This concrete structure with a height of 72 meters in Hainan province is the world’s 9th tallest lighthouse and the 6th tallest traditional. This beautifully structured lighthouse which was completed in 2000 is the 2nd tallest in China.


Storozhenskiy Light *World’s 10th Tallest Lighthouse



World’s 7th Tallest Traditional Lighthouse
World’s 4th Tallest Stone Lighthouse

The world’s 10th tallest lighthouse is Storozhenskiy Light in Lake Ladoga, Russia. This lighthouse which is made of stone is 71 meters tall. Completed in 1911, Storozhenskiy Light is the world’s 7th tallest traditional lighthouse and the 4th tallest stone lighthouse. It is also known as Storozhno Light.

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The Grass Roofs of Norway

Norwegians have their own way of going green, and quite literally. For hundreds of years houses in Norway have been covered with turf. And they come in different varieties. Some are bright green and almost velvety. Others are golden and look like they’re growing wheat or oats. A number of turf roofs have flowers mixed in with the grass, and a few have small trees.



The advantages of turf roofs (also called sod roofs) are many. They are very heavy, so they help to stabilize the house; they provide good insulation; and they are long-lasting.



Turf roofs in Norway are a tradition and you will see them everywhere. Roofs in Scandinavia have probably been covered with birch bark and sod since prehistory. During the Viking and Middle Ages most houses had sod roofs. In rural areas sod roofs were almost universal until the beginning of the 18th century. Tile roofs, which appeared much earlier in towns and on rural manors, gradually superseded sod roofs except in remote inland areas during the 19th century. Corrugated iron and other industrial materials also became a threat to ancient traditions. But just before extinction, the national romantics proclaimed a revival of vernacular traditions, including sod roofs. A new market was opened by the demand for mountain lodges and holiday homes. At the same time, open air museums and the preservation movement created a reservation for ancient building traditions. From these reservations, sod roofs have begun to reappear as an alternative to modern materials.



Every year, since 2000, an award is also given to the best green roof project in Scandinavia by the board of the Scandinavian Green Roof Association.