Popular Sights

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, Tibet. The Palace was converted into a museum by the Chinese. The building measures 400 meters east to west and 350 meters north to south, so it is quite the site to see. The building was reinforced with copper into the foundation to help support it from earthquakes. It consists of thirteen stories of buildings which house over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues. The buildings sit atop of Red Mountain, so the views are amazing. Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet".

The Potala Palace consists of many different parts. One of them is the White Palace which was the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. The first White Palace was built during the lifetime of the Fifth Dalai Lama. It was extended to its size today by the thirteenth Dalai Lama in the early twentieth century.

Then you have the Red Palace which is completely devoted to religious study and Buddhist prayer. It consists of many different halls, chapels and libraries on many different levels with smaller galleries and winding passages. These include the main central hall of the Red Palace, the Great West Hall, which consists of four great chapels that proclaim the glory and power of the builder of the Potala, and also The Saint's Chapel, The North Chapel, South Chapel, East Chapel, and the West Chapel.

The galleries are the First Gallery which is on the floor above the West chapel. This gallery has a number of large windows that give light and ventilation to the Great West Hall and its chapels below. Between the windows, murals show the Potala's construction in very fine detail. The Second Gallery gives access to the central pavilion which is reserved for visitors to get refreshments and buy souvenirs. The Third Gallery, along with fine murals, has a number of dark rooms branching off containing enormous collections of bronze statues and miniature figures made of copper and gold that are worth a fortune. The chanting hall of the Seventh Dalai Lama is on the south side and on the east an entrance connects the section to the Saints chapel and the Deyangshar between the two palaces. Then there is the tomb of the 13th Dalai Lama which is located west of the Great West Hall and it can only be reached from an upper floor with the company of a monk or a guide. Built in 1933, the giant stupa contains priceless jewels and 1 ton of solid gold. Devotional offerings include elephant tusks from India, vases, porcelain lions and a pagoda made from over 200,000 pearls. Beautiful murals in traditional Tibetan styles depict many events of the life of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama during the early 20th century.

The visiting hours are 9am-3pm daily. Admission is limited to 2,500 visitors per day. Reservations should be made in advance. Entry time is assigned when the ticket is purchased.

Other sites to see in Lhasa are Tibetan Highlands, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Summer Palace of Norbu Lingka, Jokhang Temple and Tibetan History Museum.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

"As many scholars have stated, the Great Wall was meant to stop the invasions of the northern nomads, but nomads were never actually stopped by the wall. Constructed in 221 B.C. by the order of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shihuang, the Great Wall was originally designed to be a military base where Chinese infantries would fight against cavalries from the north. In order to complete the daunting task of constructing the Great Wall, Emperor Shihuang drafted more than 400,000 men – nearly half of the total male population in China – to work on this project. The construction lasted for more than 10 years and more than one-third of the workers died from harsh working conditions and deadly plagues. While the wall protected the emperor from northern invasions, it did nothing to help defend him against the backlash and disdain that society had for him."   Information provided by Globus Journeys.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

"The Forbidden City – the largest imperial palace in the world – is situated in the center of Beijing and covers more than 178 acres of land in China. As an ancient Chinese legend goes, “the God resided in the heavens, known to all as the “Purple City.”” During the 17th Century, Chinese emperors claimed to be the sons of the God in an effort to justify their absolute power, and thus their homes would be considered a forbidden area to the common people. As a result, “Purple Forbidden City” became the official name for the emperor’s palace." 
Photo & Information provided by Globus Journeys

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Angkor means 'Capital City' or 'Holy City'. 'Khmer' refers to the dominant ethnic group in modern and ancient Cambodia. Angkor refers to the capital city of the Khmer Empire that existed in the area of Cambodia between the 9th and 12th centuries CE, as well as to the empire itself. The temple ruins in the area of Siem Reap are the remnants of the Angkorian capitals. They represent the pinnacle of the ancient Khmer art, architecture, and civilization. At its greatest height, The Age of Angkor was a time when the capital area contained more than a million people. During this time Khmer kings constructed vast waterworks and grand temples, and Angkor's military, economic and cultural dominance had control over the area of modern Cambodia, and much of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.

Stretched along the Siem Reap River, the small provincial capital of Siem Reap Town serves as the gateway to the temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. The Angkor Archaeological Park consists of dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and the legendary Angkor Wat.  Their archaeological significance and artistically visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids, Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal. Also, it has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are unspoiled by over development, and unfortunately this will not be true in a couple of years. Though the major temples are relatively visited by tourists these days, it is still a possibility to avoid the crowds in order to explore the area and discover Angkor. 

Siem Reap Town is where it is recommended to stay during your visit to Angkor. The area has continued to receive foreign visitors to the temples for over 100 years now. The town is made up of old villages, which were originally developed around individual pagodas and later overlaid with a French colonial-era center. When walking through the village it's rather evident how there is colonial and Chinese style architecture in the town center and around the Old Market. Today, Siem Reap offers a wide range of several upscale hotels and budget guesthouses, restaurants, shops and pubs. You can also experience traditional Cambodia by watching the 'Apsara' dance performances, stopping by craft shops and silk farms, taking road tours through the rice-paddy countryside, and boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to fishing villages and bird sanctuary, plus much more!

The weather is best in December and January, but even during these months it can be hot and humid.  May through October is rainy season. It is suggested to travel in a group so that you are assured good accomodations. A popular itinerary is to combine a visit to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap and Angkor in a one week trip

Thursday, October 22, 2009

If you are visiting Vietnam, you are sure to spend time in Hanoi.  Hanoi is the capital and second largest city in Vietnam. 

Ba Dinh Square is located in the center of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is one of the many beautiful, cultural and historic tourist sites in Hanoi. This is the place where President Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence of Vietnam on September 2, 1945. Ba Dinh Hall is an important meeting place for events in Vietnam.  The Presidential Palace is an administrative office of the Government, and the one-pillar Pagoda is a famous thousand year old cultural piece of history. Also, there is a monument of the patriot combatants who sacrificed their lives for independence.

President Ho Chi Minh's Museum are where many historical documents and relics of his life are on display. President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, an imposing construction, is where his remains are kept. When Ho Chi Minh died, the granite Mausoleum was built here to display his embalmed body. Everyday many visitors come to Ba Dinh Square to honor Ho Chi Minh. In front of Ba Dinh Square is a large grass yard that is divided into 168 squares that many tourists love to come and admire. It remains a major site of tourism and pilgrimage. Also see the One Pillar Pagoda which is located in the park behind the museum.

This is definitely a place worth traveling to, because it is a huge part of history in Vietnam, and is known throughout the world. Above all, it is very meaningful to those who live there. Ba Dinh Square is a place that celebrates life and history, and it's visited from people across the globe.

For tours to Vietnam, Thailand & Cambodia, click here.