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What is everyone traveling to Dubai to see? The following is a list of my favorite eight projects being held in the desert city.

Al Burj (The Tower)

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Developer Nakheel, which is known best for its Palm Islands, proposed Al Burj to be a 1.4 km supertall skyscraper located near the Dubai Marina. The tower is actually three separate towers connected by multiple sky bridges. It is planned to be of mixed use, consisting of restaurants, luxury apartments, an observation deck, and more. Surrounding the tower will be about twenty residential towers and a refurbished mall. If constructed, Al Burj will become the tallest building in the world and a shiny icon of the city of Dubai. It would surpass the current tallest building, Burj Dubai, which is still under construction in the same city.

Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower)

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On April 7, 2008, the Burj Dubai became the tallest man-made structure on the planet, and it's still under construction. The idea for the building was developed by Emaar, one of the largest real estate companies. It is expected to be finished and ready for use in September of 2009, towering over the rest of the city at over 800 meters. The companies in charge for building are Samsung Engineering and Construction, Besix, and Arabtec. The skyscraper will comprise of offices, residential suites, four pools, exclusive clubs, an observation platform, multiple restaurants, a library, and lots of open room.

Do you recall how you are advised to use the stairs in case of an emergency? The Burj Dubai will have certain elevators which will be specially programmed in case of evacuation.
Office space is priced at $4,000 per square foot and certain homes at $3,500 per square foot. The tower is truly a spectacular achievement of mankind.

The Rotating Tower (by David Fisher)

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This is one of the most amazing building ideas being proposed at the moment. David Fisher is credited with the suggestion of dynamic architecture. Basically, the two towers planned for Moscow and Dubai will have the ability to rotate each floor individually, therefore constantly giving them a new shape. As for the Dubai version, it is supposed to have 80 floors, yet 79 wind turbines (one in between each floor). The building will then truly be "green", considering that it will provide complete power not only for itself, but for buildings around it as well.

Dynamic Architecture also presents a new type of construction using prefabricated parts that will be lifted to each level being built. This speeds up construction time and reduces costs as well as workers needed. This type of building also allows residents to park their cars on the base of the tower and have them lifted up to their home. I'm not sure how this is all going to work out, but there are probably methods I'm not smart enough to understand.

See their site for more details.

The World Islands

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"Mommy, who made the world?"
"Nakheel did, honey."
Nakheel finds yet another way to amaze all who look at Dubai. This time, they have literally constructed The World, a series of 300 little islands when together make up the shape of the Earth. A model island with a mansion has already been completed to show off to all buyers.
Islands have already been reserved and bought. In the archipelago will be mansions, docks, commercial businesses, and resorts. It will be four kilometers off the coast of Dubai, built with sand taken from the sea. Nakheel stresses that all its manmade islands, including those in The World, will be environmentally friendly and will exist in harmony with all sea creatures and wildlife.

Celebrities such as David Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee, Vijay Singh, and Michael Schumacher have been linked with The World islands one way or another, whether through investment, endorsement, or other affiliation.

The Palm Islands

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As said previously, Nakheel is known best for its trio of Palm Islands. This includes Palm Deira, Palm Jumeirah, and Palm Jebel Ali. The designs will resemble those in this picture:
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On Palm Jumeirah, residents began moving in by the end of 2006. This palm island adds 78 kilometers of coastline to the city of Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah Monorail will serve as transportation between the trunk and the crescent of the island.
The Palm Islands can be seen from space. An example is this picture, which was taken from the International Space Station.

Then there's Palm Jebel Ali which began construction in 2002 and has a scheduled completion in 2008. By 2020, the island is expected to be home to 1.7 million people. Boardwalks encircling the Palm will spell out a poem written by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, saying:

Take wisdom from the wise

It takes a man of vision to write on water

Not everyone who rides a horse is a jockey

Great men rise to greater challenges

Four theme parks (SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove) will be built on the crescent of the island, which together will be called World of Discovery.
Nakheel held a competition with several architects to design a building that would exist on a certain piece of land on Palm Jebel Ali. This was the winning design.

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When completed, Palm Deira will be the largest man-made island in the world. It will be home to over a million people and will have a unique shape differing from the other two palm islands. Several sources report that the island should be completed by 2015. This palm island isn't as far into construction as the other two are. It should resemble this when completed.

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The Universe Islands

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The World wasn't enough; Nakheel now has to own the Universe as well. Islands will be constructed in the shapes of the sun, moon, and planets. There isn't much to say at the moment since it is still in its planning stages. It is meant to be the flagship in Nakheel's initiative named "Blue Communities", whose goal is to create a sustainable environment. The Universe will surround The World in three directions. The project was announced at the same time that Nakheel proposed a redevelopment of Port Rashid.
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Dubai Towers

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The names are getting a little unoriginal, but the designs definitely aren't. Dubai Towers claims that its project was "inspired by the movement of candlelight".
The series of towers will offer an amazing view of the waterfront, restaurants, a 6-star hotel, office space, gymnasiums, apartments, and elegant design. The four structures will range between 57 to 94 floors and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009.

Dubai Towers is only one of the projects proposed by the company Sama Dubai. Another includes Dubai Towers - Doha and Dubai Towers - Istanbul. Dubai will have yet another icon of its individuality and beauty.

Burj al-Arab (Tower of the Arabs)

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Burj al-Arab is the tallest hotel in the world, and quite possibly the most beautiful. It was built to imitate a boat's sail. Out of 5 stars, the hotel claims 7 in quality. It contributes to the fact that Dubai has more hotel rooms than Miami beach, despite the fact that it's actually a desert.

The building features the tallest atrium in the world. It also claims to have 8,000 square meters of 22-carat gold leaf. There are 202 bedroom suites. Prices start at $1,000 a night, while the Royal Suite starts at $28,000 a night. The Burj al-Arab is one of the most expensive hotels ever built.

There is a helipad on top of the building which is famous for certain events. Tiger Woods shot golf balls off of the top of it, while Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played each other in a match of tennis. There are no boundaries, so tennis balls would go flying past the edge onto the ground, or sea, below.

Sadly, the Rose Tower in Dubai plans on passing the Burj al-Arab in the record of the tallest hotel. In fact, it already has, but since the building has not been opened yet, it does not claim the title yet.

There are countless other developments going on in Dubai at the moment, many just as amazing as these are. Dubai has become a prime example of modern architecture and the understanding that dreams can be made into reality.

Arran is a small island, 20 miles long and 56 miles round, located off the south-west coast of Scotland.

Ferries run from the Scottish mainland to the Isle of Arran. Most people reach the island via Ardrossan which has a direct rail service from Glasgow.

The history of Arran is of strong interest to local Archeologists, tourists, and residents.

The first people on Arran to leave visible signs of their life and times here were the Neolithic people, who lived on the island in the period between 4,500BC and 2,000BC. They were farmers, and traces of their field systems have been found on Arran. However, they have left their most distinct legacy on Arran in the form of stone circles, standing stones and cairns. We do not know what these monuments were used for, but it is safe to assume that they had some kind of ceremonial function.

Machrie moor standing stones is a small ancient circle protected by a stone wall. Continue on the footpath and you will reach the main site, three-quarters of a mile across the fields.

Robert Pollock has produced an excellent guide with diagrams which details these and other circles on this site. Two of the circles have recently been excavated, and the amount of peat growth over the original prehistoric ground surface can be seen as a tidemark on the stones. Indeed one of the circles had completely disappeared under the peat.

Druid Stone is likely to be a Neolithic or Bronze age stone, despite its local association with the Iron Age priesthood. A druid was a member of the priestly and learned class in the ancient Celtic societies of Western Europe, Britain and Ireland.

Ruins of Lochranza Castle are located north of Brodick.

It features the striking ruins of a 14th century castle, a former hunting lodge of the Scottish Kings.

It has been claimed that Lochranza Castle has literary connections, being used as the basis for the castle in the Tintin adventure "The Black Island".

Brodick Castle is made up of red sandstone and it lies at the foot of Goatfell Mountain 1.5 miles out of Brodick; the main port on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland.

The name Brodick comes from the Norse words, meaning 'broad bay'. Arran means 'peaked island' in Gaelic.

It's a fascinating Island filled with mysteries and folklore. Visit now before the times destroy it.

Boston By Foot has been around for more than 30 years now, providing walking tours of Boston throughout the year except from November to April, when it might be a little chilly, but if your not in Boston during the spring and summer, they have custom tours at any time of the year. These tours aren't of the whole city, rather they focus on a specific neighborhood or theme, so the tour won't be as long as you would expect. They go to various places, such as the Victorian Back Bay, a beautiful place, and the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston. Each tour comes with the story of Boston and it's rich history, while experiencing beautiful architecture back since the beginnings of Boston in 1630. Each tour goes to multiple important historical cities such as the location of the Boston Tea Party. Some other tours include, Beacon Hill, Ashmont Hill, a Contemporary Boston tour, the Wharf District, The Liberty Hotel, etc. There are so many to choose from. However, not every tour is available everyday, so you should use careful planning if you are planning to go on one of these tours, but they do have tours everyday. The address is 77 North Washington Street if you want to go check them out. It's a really cool company and if you are planning to go on a walking tour of Boston, I would recommend this one from personal experience. Boston is a wonderful place and I can't think of a better way to experience it now that I've experienced a walking tour for myself.

I took a look around for some other walking tour companies and one that came up was at a website called Walking Tours of Historic Boston at Walkingboston Now, I've never actually taken a tour from this company so this is all information from their website. Unlike Boston By Foot, Walking Boston is a private tour company so it's smaller group and there's more questions you can ask and more info you can get out of it. There are 14 historic sites that you could potentially visit, all linking to Boston's rich history. The tour guide shares original documents and newspapers from the colonial period so you would hear stories that wouldn't be heard by anyone else, which makes this a truly unique tour. You must book your tours in advance since this is a private tour company. Rates are $130.00 for a private family tour (under 10 people) and $13 for adults and $10 for children under 12 for a group tour of 10-30 people. I would like to take a tour at the company and experience Boston with them, but I don't have family in Boston, but for those that do, this seems like a wonderful company to experience Boston with. They are located at 221 Massachusetts Ave.

So, whether you live in Boston or you're just visiting or going to visit, I recommend experience Boston in a way unlike any other, a walking tour. It's a really cool experience that anyone would love. Whether you want to go in a public tour and a lot of people or a private tour with just some close friends and family, both options are wonderful for any time of the year. You'll learn a lot about the history of Boston while hearing enjoyable stories and seeing the most amazing buildings. Walking tours of Boston are absolutely amazing.

Gardens

The park is set in acres of beautifully tended mature gardens and for anyone with green fingers, the quality and variety of plant life is breath taking.

No matter how busy the park gets, you can always find a pretty secluded area in the gardens to eat lunch and enjoy the views.

So even if you have no interest in theme park rides, Alton Towers is still a wonderful place for a visit.

The Tower

The tower (which dates back to the 8 th century) looms impressively in the distance as you enter the park, it remains a semi ruin with the “Hex” ride being located in part of the ruin.

Top 10 Rides

1. Oblivion

   This is the most terrifying ride with a colossal vertical drop. Strapped in, you ascend the track slowly, the car then dangles you face first over the vertical drop before letting you go. I have never managed to keep my eyes open on this ride - the terror is just too great

2. Rita Queen of Speed

   A short ride with a long queue - but worth the wait with an indescribable buzz as the car reaches speeds of 100mph in 2.5 seconds. Tip - check your eye makeup when you get off this ride, it is likely to end up somewhere around your ears.

3. Air

   The most genuinely enjoyable experience - Strapped, and tipped forward to face the ground, the ride glides at high speed around the track - taking you high into the air, giving you the sensation of free flying. You cannot fail to feel exhilarated on this ride.

4. Nemesis

   Just a top class roller coaster - surrounded by imaginative, eye-catching enhancements, as you are swooped over the river of blood.

5. Duel

   Not the fastest of rides, but you are driven through a haunted house, full of creepy creatures, armed with a light gun which keeps score of your hits - enabling you to compete with your family and friends. Top fun.

6. Runaway Mine Train

   Fast, furious and great fun rollercoaster, fabulously adorned to inspire the imagination.

7. Congo River Rapids

   In a round boat, you are sent careering down the river, bashing the sides, spinning beneath waterfalls. Prepare to get wet.

8. Ug Swing

   A great favourite for the children. Individual swings which rotate and rise high into the air.

9. Hex

   This ride takes advantage of the towers history and genuinely spooky décor. Hex relates the tale of the curse of the old oak and you experience a disorientating and stomach churning ride at the end.

10. Submission

    A swinging boat which takes you that little bit further - before you know it, you are dangling upside down. Tip - Women in low cut tops - beware, you may expose more than you want to.

 

I challenge anyone not to enjoy a day out at Alton Towers!

Everyone has to go see the art in Paris. The culture and ideas are so unique. Therefore, one of the top places to visit would have to be the Centre Pompidou. Here are several things to do. You can visit a large library, a museum of modern art, and/or listen to music. The building was uniquely designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Center Pompidou opened in 1977 and was named after the President of France (1969-74)

The Arc de Triomphe is another monument in Paris. This Arc gives one an opportunity to take great pictures of the city along with being able to admire its great architecture. Napolean Bonaparte had commissioned it be built in 1806 after a victory at Austerlitz. The Arc was in honor to those that fought in wars for France.

If you have children with you then you may want to visit the infamous Disneyland Paris. It is the largest theme park in Paris. Another theme park to visit is Park Asterix which has 27 attractions along with 6 shows and of course multiple rides for the adventurous and daring. There are a number of museums as well that your children may enjoy. There's the Grevin Wax Museum and a doll museum.

After an entire day of site-seeing one needs to visit the Eiffel Tower. The nightlife is fantastic. Have dinner in the Tower and enjoy the view of a beautiful city. This is definitely one of the top places to visit when in Paris. The tower was considered one of the tallest buildings in the world in 1889. Originally the tower was meant to be only temporary. It was built to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. Yet, it remained standing and has become a symbol of France. Did you know that the tower is the main transmitter for television in Paris? Gustave Eiffel made the design of the tower as part of a contest and won. The Eiffel Tower has three floors and at each level you must pay to see it. If you want to enter it is about $6 and to get to the top you pay about $20.

Other places to see in Paris are The Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Picasso Museum, the Paris Aquarium, and Versailles. All of these places will give you view of history and beauty while appreciating the arts and finding new-found appreciation for the architecture.

Topkapi Palace

It's construction started in 1459 by the order of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. Mehmet II is one of the important sultans of Ottoman Empire since he was the the conquerer of Istanbul. Topkapi Palace was the home and official residence of Ottoman Emperors from 1465 to 1863. The historical tissue of Topkapi Palace damaged because of big earthquakes and fires. Currently, Topkapi Palace is museum. It is under administration of Ministry of Culture and Tourism. When you visit Topkapi Palace Museum, you can see a large collection of Ottoman art and architecture, Ottoman miniatures, weapons, shields, armor and a display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry.

Dolmabahce Palace

It is located at the European side of Istanbul. After 1853, it was used as the official residence of Ottoman Emperors. It was also the administrative center of Ottoman Empire from 1853 to 1922. Dolmabahce palace is the first European style palace in Ottoman Empire history. It was built by Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid II between 1842 and 1853. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and the first president of Turkey Republic, spent his last years in this palace. Ataturk died in November 10, 1938 in Dolmabahce Palace.

Yildiz Palace

It was built in 1880 and used by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II. Inside Yildiz Palace, there are apartments, pavilions, theatre, opera house, museum and a porcelain factory.

Beylerbeyi Palace

Unlike Dolmabahce, Topkapi and Yildiz palaces, Beylerbeyi Palace is located at the Assian side of Istanbul. It was built between 1861 and 1865 by the order of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz. It was designed in baroque style. It was mainly used as a place to entertain visiting heads of state. Sultan Abdulhamid II spent his last years of captivity in Beylerbeyi palace. He died in Beylerbeyi Palace in 1918.

Ciragan Palace

It is located between Besiktas and Ortakoy at the European side of Istanbul. It was built between 1863 and 1867 by the order of Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz. It was designed by famous Armenian architect Nigogayos Balyan and constructed by his sons Hagop and Sarkis Balyan. In 1910, it was destroyed by a great fire. However, the ruined palace was restored in 1991. It was designed in Baroque style during restoration. Currently, it is used as a five-star hotel.

Station buildings range from the Baroque style in the unlikely setting of Hsinchu Station in Taiwan, to the Corinthian pillars of Gare De Nord, Paris and the Gothic revival architecture of Bombay. Each of these buildings is a work of art in itself.

Here a few more unusual architectural styles applied to railway stations:

Tangjong Pagar Railway Station, Singapore

This very old railways station has the honor of being considered one of the best places in Singapore for Malaysian food, especially satay. People come here to eat as well as to travel. The building was completed in 1932 and it has a fine domed roof. There is Malaysian artwork on the panelling around the inside.

Helsinki Central Station, Finland

There are nineteen platform inside this station which is faced with granite give a cold, hard kind of look to it. The statues outside have recently been featured in an animation to promote rail travel in Finland. The original station was built in 1860 and it was redesigned in 1909 as can be seen in the almost art nouveau design of the central curved section.

Napoli-Afragola Railway Station, Naples, Italy

This new high speed station is a bridge above the tracks. It is a massive transport interchange that acts as a gateway to Naples and a major city landmark which provides a train station for high speed and regional services, bus, taxi and car parking facilities. There are retail facilities here as well as police and fire stations and the whole structure covers around 20,000 square meters. This fabulous, ultra modern construction was designed by Patrick Schumacher and Zaha Hadid Architects.

Gare de Nord Railway Station, Paris, France

Inside this fantastic building are a series of Corinthian columns made of cast iron. These support a thirty eight metre high glass roof . There are nine statues in the station which represent nine important places that can be reached from the station. The architecture here is a real mixture of styles and the grace and elegance of the original curved roof has been spoiled by alterations made in the 1930's.

Hualampong Station, Bangkok, Thailand

Click Here for a Panoramic Photo!

This railway station was built fourteen years after railways were first introduced to Thailand. It was finished in 1916 and had taken 7 years to build. It was modernized in 1998 and is now extremely busy with twenty four ticket windows and a computerized booking system. The original architecture has been preserved well in spite of the modernization.

Here are some more railway stations that combine the best in good taste and aesthetic functionability:

Paddington Cathedral

Todays more visited cathedrals in the UK are the railway terminii. Squeaky clean with an almost a religious fanaticism these are a melting pot of people from around the world.

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Haydarpasa Terminal

The first station there was built in 1872 when the railroad was opened to Gebze.

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Docklands Light Railway (Wall of Light)

One of the first light rail systems in Britain, with one of the world’s safest and most advanced automatic train control systems, DLR has expanded faster than any UK railway.

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Almere Centrum, The Netherlands

The railway station Almere Centrum was built in 1987, when Almere was connected to the Dutch railway system.

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Ano Lechonia

Ano Lechonia is another of the villages where de Chirico built railway stations.

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Light Of A West Civilization

Main Railway Station, Berlin, Germany.

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South Wimbledon

The London Underground was the first underground railway in the world.

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Gare de Lyon

Wonderful contrast of architectural order and human chaos.

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Milan Train Station at Midnight

Impressive station!

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Mystery Train

A train passes through Lisbon's wonderful Oriente Station, designed by Santiago Calatrava.

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Waiting...

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Tokyo: Ochanomizu

The train tracks are crossing on three different levels.

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Foggy Bottom: GWU

The elevators at the George Washington University station.

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Candidplatz

Subway station "Candidplatz" in Munich, Germany.

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Ladvi metro station, Prague

Dynamic, futuristic, and sheer artistry.

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Gare Désafectée Railway Station

Some railway stations still have a ways to go...

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Amazing Railway Station Design

This incredible piece of team work helped these designers win 2nd prize for their design.

You see, waiting in a train station is not so bad after all!

Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world. There are a few sites in the world of either such spectacular natural beauty, historical significance, or artistic triumph that you should see them. Stonehenge is one of these places. It is worth visiting for its own right.

History

This massive structure is thousands of years old, dating back to the stone age. When most of us learn about history, we think of the medieval period or the wars in the last two hundred years. This is the opportunity to see something that has been standing since long before the time of Christ, since before our countries existed, and before we have many concrete records.

Bragging Rights

Everyone has seen pictures of Stonehenge. If you visit, you'll have the ability to impress your friends and associates. When someone mentions Stonehenge, you can say smugly, “Oh I've been there.”

Pleasure

Many people make a sort of pilgrimage to Stonehenge expecting spirituality or guidance. Others enjoy the synthesis of nature and architecture as the massive stones rise from the English countryside. Some people think it's funny how they look like giant lego blocks. Whatever your reason, one thing is certain. You'll enjoy your trip.

1. Before World War I, the film star W.C. Fields spent a season as a juggler in the Tower Circus.
2. In 1985 Escapologist Karl Bartoni and his fiancée, were married in a cage suspended from the top of the Tower.
3. The top of the Tower stays open until the wind speed reaches 45mph and then it's considered too dangerous for the public to visit the viewing platform.
4. The height to the top of the Tower's flagpole is 518ft 9 inches, which is roughly the height of 39 London Double Decker buses stacked on top of each another.
5. Between 1913 and 1946 the Tower's telephone number was "Blackpool 1".
6. During the world famous " Blackpool Illuminations" 10,000 lights are used to illuminate the Tower.
7. The "Walk of Faith" glass floor panel at the top of the Tower was opened in 1998. The laminated glass is 2 inches thick and can withstand the equivalent weight of five baby elephants
8. At the base of the Tower buried beneath the foundation stone, there's a time capsule from 1891
9. Unusually the circus is positioned at the base of the Tower between the four legs of the structure.
10. The Tower buildings contain over 5 million bricks and it takes over 15,000 yards of carpet to cover the floor area.