Maldives

The Maldives consists of 1190 islands grouped into 26 natural atolls scattered over an area of 90,000 sq. km straddling the equator between latitudes 7°6” north and 0°42” south and longitudes 72°32” and 73°46” east.

The atolls of the Maldives are formed from coral structures. The atolls are part of a greater structure known as the Laccadives-Chagos Ridge, which stretches over 2000 kilometers. The islands are low lying with the highest point at approximately eight feet above sea level. Ring-shaped reef structures form the atolls and these reefs provide the natural defense against wind and wave action on these delicate islands.

Time: + 5 hrs GMT

Capital: Male’
Population (2006): 298,968

No. of Islands: 1,190

Inhabited Islands: 200

Resorts: 91

Major Industries: Tourism & Fisheries

Currency: Rufiyaa

Electricity: 240 AC

Working Hours: Government: 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Sun to Thu
                       Private Sector: 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
                       (Varies) Sat to Thu
                        Banks: 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
                        Sun to Thu
Weather in Maldives

The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate results in relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year. The weather is determined largely by the monsoons; the Southwest monsoon from May to November and the Northeast monsoon from December to April.

The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December. February is the driest with December to April being relatively dry. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore severe storms are rare.

Annual Rainfall: 2053 mm

Average Daily Sunshine: 7.6 hrs

Maximum Temperature :30.9 °C

Minimum Temperature : 25.2°C

Humidity %: 79 %

Travel to Maldives

Although geographically isolated the Maldives is easily accessible by air from anywhere in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe. Colombo is an hour’s journey away by air, from Singapore and Dubai it takes about four hours and from Europe it takes nine to eleven hours to reach Male’.

Malé International AirportMale’
International Airport is on an island that only houses the airport and related facilities. The airport located on Hulhule Island is a modern well-equipped airport with all the facilities and services one would expect from an international airport. The airport complex houses terminals for arrivals and departures, landside shops and airside duty free shops, restaurants, medical facilities, bank, post office and other services. The island also houses the airport hotel. 
 What to pack

The Maldives is warm throughout the year. Light, cotton and linen wear is ideal. Pack lots of tee shirts, beachwear, and wraparound skirts, cotton shirts and shorts. For visits to inhabited islands, where most of the streets are of compact sand, or Malé where the streets are paved, sandals are easy to walk on. Some essential items include swimwear, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or a cap. If your travel plan includes traveling to many islands, a mosquito repellent may become handy.

Imigration/VisaTourists are issued a maximum of 30-day tourist visa on arrival. A valid travel document is necessary. Visa extensions are granted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Malé.

Resort Transfer

If you have a booking with a resort, transfer is usually arranged prior to your arrival. The options of speedboat or seaplane transfer where available is for you to choose from. For transfer to resorts close to the airport, motorboat or dhoni transfer is quite convenient. Even if you make a resort booking while in Malé, transfer arrangements are often made by the resort.

The Maldives has one of the largest seaplane fleets in the world, not surprising for a country with 99% ocean and more than a thousand islands. The low altitude seaplane journey offers you the additional opportunity to experience a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the country.

Departure Tax
The airport departure tax which is US$ 12.00 is usually included when you purchase your airline ticket.

Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion (US$5.7 billion), including cost of the prime land.

The three hotel towers are crowned by the Sands Skypark on the 57th storey, which offers a 360-degree view of Singapore's skyline. This one-hectare sky oasis will feature lush greenery, beautifully sculptured gardens, restaurants and even an infinity pool. There’s no greater feeling like standing at the top of the world. 

Designed as a symbolic gesture of welcome to guests from across the globe, the lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands is the premier museum destination in Singapore for major international touring exhibitions from the most renowned collections in the world.
Embracing a spectrum of influences from art & science, to media & technology, to design & architecture, ArtScience Museum features over 50,000 square feet of galleries to inspire visitors of all ages, walks of life and from shores near and far.
The Museum’s showpiece exhibition, ArtScience: A Journey Through Creativity, is an homage and introduction to the nascent field of ArtScience. What unites Art and Science is the instinct to observe, connect, take risks and explore new ideas and ways of understanding nature’s wisdom and experiences that shape our culture. Visitors to the ArtScience exhibition will explore these mysterious connections between the arts and the sciences through three galleries – Curiosity, Inspiration and Expression – thus undergoing their own journey of creativity.
The Museum will also play host to marquee exhibitions curated by leading museums and collections. These visiting exhibitions will be recast through the lens of ArtScience, allowing visitors to experience the creative process and interaction of influences that gave rise to great moments, movements and inspirations in time.
Unique to the region, ArtScience Museum expresses Singapore’s priorities and ambition to be the exchange capital of the world, providing an internationally renowned forum for the exchange of the latest ideas and theories. ArtScience Museum is an endowment to Singapore’s creative class, and it is Singapore’s gift to the world.

Luxury fashion fans will have more to cheer about. With a wide array of high-end boutiques alongside niche designer labels at The Shopes at Marina Bay Sands, featuring top international brands such as Louis Vuitton located in a "floating" crystal pavilion, shoppers will surely be spoilt for choice.
Besides offering the best in retail shopping, there will also be an eclectic mix of gourmet restaurants and cool cafes, making Marina Bay Sands the hangout du jour for visitors and locals alike. After all that shopping, enjoy a great meal at one of the 50 dining experiences, including world-renowned restaurants – featuring Michelin-starred and celebrity chefs like Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud, Wolfgang Puck, Santi Santamaria, Guy Savoy and Tetsuya Wakuda.
Arts lovers will have plenty of options too. The resort's two state-of-the-art theatres, totalling 4,000 seats, will offer you an impressive variety of hand-picked international and local performances all the way from Broadway to Bollywood – including hits such as the internationally acclaimed musical The Lion King. Live music fans can also get their fix with a smorgasbord of concerts, while film buffs can expect exclusive gala premiers. At the Marina Bay Sands Art Path, you’ll be amazed by the unprecedented collection of art installations.

Statue Of Liberty (USA)

The Statue of Liberty National Monument officially celebrated her 100th birthday on October 28, 1986. The people of France gave the Statue to the people of the United States over one hundred years ago in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. Over the years, the Statue of Liberty's symbolism has grown to include freedom and democracy as well as this international friendship.

Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture with the year 1876 in mind for completion, to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. The Statue was a joint effort between America and France and it was agreed upon that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the Statue and its assembly here in the United States. However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France, public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery were among the methods used to raise funds. In the United States, benefit theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions and prize fights assisted in providing needed funds.
Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address structural issues associated with designing such a colossal copper sculpture. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows the Statue's copper skin to move independently yet stand upright. Back in America, fund raising for the pedestal was going particularly slowly, so Joseph Pulitzer (noted for the Pulitzer Prize) opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper, "The World" to support the fund raising effort. Pulitzer used his newspaper to criticize both the rich who had failed to finance the pedestal construction and the middle class who were content to rely upon the wealthy to provide the funds. Pulitzer's campaign of harsh criticism was successful in motivating the people of America to donate.
Financing for the pedestal was completed in August 1885, and pedestal construction was finished in April of 1886. The Statue was completed in France in July, 1884 and arrived in New York Harbor in June of 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere" which transported the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States. In transit, the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates. The Statue was re-assembled on her new pedestal in four months time. On October 28th 1886, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of spectators. She was a centennial gift ten years late.
The story of the Statue of Liberty and her island has been one of change. The Statue was placed upon a granite pedestal inside the courtyard of the star-shaped walls of Fort Wood (which had been completed for the War of 1812.) The United States Lighthouse Board had responsibility for the operation of the Statue of Liberty until 1901. After 1901, the care and operation of the Statue was placed under the War Department. A Presidential Proclamation declared Fort Wood (and the Statue of Liberty within it) a National Monument on October 15th, 1924 and the monument's boundary was set at the outer edge of Fort Wood. In 1933, the care and administration of the National Monument was transferred to the National Park Service. On September 7, 1937, jurisdiction was enlarged to encompass all of Bedloe's Island and in 1956, the island's name was changed to Liberty Island. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred to the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In May of 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to head up a private sector effort to restore the Statue of Liberty. Fundraising began for the $87 million restoration under a public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., to date the most successful public-private partnership in American history. In 1984, at the start of the Statue's restoration, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site. On July 5, 1986 the newly restored Statue re-opened to the public during Liberty Weekend, which celebrated her centennial.
Source: http://www.statueofliberty.org

Visiting Statue Of Liberty

Statue of Liberty Phone: 212-363-3200

Statue Cruises Phone: 877-LADY-TIX

Nearest Subways to Statue of Liberty: 4/5 to Bowling Green; N/R to Whitehall Street; 1 to South Ferry (you must be in the first 5 cars of the train to exit at South Ferry). Follow the signs to Castle Clinton to buy tickets for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

Strollers are not allowed on the Promenade or Observatory Tours.

There is plenty of room for running around and relaxing on Liberty Island.

Statue Cruises Ferry Ticket Prices: Adults $13; Senior Citizens (62+) $10; Children (4-12) $5; Children 3 and under free. You can buy your tickets for the ferry online at http://www.statuecruises.com/ferry-service/welcome.aspx . Ferry ticket included with the New York Pass - present New York Pass in Castle Clinton bookstore for ticket.

Statue of Liberty Hours:

Ferries to the island depart from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Liberty Island closes at 6 p.m. and the last ferry returns to Battery Park by 6:30 p.m. Schedules are updated and revised frequently, so please check the official ferry schedule.

The Statue

The Statue of Liberty is 46,5 meter (151ft) high and together with the pedestal it reaches 93 meter (305ft). You can take the staircase inside the statue and walk all the way up the 354 steps to the crown from where you have a nice view over New York City.

Chichen Itza (Mexico)

Chichen Itza which means “at the mouth of the well of Itza “, is the 2nd most visited archeological site of Mexico today. The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza which known as “El Castillo” (the castle), is one of the new seven wonders of the world elected in 07.07.2007. It is exactly 24 m. high considering the upper platform. Apart from the Kukulkan Pyramid, in Chichen Itza there many other archaeological sites to visit, all carrying traces from Mayan Culture in many ways.

Chichen-Itza, now including one of the new 7 wonders of the world; the Kukulkan Pyramid, is located in the Peninsula of Yucatan, in the Yucatan State; Mexico, between Valladolid and Merida and is just120 km from Merida.

Chichen Itza is the most important archaeological vestige of the Maya-Toltec civilization in Yucatán (10th-15th centuries). Its monuments, particularly in the northern group which includes the Great Ball Court, Temple of Kukulkan and Temple of the Warriors, are among the undisputed masterpieces of Mesoamerican architecture because of the beauty of their proportions, the refinement of their construction and the splendour of their sculpted decorations. These monuments exerted an influence throughout the entire Yucatán cultural zone from the 10th to the 15th centuries.

Located midway between Mérida and Cancún, Chichen Itza is the northernmost of the major archaeological sites in Yucatán. Covering more than 300 ha, it is also one of the largest and richest in monuments. Above all, it is one of the most significant in historical terms because it illustrates two major periods in pre-Hispanic civilizations in the Mesoamerican zone.

The town was established close to two natural cavities (cenotes or chenes), which facilitated tapping the underground water area of the cenote of Xtoloc during the Classic period. The dates for this settlement vary according to subsequent local accounts: one manuscript gives 415-35, while others say 455. The town that grew up around the sector known as Chichen Viejo already boasted important monuments of great interest: the Building of the Nuns, church, Akab Dzib, Chichan Chob, Temple of the Panels and Temple of the Stag. They were constructed between the 6th and 10th centuries in the characteristic Mayan style then popular both in the northern and southern areas of the Puuc hills.

The second settlement of Chichen Itza, and the most important for historians, corresponded to the migration of Toltec warriors from the Mexican plateau towards the south during the 10th century. According to the most common version, the King of Tula, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, or Kukulkan as the Mayans translated the name, reportedly took the city between 967 and 987 after wandering for many years. What is known for certain is that the Toltec invaders subjugated the local population with a ferocity which even five centuries later the chronicles of the 'sacred books' of the Mayans spoke of. The Toltecs imposed the ritual of human sacrifice which until then was rarely, if at all, practised in the region.

Following the conquest of Yucatán a new style blending the Mayan and Toltec traditions developed, symbolizing the phenomenon of acculturation. Chichen Itza is a clear illustration of this fusion. Specific examples are, in the group of buildings to the south, the Caracol, a circular stellar observatory whose spiral staircase accounts for its name, and, to the north, the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, El Castillo. Surrounding El Castillo are terraces where the major monumental complexes were built: on the north-west are the Great Ball Court, Tzompantli or the Skull Wall, the temple known as the Jaguar Temple, and the House of Eagles; on the north-east are the Temple of the Warriors, Group of the Thousand Columns, market and ball courts; on the south-west is the Tomb of the High Priest.

This new architecture, known today as Maya-Yucatec, took from the old local structures the art of stereotomy used on walls and vaults while incorporating certain Toltec elements in the decorations. Besides all the battle scenes, which are depicted in luxurious detail, the most obvious of the influences from central Mexico are the likenesses of the plumed serpent Quetzalcoatl, present on columns and substructures where enormous heads of reptiles create a vigorous decorative motif. Other examples of the Mexican influence are the famous statues of the rain god Chac-Mool, executed in a typical half-reclining pose.

The history of Chichen Itza from the end of the 10th to the 15th centuries is complex. The monopolistic authority of military leaders seems to have been mitigated after the city joined the Mayapán League, which included Uxmal. After the 13th century no major monuments seem to have been constructed at Chichen Itza and the city rapidly declined after the fall of Mayapán. In 1556 Bishop Diego de Landa visited the practically abandoned ruins and recorded the legends pertaining to the various monuments. The ruins were not excavated until 1841.

Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

The Taj Mahal (Indian)

The Taj Mahal is located on the south-west bank of the Yamuna River within the city of Agra in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh, about 200 kilometres south of New Delhi (travel is roughly two and a half hours if you buy a ticket for an express train). Uttar Pradesh is home to more than 120 million people.

Agra was the capital of the Mughals, or moguls, a muslim clan who ruled northern India between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan ordered construction of the Taj Mahal in 1631 to honour his beloved second wife Arjumand Banu (later known as Mumtaz Mahal - the name Taj Mahal is a diminutive of this name), who died at the age of 39 while giving birth to their 14th child.

The greatest artisans and craftsmen of Asia and Persia were commissioned, aided by more than 20,000 labourers, and the Taj Mahal was built in 22 years.

Within the famous central dome of the Taj Mahal (built from white marble) lies the jewel inlaid cenotaph of the late queen.

The mausoleum itself is actually part of a massive complex including an elaborate garden (Bageecha), a main gateway (Darwaza), a prayer house, a mosque (Masjid) and surrounding walls.

The four slender surrounding minarets rise 40 metres and are built on a slight slope to ensure they fall outward if toppled by an earthquake.

The building is surrounded by 13 hectares of lush garden.

The stunning filigreed tile work is breathtaking at close quarters, as is the stonework and powerful beauty of the interior.

The designer of the Taj Mahal was Iranian architect Istad Usa.

Elements of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture are apparent within the Taj Mahal. The name itself translates to "crown palace".

Although few scholars agree, there has always been a legend that Emperor Shah Jehan began construction of another Taj Mahal in black marble on the other side of the river Yamuna, planning to connect the two by bridge.

According to the legend, his black mausoleum was supposed to become his own tomb, but rigourous scientific analysis has debunked this belief.

A concurrent myth that the Taj Mahal was actually designed by an Italian architect has similarly been disproved.

However, there is some evidence the Taj Mahal is gradually sinking into the Yamuna River.

Cracking has been observed at different times since construction in the 17th Century and testing in the early 19th Century showed the pinth of the mausoleum on the northern side of the structure is lower than on the south by 3.5 centimetres.

If your holiday travel tickets to India take you to the Taj Mahal, it's advisable to set aside a full day so you can soak up all the treasures of this monument... i.e. don't hurry.

The surrounding reflective river waters can change the hue of the Taj Mahal according to the season and the time of day... pink in the morning, white in the middle of the day, a soft grey in the evening and a golden hue under the light of the moon.

About 3 million foreign tourists and 15 million Indians visit the Taj Mahal each year.

Standard opening times for the Taj Mahal are from sunrise to 7.30pm, and the complex is closed on Fridays.

Since late 2004, the Taj Mahal has been open for night viewings restricted to 400 people on full-moon nights (and for two nights either side) between 8.30pm and midnight.

Video cameras are not allowed but the night visits are free of the postcard sellers and guides who crowd visits during the daytime. Tourists can buy tickets at least 24 hours in advance from the counter at the Taj Mahal entryway.

The neighbourhood outside the Taj complex is typically Indian... bicycles, pedestrians, horse-drawn traffic and the occasional cow.

Street sellers begin working the entrance to the Taj Mahal from dawn, offering endless T shirts, books, postcards, carvings, drinks and trinkets. Keep moving if you're not interested as hesitation will prompt a more ardent sales pitch.

Police are usually everywhere to ensure law and order, and everyone undergoes a security check and pat-down at the entrance to the Taj complex. All battery-powered devices are banned but cameras are allowed.

Be aware that in 2009 there are controversial plans to surround the Taj Mahal with ropewalks, a suspension bridge, cable cars and a Ferris wheel. The tourist-luring infrastructure would be built about 800 metres from the Taj Mahal.

Only electric vehicles are allowed to carry tourists to the Taj Mahal. Industry and petrol motors are discouraged in the surrounding district of Agra to cut pollution that could damage the historic building.

Agra itself is a city of just over one million people and is famous for the quality of its hand-made carpets.

Nemrut (Turkey)

Mt. Nemrut is a 2,134 m (7,001 ft) high mountain in southeastern Turkey, notable for the vast statues at a 1st century BC tomb on its summit. The mountain lies 40km north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues (8-9 meters high) of him, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, Armenian and Persian gods. Mt. Nemrut was excavated in 1881 by Karl Sester, an engineer from Germany. Subsequent excavations have failed to reveal the tomb of Antiochus. However, this is still believed to be the site of his burial. In 1987, Mt. Nemrut was made a World heritage site by UNESCO.

Everyone says that "looking of Sunrise is different and beatiful on Nemrut Mountain". If you want to see Nemrut, you have to go Malatya or Adıyaman cities of Turkey.