Archive for May, 2010

The City Palace, Home to Royalty

Friday, May 28th, 2010

 

The City Palace, is located in Udaipur India, Rajasthan. The City Palace was constructed by the then Maharana Udai Singh. As at present the City Palace Udaipur is one of the major tourist attractions in the city of Udaipur. Initial construction of the City Palace Udaipur was done in 1559. Over the subsequent years numerous additions have taken place to the City Palace. The city Palace is in fact a collection of many other palaces built by the various residents of the palace. The City Palace in Udaipur resides on the eastern banks of the Lake Pichola. From the magnificent balconies of the City Palace one can gaze and gain a panoramic view of the world renowned Lake Palace or the “Jag Niwas” as it is called. One can also gain a view of the Udaipur city and on another side the Jag Mandir.

The major entrance point to the City Palace Udaipur is through a triple arched gate, the gate is given the name Tripolia. The Tripolia at the City Palace in Udaipur was built in the year 1725. From here one can gain access to the courtyards, the terraces, the gardens and corridors. The vivid glass mosaic decorations on the walls of the Mor-Chowk give it the name Peacock courtyard. At the Bhin Vilas one can see depictions of the Hindu god Krishna.

Some of the other palaces include the Dilkhush mahal, Moti mahal and Sheesh mahal. The Krishna vilas was made in remembrance of a beautiful princess who tried to stop a battle between adversary princes for her hand by poisoning herself.

One can find good accommodation in Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan. A good Jaipur Hotel to try would be The Gateway Hotel.

Naveen Marasinghe
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-city-palace-home-to-royalty-745380.html

 

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Freight Services in Norway Riding the Wave

Friday, May 21st, 2010

 

Freight forwarding can be challenging in Norway, given that the mountainous terrain, intercut with deep valleys and fjords, can make internal transport and freight services difficult in the harsh winters.

However, the freight transport infrastructure in Norway continues to evolve to meet the challenges of the local geography and climate, with the use of transport by sea and waterways particular significant.

A recent report by the Norwegian Centre for Transport Research has been a spur to development as it identified that the international freight transport infrastructure should be improved to provide better access to domestic and international markets, saying that business was being held back by the transport infrastructure even in more urbanised areas..

There are now a number of improvements being made to the freight transport infrastructure, notably to the railway network by the state owned operator, NSB, which has invested in improving rolling stock and line speeds. The 4000 kilometre railroad system connects Oslo with Bergen and Stavanger as well as other larger towns and Sweden and full use is made of these by the freight company. A high speed rail connection also connects the international airport at Gardemoen, north of Oslo.

The railway is concentrated in the south of Norway, whilst most of the north is dependent on freight transport by road, air or boat.

The mountainous terrain is one reason why air transport is very important to the freight company in Norway. The air transport infrastructure is highly developed with no less than 58 airports in the country, nearly half of which are state owned.

The road network of some 57,000 miles is concentrated round the more populated areas, especially around Oslo.

But it is in the quality and breadth of its shipping and boat transport that Norway really stands out
Norway is heavily dependent on shipping and in fact it is one of the foremost shipping countries globally, with Norwegian merchant shipping companies owning 10% of the world’s total fleet. The fleet of offshore service ships is the second largest in the world, due to the size of Norway’s oil and gas industry. Norwegian shipping companies also control 25% of the passenger cruise boats in the world and 20% of chemical tankers and gas carriers worldwide.

Shipping is the lynchpin of the freight forwarding system in Norway. There are many ice-free harbours along the coast. The north and west coasts between the Russian border and Bergen make up a vital international freight route from the Atlantic into the Arctic Ocean.

It is a little known fact that Norway is the world’s biggest exporter of oil after Saudi Arabia and Russia. This position has helped consolidate the country’s expertise, with many a specialist shipping company.

However, shipping is also vital on a smaller scale within Norway, with local ferry services a crucial means of transport throughout the country, even in the urban areas of Oslo and Bergen.

Norway has developed its transport infrastructure and freight services in ways that not only overcome the challenges created by its interior geography, but has also embraced the opportunities presented by its natural harbours and waterways.

Norway is truly a blueprint for the successful development of shipping companies worldwide.

 

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Darwin a Cosmopolitan City

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

 

Darwin is situated at the centre of Australians north coast.

Founded in 1869, under the name of Palmerston. The city was renamed after Charles Darwin in 1911. During World War II it was an allied base for action against the Japanese in the Pacific and suffered repeated bombing, the only Australian town to do so. Darwin is a strange place, back on Christmas Day in 1974 the entire town was flattened by Cyclone Tracy, so everythings brand new. However there are very few old buildings dating from the towns inception in 1869 and its a very cosmopolitan city, if you can call a place with only 70,000 inhabitants a city.

It is a service centre for the northern part of Northern Territory. Industries include mining, fruit, meat canning and brick making, while in the surrounding area pastoral are farming, and tropical horticulture producing and tourism are important occupations.

Darwins gardens are tropical in nature naturally and are packed with palm trees, shady walks and waterfalls. Theres a beautiful grass amphitheatre where concerts are often held. The gardens are really attractive.

Museum and Art Gallery to see the Cyclone Tracy Room and magnificent examples of Aboriginal art. At the front of the Museum is also a great coffee shop, with beautiful ocean views.

The Darwin weather can be very draining especially if you are not used to humidity and heat. The city water is very drinkable so there is no need to buy expensive bottled water in Darwin. Just grab a container and fill it up with our beautiful water from any tap.

In Darwin people generally prefer to think in terms of the wet and the dry weather. The wet season begins in October, when humidity levels begin to climb, until by January and February the combination of heat and humidity is quite stifling. The end of the wet is characterised by the fierce storms.

There are many ways you can use your time and one is by combining some of the smaller attractions together to plan the perfect day. A few examples and recommendations include some of the following. Litchfield National Park, Jumping Crocs Cruise, Fish Feeding, City Territory Wildlife Park combined with swim at Berry Springs, Yellow Waters Cruise, Crocodiles Park, or hire a houseboat on the Mary River. Sunset dinner cruise on Darwin harbour.

The completion in 2003 of a railway link to Alice Springs and Adelaide fuelled hopes that Darwin could eventually become the continents transport hub with Southeast Asia.

A billion pound development of the cities waterfront area was recently undertaken, with a new convention centre, a large hotel, numerous cafes and restaurants, a wave lagoon and a public promenade scheduled for completion by 2008.

Douglas Scott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/darwin-a-cosmopolitan-city-140052.html

 

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Tokyo Disneyland Theme Parks

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

 

A family vacation in a Disney theme park or Disneyland is always a dream holiday for millions of people around the world. The Disney brand is such a resounding success worldwide that it is inconceivable that any child in any developed country do not know what is Disneyland.

If America or Paris is too far away to take your family for a Disney vacation, then you can settle for either of the 2 Disneyland in Asia located in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Disney theme parks, wherever they are located usually have the same theme. For example, in Disney Tokyo will find the following theme parks which can be found on other Disneyland albeit sometimes in different ways the parks are presented.

World Bazaar – Sprawling smack at the entrance of the Tokyo Disneyland is the World Bazaar. This Bazaar is a reminiscent of turn of the century American town with the feeling that you may come face to face with an Apache Red Indian or an outlaw wanted by the local county sheriff.

Here you will find restaurants, shops, restaurants, outlets selling souvenirs and stuff that are appealing to tourists.

Tomorrow land – A space age futuristic theme park. A delightful combination of science and innovative imagination. In Tomorrowland, you can enjoy rides that rockets you to outer space or if you are a science geek, get invited to the “Inventor of the year award ceremony.” One of the favorite rides in Tomorrow Land is to help Buzz Light Year pulverize the Evil Emperor Zurg. Whatever that is.

Toon Town – Bring the children to Toon town, they will love you for this. Toon town is where Disney characters work and play. Toon town is designed to cater exclusively for the kids and is bursting with colors with plenty of kiddy rides.

Fantasy land – How can one be in magical Disneyland without entering the world of fairy tales and cartoons? Meet Disney’s icons Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Donald Duck, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and a host of Disney cartoon characters this never never land.

Critter Country – This is the land of the, well, you’ve guessed it, Critters. The critters are small animals from the Disney movie “Song of the South”. Enjoy watching the critters burrowing little homes along the banks of the Rivers of America and on the slopes of Splash Mountain.

Western land – A visit to the Wild Wild West brings you back in time to the earliest settlers of the American West. Perhaps the most important chapter of the American history. Enjoy dinning in restaurants from the wild west era.

Adventure land – This is the where you visit the African, South American and Asian rainforest. You can even take a cruise in a “crocodile infested” river. Tropical jungles in downtown Tokyo? Well, this is what Disney magic is all about isn’t it?

Chris Chew
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/tokyo-disneyland-theme-parks-71629.html

 

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