Travel guide to Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido {北海道} is one of my "must go" places when I travel to Japan. Hokkaido formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yesso or Yeso. Hokkaido is an island in the northernmost of Japan and consist of the 22% of the total land area of the country yet only 5% of the population lives here. As an island, Hokkaido is currently being the 21th largest islands in the world. It's really hard to imagine the fact of it. There are many attractions in Hokkaido, including skiing, hiking, camping, motorcycling, biking, rafting, canoeing, fishing…even bird-watching. Hence, I'm going to bookmark a few places that you shouldn't be missed when travel to Hokkaido.

Furano Lavender Farm

In Furano Lavender Farm, you'll impress with the purple carpet of lavenders on the vast land of Hokkaido. Enjoy the flowers covering hills, mountains and the sky. Its magnificent view will definitely touches your heart.

Akan National Park

Akan National Park is protected and run by the government in Hokkaido. This expansive park (905 sq km) contains volcanic peaks, large caldera lakes and thick forests. The park's attractions are its three sparkling clear mountain lakes, the eponymous Lake Akan, Lake Mashū and Lake Kussharo. The volcanoes spawned from the lakes featured an amazing natural scenic landscape weaving together forests, lakes and volcanoes.

Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Spring

Noboribetsu-onsen attracts people by its various springs with nine different qualities. The three most popular hot springs that can beautify your skin are sulfur spring, ferruginous spring and alum spring. This is really a good experience for you to see beautiful scenery, and banish the fatigue of travel in the hot spring.

 Niseko Ski/Snowboarding

If you ask skiers and snowboarders in Japan,“which ski and snowboarding slopes do you want to visit most in the country?”, then many of them will probably answer“Hokkaido's!”. The Hokkaido's slopes have the finest powder snow compared to other slopes in Japan. You will love the experience of skiing/snowboarding on the finest powder snow, plus snowboarding on the snowfield and banana-boat on the frozen lake are assures you to have great fun. And, Niseko is the most famous ski resort in Hokkaido.

Sapporo ~ Beautiful National Scenery

Every city in Hokkaido is designed in an articulate manner so that nature and the cities function harmoniously. Especially, Sapporo is the biggest city of all the cities in the Northern part of Japan after Tokyo whose population marks over 1.8 million. You will be surprised to learn its cutting-edge culture and to find many inspirations as well as plenty of nature in the heart of Sapporo city. Also, both Hakodate and Otaru, cities located in the South of Hokkaido and North of Sapporo, have a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere because of Western culture brought into the cities more than 100 years ago. Those two cities are definitely worth dropping by when you visit Hokkaido!

Old/Ancient Seven Wonders of the World

Everyone of us might know the new seven wonders of the world. However, how many of us really know about the ancient seven wonders of the world? Today, let me unveil them to you...

The Lighthouse of Alexandra, Egypt

 Illustration By DeAgostini

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

Color engraving By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

Color lithograph By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

Photograph By David Sutherland

The Temple of Artemis, Turkey

Color engraving By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

Color engraving By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Mausoleum of Hallicarnassus, Turkey

Painting by the Bridgeman Art Library

Ancient Landmarks on Verge of Vanishing

Do you know that some of the ancient landmarks on Earth are on verge of vanishing? May be we should start join the preservation group to protect, restore and develop these sites for generations.......

Cradle of Medieval Architecture, Turkey

Photograph by Umit Bektas

Damaged frescoes in the Church of St. Gregory of Tigran Honents tell a story of neglect in the medieval city of Ani, now part of Turkey. Settled by Armenians in the 10th and 11th centuries, Ani holds churches and other buildings that helped inspire the Gothic style across Europe. The city was abandoned in the 14th century, when all Armenians were forced to leave under Turkish rule. Today the unprotected ruins are prone to looting and vandalism.

Chersonesos, Ukraine

Photograph by Wojtek Buss

The recently restored Saint Volodymyr Cathedral {background} stands in contrast with the ruins of a basilica dating back to the sixth century A.D. in Chersonesos, Ukraine . The area, on the southwestern tip of the Crimean Peninsula, was settled as early as the sixth century B.C. Once famed for its wines and coinage, the carefully planned city of Chersonesos went on to become one of the richest Byzantine civilizations on the Black Sea. But Chersonesos is now being "loved to death" due to unmanaged tourism and the pressures of urban development.

Hisham's Palace, Palestinian

Photograph by David Silverman

The eighth-century Umayyad palace was still under construction when it was damaged and covered by sand during an earthquake around A.D. 747. The ruins lay forgotten until archaeologists rediscovered them in 1934. Today experts have a basic understanding of the historic site, but they fear much of the palace's surviving remains may disappear as Jericho continues to expand its urban and agricultural developments.

Swahili Settlement, Lamu, Kenya

 Photograph by Bobby Haas

A mosaic of tightly clustered rooftops decorates an aerial view of Lamu, Kenya, one of the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the old town of Lamu dates back to the 12th century and still boasts many traditional architectural styles of Swahili culture. Major threats to the site include a proposed port project and infrastructure for the oil industry. 

Mahasthangarh, Bangladesh

Photograph by Susan Liebold

Dating back to the third century B.C.,Mahasthangarh in Bangladesh is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites in South Asia. Parts of the ancient capital were in use until the 18th century A.D., and the site is still sacred to Hindus. But years of neglect, looting, vandalism, and lack of funding have damaged Mahasthangarh.

Chronicles of Nineveh, Iraq

Photograph by Randy Olson

The rebuilt gates and mud-brick walls around the ancient city of Nineveh, near modern-day Mosul, Iraq, are popular tourist attractions. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire from 705 to 612 B.C., but the city was reduced to rubble by attacks from Medes, Babylonians, and Susianians. Archaeologists found the "lost" city in the mid-19th century and began excavations and reconstructions.Still—like many of the sites on the Global Heritage Fund list—Nineveh suffers from the pressures of modern society.

Palace of San-Souci, Haiti

Photograph by James P. Blair

Sometimes called the Versailles of the Caribbean, Haiti's Palace of San-Souci was constructed in the early 19th century by freed slaves to be the royal residence of King Henri Christophe I. But the king's subjects revolted in 1820, forcing him into hiding in the palace, where he eventually committed suicide. Once elaborately furnished, the palace crumbled in an 1842 earthquake, and today the ruined structure is rapidly deteriorating due to poor drainage and neglect.

Mirador Basin, Guatemala

Photograph by George P. Mobley

The Mirador Basin in Guatemala, considered the cradle of Maya civilization, sits adjacent to the well-known Classical Maya ruins in Tikal National Park, including the Great Plaza of Tikal, seen above in an aerial picture. The four cities in the Mirador Basin predate Tikal by as much as 1,200 years, but the Mirador ruins continue to lie abandoned under 2,000 years' worth of jungle growth. Threats to the approximately million-acre {405,000-hectare} site include looting, slash-and-burn agriculture, and illegal logging.

Taxila, Pakistan

Photograph by James L. Stanfield

A complex of caves, monasteries, and mosques, the city of Taxila in Pakistan was a crossroads of industry in the ancient Middle East. Four distinct settlement sites—each belonging to different time periods—show the evolution of urban development over the course of five centuries, beginning in the sixth century B.C., according to the Global Heritage Fund. Today the ruins and nearby Taxila Museum suffer from insufficient management—some areas of the site serve as garbage dumps, for example. Other threats include looting, the toll of regional war, and uncontrolled mine blasts that shake excavated artifacts from museum shelves.

Famagusta, Cyprus

Photograph from Photolibrary

Above, the ruins of an ancient gymnasium stand inFamagusta, Cyprus, once considered among the richest cities in the world. Founded as early as the third century B.C., Famagusta served as a key trading port and a center for political relationships between the Middle East and Europe. Lack of attention, lack of funding, and gradual deterioration of the monuments in Famagusta are threatening the ancient city's potential for survival.

Fort Santiago, Philippines

Photograph by Joel Nito

Spanish settlers constructed the historic walled fortress of Fort Santiago in the district in the 16th century. Much of Intramuros was heavily damaged by U.S. Air Force bombings during World War II. Today the greatest threat to the restored site is modernization. International chains—including Starbucks and McDonald's—are found within Fort Santiago's walls, and developers in Manila seem eager for further expansion.

Maluti Temple, India

Photograph by Sourav De

Only 72 of the original 108 terra-cotta temples remain intact in the 18th-centuryvillage of Maluti, India. The temples were built during the Pala dynasty by devotees of the Hindu goddess Mowlakshi. Other temples at the site were dedicated to Shiva, Durga, Kali, and Vishnu. Today, neglect, poor drainage, and overgrown vegetation are taking a toll on the complex.

Top 10 Travel Destinations in the World

I'm a travel lover. To me, travel can open your mind and enrich your life! It's the opportunity to explore, learn and experience the culture, religion and ethnicity in different country! I'll share my list of top 10 travel destinations that you shouldn't miss!

1. Iceland

 

Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted and truly magical landscape. Its breathtaking landscape is an inspiration to artists and photographers. Explore Aurora Borealis, which is such a divine sight as if bestowed as a gift from Mother Nature. Taking city break in Iceland’s Reyjkavik. Will be a wonderful experience of holiday.

2.  Greece

Greece today is a vibrant modern European country. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clamouring for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy.

3. Nepal

 

Nepal is not just a bungee-jumping, apple-pie eating Shangri-la. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage. 

 

4. Maldives

Maldives is a place full of character, where its people have long spent their days languishing in the very essence of idyll living. Indeed, so superior are its beaches, so cobalt blue its waters and so warm its welcome that the country has become a byword for paradise whether it be for honeymooners, sun worshippers or divers.

5. Cambodia

Cambodia: beaches as beautiful as Thailand but without the tourist tide; wilds as remote as Laos but even less explored; cuisine as subtle as Vietnam but yet to be discovered; and temples that leave Burma and Indonesia in the shade. This is the heart of Southeast Asia, with everything the region has to offer packed into one bite-sized country. 

6. Ireland

Ireland is one of the most rewarding experiences you can get as a traveler. Its vastness, wildness and unspoiled natural sights combine with hospitable locals, rich history, well-guarded tradition, and a pint of Guinness to guarantee loads of fun and relaxation.

7. New Zealand

New Zealand's checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it's easy to see why the natives are so chilled.

8. Argentina

The secret is out: with its gorgeous landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and lively culture, Argentina is a traveler’s paradise. You’ll be out shopping for designer clothes at affordable prices and eating the world’s best steaks every day while partying at nightclubs all night long. 

9. Morocco

The country of scents and colors, wild desert, superb coast, fabulous mountain vistas and of course excellent food, Morocco is a paradise for traveler. The vibe of the country comes from a unique blend of Europe, Africa and the Middle East cultures.

10. India

India is simply fascinating and addictive. It is the country of contrasts and many dimensions. Among main attractions are the Taj Mahal mausoleum, beaches of Goa, Darjeeling hill station, Varanasi holy city of Shiva, and the Himalaya regions such as Ladakh and Leh. Although these are popular tourist tracks, the vibe, beauty and charm of these places is well worth experiencing.

Best Tourist Attraction in Taiwan ---- Yeliu 野柳

What is your first impression of Taiwan? What are the tourist attractions? Well, let me introduce one of the most stunning & spectacular attractions you should not missed ~~~ Yeliu! Yeliu has be known as Geographic Park and is one of the amazing National Scenic areas in Taiwan.

Yeliu is famous for the curious shapes carved by sea erosion. A number of rock formations have been given imaginative names based on their shapes such as the,

Queen Head

Twin Rocks

Fairy shoe

Ginger Rocks

Sea Candles

You can see some rocks have a round hole on the ground everywhere as shown below . The hole usually contains some round stones and is filled with seawater.

So, don't miss this stunning tourist attraction when you have Taiwan tour! It's highly recommended by me --- the "half" Taiwanese [Grandparents are Taiwanese]!