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12/25/11

The city of Angkor, Cambodia






Angkor translates to mean 'Capital City' or 'Holy City'. The ruins of this holy city are the remnants of the Angkorian capitals and represent the pinnacle of the ancient Khmer architecture, art and civilization.

The Angkor Wat temples were built between 800AD to 1300AD. During this time over 27 kings ruled this large territory, about 400 Square kilometers (250 square miles) in north western Cambodia. The temples are thought to have been abandoned around the 15th century. They were built by the Khmer Empire which was one of the greatest powers in South-East Asia. The 'Khmer' refers to the dominant ethnic group in modern and ancient Cambodia. It is estimated that at its height of rule the population contained more than one million people. The temples are not only impressive because of the beauty. It is also amazing to marvel at the vast waterworks and military defenses that were put in place. They were quite advanced for their time.

12/13/11

Milford sound, New Zealand






The dramatic landscape of this unforgettable region was created thousands of years ago by glacial rivers – today this remarkable wilderness is preserved as part of the southwest world heritage area.

Due to the many tours operating here, this region's unforgettable scenery is easily accessible to all visitors. Experience one of New Zealand’s great walks such as the Routeburn, Milford or Kepler tracks. Go flight-seeing over Fiordland National Park, the ultimate way to appreciate the sheer scale of the landscape’s lakes, fiords and mountains. Cruise the fiords at a relaxing pace or kayak around the sheltered waters, encountering dolphins and seals along the way. Visit Milford Deep at Milford Sound to see an underwater landscape of black coral that’s every bit as unique as the landscape above the surface.

12/4/11

Victoria waterfalls, Zambia \ Zimbabwe






After traveling 1,000 miles from the north, the Zambezi River reaches the edge of one world and plummets 350 feet into another. Victoria Falls, between the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, is over a mile wide. No other waterfall in the world can match her scale.

The Zambezi is known as the “River of Life” across southern Africa, but surviving by the river near Victoria Falls is not always easy. During the rainy season the Zambezi has a fierceness and a power that is deadly to both animals and humans. At the peak of the rainy season, almost 300,000 gallons of water cascade over the falls every second.

During the dry season, life gravitates to the river by Victoria Falls. As the sun beats down and the water level lowers, grass-covered islands above the falls are exposed. Families of elephants from the surrounding savannah flock to the Zambezi to make the river crossing. Predator and prey rely on the river for water, and pairs of bee-eaters and pied kingfishers dig nests in the exposed muddy banks. Fish eagles raise their young and teach them to hunt, and hippos crowd the waters.

Life flourishes, for a while. And then, months later, clouds gather in the sky and rising waters force many animals to leave. It is the rainy season, and Victoria Falls becomes magnificent again – her voice rising from a whisper to thunder.