What is the history of Malate church in Manila?

What are the three most populated cities in Canada?

There are around 16 holidays observed in Papua New Guinea.

Here is the list of holidays in 2021

• Friday Jan 01, 2021 New Years Day
• Friday Jan 08, 2021 Public Holiday (State funeral of Sir Mekere Morauta.)
• Monday Mar 01, 2021 Public Holiday (Mourning for Michael Somare)
• Friday Mar 12, 2021 Public Holiday (Mourning for Michael Somare)
• Friday Apr 02, 2021 Good Friday
• Saturday Apr 03, 2021 Holy Saturday
• Sunday Apr 04, 2021 Easter Sunday
• Monday Apr 05, 2021 Easter Monday
• Monday Jun 14, 2021 Queens Birthday (Usually on Monday after second Saturday in June)
• Friday Jul 23, 2021 National Remembrance Day
• Thursday Aug 26, 2021 National Repentance Day
• Thursday Sep 16, 2021 Independence Day (National Day)
• Saturday Dec 25, 2021 Christmas Day
• Sunday Dec 26, 2021 Boxing Day
• Monday Dec 27, 2021 Christmas Holiday

The currency of Cyprus is the Euro (€). Before 1st January 2008 the currency was the Cypriot pound.

Will a claim for a smoker be denied if the policy is for a non-smoker?

How far is Usselo Holland and the German border?

How do you host a website in Sri Lanka?

Where did the Britons come from?

Which large sea would you cross to go from Algeria to France?

What is Costa Rica's motto or slogan?

Here are a few popular Kenyan dishes. Please share your favorites as a reply.

• Kaimati (Sweet Pastry)
• Kuku wa kupaka (Stew)
• Mukimo (Vegetable Dish)
• Kachumbari (Salad)
• Irio (Vegetable Dish)
• Wali wa kukaanga (Rice Dish)
• Mutura (Sausage)
• Githeri (Stew)
• Ugali (Side Dish)
• Nyama choma (Meat Dish)

India

• India, country that occupies the greater part of South Asia.
• Its capital is New Delhi, built in the 20th century just south of the historic hub of Old Delhi to serve as India’s administrative centre.
• Its government is a constitutional republic that represents a highly diverse population consisting of thousands of ethnic groups and likely hundreds of languages.
• With roughly one-sixth of the world’s total population, India is the second most populous country, after China.

India has so much to offer, here are some of the things India is known for.

Taj Mahal

Perhaps the single most famous building on the planet, the Taj Mahal: is as much a monument to love as it is to death. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan constructed this magnificent mausoleum to honour his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died tragically in childbirth. Clad in pearlescent white marble, and intricately inlaid with calligraphy, semiprecious stones and intricate floral designs representing the eternal paradise, the Taj is the pinnacle of Mughal creativity, and one of the most perfectly proportioned buildings ever constructed, anywhere, ever.

Other-worldly Hampi

Magnificent even in ruins, Hampi: was once the cosmopolitan capital of a powerful Hindu empire, Vijayanagar, whose temples and water tanks sprawled for miles over a landscape of granite outcrops and boulders. Ransacked by warring armies, its toppled temples are today almost continuous with the rocky terrain. Indeed, look closely and you'll find that hardly an inch of Hampi has escaped the stonemason's chisel. Traverse the centuries on foot, rock-climb among the outcrops, or drift through the ruins by coracle on the Tungabhadra River: however you explore, Hampi will transport you to another world.

Ladakh's Moonscapes

Rolling north from the sun-baked Indian plains, the air grows cooler and crisper and the terrain more rugged as you climb into the high Himalaya. In culture and topography, Ladakh: is closer to Buddhist Tibet than Hindu India, and centuries-old monasteries cling on in its wild desert valleys. Snow closes off this former Buddhist kingdom for half the year, so most visitors come for the brief summer when the snow melts on the mountain passes and patches of greenery appear. Even in a country of superlatives, there's nowhere quite like Ladakh!

Caves of Ajanta

They may have lived a life of austere humility, but the 2nd-century-BC monks who created the Ajanta caves: certainly had an eye for the dramatic. Thirty rock-cut forest grottoes worm through the face of a horseshoe-shaped cliff, protecting some of the finest carvings ever produced from the centuries and the elements. The caverns were originally hollowed out to provide peaceful spaces for meditation and contemplation, but later generations adorned the chambers with exquisite carvings and paintings depicting the Buddha’s former lives. Renunciation of the worldly life was never so serenely sophisticated.

Boating the Backwaters of Kerala

Lazily navigating the radiant backwaters of Kerala: is like floating off into a dream. What is probably India's most laid-back state has 900km of interconnected rivers, lakes, canals and lagoons lined with swaying coconut palms and picturesque villages. Probably the most atmospheric way to explore Kerala's waterlogged rural heartland is on board a teak-and-palm-thatch houseboat. Spend the days watching village life drift past in a timeless tableau, before feasting on Keralan seafood curries and falling into a restful sleep beneath a canopy of twinkling stars. Who needs life on land?

Mumbai’s Architectural Visions

Mumbai: is more than just a city. This frenetic, fabulous metropolis is the beating heart of Indian film, fashion and finance, built on the hopes and dreams of its 22 million inhabitants as much as with bricks and mortar. Sprawling over seven islands, Mumbai is prosperous and desperate, brash but also life-affirming. From the skyscraping towers of north Mumbai to the art deco apartments of Marine Drive and the faded Victoriana of Fort, Mumbai wears its history, and its ambitions, on its sleeve – come for the food and culture, and be seduced.

Safaris

Spotting India's national animal in the wild takes perseverance and a bit of luck, but if you do spy a tiger burning bright in the Indian jungle, the experience will stay with you for a lifetime. Even if you don't encounter one of Shere Khan's cousins, look out for leopards, bears, monkeys, rhinos, elephants and a host of other wildlife in national parks such as Bandhavgarh:, Kaziranga and Nagarhole. There's hardly a corner of India that doesn't have some kind of natural reserve where you can join a safari in search of adventure.

Cuppa in a Hill Station

India's lowlands are full of wonders, but come summer it can get darn hot down there. Indian royals and imported colonials escaped the heat by heading to cool mountain refuges, such as Darjeeling:, Shimla and Kodaikanal, tucked into the forested foothills of the Himalaya or crowning the peaks of the Western Ghats down south. Dripping with Raj nostalgia, India's hill stations are places to curl up under a blanket with a steaming cup of locally grown tea, watching mist drift through the tea plantations beneath grandstand views of the peaks.

Holy Varanasi

Life, death and all things in-between play out in vivid colour in Varanasi:, India's most sacred city. Like the sacred Ganges that traces its eastern edge, centuries of ritual and tradition flow over Varanasi's riverside ghats, where holy men fill the air with incense, pilgrims bathe in a vast human tide, and devout Hindus pass into the life hereafter on funeral pyres. To be here is to witness India at its most open, so step into the dizzying spiritual whirlwind and get carried away by Varanasi's kaleidoscope of colours.

Goan Beaches

With swishing palms sandwiched between sugar-white sands and lapping kingfisher-blue waves, Goa's coastline has a laid-back, hedonistic charm that's like nowhere else in India. With a string of what could be India's most beautiful beaches:, this is no undiscovered escape, but the coastal strip bustles with beachside snack shacks, accommodation for every taste and budget, and markets full of blissed-out tie-dye-clad travellers. It's a slice of paradise that appeals to social animals and fans of creature comforts who like their seafood fresh and their holidays easy.

Jaisalmer’s Desert Mirage

A gigantic golden sandcastle that rises like a mirage from Rajasthan's Thar Desert, the 12th-century citadel of Jaisalmer: is almost impossibly romantic and picturesque. With its crenellated ramparts and barrel-shaped towers, this is the very vision of a desert fortress, emerging from and almost continuous with the camel-coloured scrub landscape on all sides. Inside, a royal palace, atmospheric old havelis (merchants' mansions), delicately chiselled Jain temples and maze-like lanes conspire to create one of the country's most atmospheric places to get lost.

Risqué Khajuraho

Ever fancied being a fly on the wall at an orgy? Where couples intertwine in positions that defy the physically possible? Khajuraho could well be your place. Some say the sensuous carvings on Khajuraho’s temples: depict the Kamasutra, or tantric practices for initiates; others claim they're a reminder to the faithful to set lust aside before entering holy places. But pretty much everyone agrees that they’re delightfully mischievous. Once the titillation wanes, you’ll notice that the skill and delicacy of the carving on these historic temples is even more impressive than the subject matter.

Epic Rail Journeys

A train journey across India, passing lime-green rice paddies, jungle-cloaked hills and jutting temple spires, is an epic experience. Sure, you could save time by flying, but it's tricky to mix with the masses and soak up India's dramatically diverse scenery from 35,000ft. Riding the rails is a chance to chit-chat with locals over a hot cup of chai, or gaze out the window at the ever-changing landscape, contemplating India's contradictions. Ramp up the romance on the toy train from Kalka to Shimla:, or one of India's other delightful mountain railways.

Historic Delhi

India’s captivating capital: bears the scars of a string of former empires, from tombs and fortresses left behind by sultans and warlords to the broad streets laid out by British colonials. Delhi may be chaotic today, but it rewards visitors with an abundance of riches: fabulous food and culture; Mughal relics and maze-like markets; New Delhi, with its political monuments and museums; the ancient forts of Tughlaqabad and Purana Qila; and ruined wonders at the Qutb Minar and Mehrauli. Come and be mesmerised by 3000 years of history.

Amritsar’s Golden Temple

The holiest Sikh shrine, Amritsar's Golden Temple: is a place where spirituality pushes through into the material world. A continuous chain of pilgrims circles the Sarovar, a water tank excavated by the fourth Sikh guru in 1577, while priests chant passages from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, in the gold-encased chapel at the centre of the pool. To visit is to glimpse the soul of the Sikh religion, characterised by honour, courage and hospitality – best exemplified by the Guru-Ka-Langar, the vast kitchen for pilgrims that feeds 100,000 people daily.

French-Flavoured Puducherry

Where else in the world could you start the day with Ashtanga yoga, breakfast on pain au chocolat, wander streets full of French-colonial villas, glean spiritual tips at a legendary ashram, then dine on fabulous Indian fusion food before strolling beside the tropical ocean? In this former French colony:, mustard-coloured houses line cobblestone streets, grand cathedrals overflow with architectural frou-frou, and the croissants are the real deal. But Puducherry (Pondicherry) is also a Tamil town – with all the history, temples and hustle and bustle that go along with that.

Mehrangarh

India is awash with magnificent fortresses, but Jodhpur's Mehrangarh: is particularly humbling, rearing up from an outcrop like a rock-cut statement of intent. A Rajput maharaja raised this mighty bastion to defend his newly founded capital at Jodhpur, and the fortress saw a string of bloody battles as rival powers eyed its magnificence. With its inlaid interiors and gateways big enough to accommodate war elephants, Mehrangarh showcases Rajasthan's grandeur but also its tragedies – the handprints of royal wives who immolated themselves on the funeral pyre of Maharaja Man Sing still mark the walls.

Tribal Northeast India

If the crowds wear you down in Rajasthan or Kerala, point your compass northeast to India's rugged tribal states, linked to the rest of India by just a narrow strip of land, and culturally closer to Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh. For decades the region was off-limits due to colonial-era red tape, but visiting is getting easier all the time. If you venture to the mountainous north of Arunachal Pradesh:, or former headhunter villages in forested Nagaland, you'll be stepping off the tourist map into a world of tribal customs and untamed scenery.

The Wild Western Ghats

Stretching like an emerald scarf from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu, the Western Ghats are the south's answer to the Himalaya, but instead of snow-capped peaks you'll find ridges choked in jungle, nostalgic hill stations, scattered tea and spice plantations, and national parks teeming with elephants, leopards and tigers. There's even a charming, steam-powered miniature train, chugging uphill to Ooty (Udhagamandalam:) via Coonoor. As in the north, you'll find plenty of colonial bungalows turned hotels, where you can sit with a cup of Indian tea and watch the mists swirl over the mountains.

Udaipur

An ice-white city: of faded splendours, sitting on the bank of a mirror-like lake, Udaipur is one of India's most romantic locations. As the sun sets over its turreted palaces, reflected in the millpond-calm waters of Lake Pichola, and voices float upwards from its busy bazaars, Udaipur will transport you to the India of fables. Sure, you'll have company on the journey, but as you look out over the Rajput elegance of the graceful Lake Palace or wander Udaipur's backstreet mansions and gardens, you certainly won't mind!

Rishikesh

India's self-styled yoga capital: has been a source of enlightenment since long before the Beatles stopped by in full-blown hippie mode. Blessed with a glorious setting in the Himalayan foothills, tracing the banks of the Ganges, Rishikesh is the perfect place to settle for a time to practise your downward dog, try some laughter therapy, ritually bathe in the Ganges or whatever else floats your spiritual boat. Then there's that mountain air, blissfully fresh and clean after the polluted fug of the plains.

*Flight Amsterdam (AMS) to Brussels (BRU) Shortest Flight Duration 50 mins *Driving 208 km (about 2 hours 8 mins) *Direct from Amsterdam to Brussels 106 miles (171 km) (92 nautical miles)

France

• France, officially French Republic, French France or République Française, country of northwestern Europe.
• Historically and culturally among the most important nations in the Western world, France has also played a highly significant role in international affairs, with former colonies in every corner of the globe.
• Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps and the Pyrenees, France has long provided a geographic, economic, and linguistic bridge joining northern and southern Europe.
• It is Europe’s most important agricultural producer and one of the world’s leading industrial powers.

France has so much to offer, here are some of the things France is known for.

Eiffel Tower

More than six million people visit the Eiffel Tower: annually – and from an evening ascent amid twinkling lights over a flute of Champagne to a lazy lunch in one of its restaurants, every visit is magical. Gustave Eiffel only designed the graceful tower as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, yet its distinctive art nouveau–laced silhouette is an icon of Paris' skyline. Best are the special occasions when all 324m of the iconic tower glows a different colour.

Mont St-Michel

The dramatic play of tides on this abbey-island in Normandy is magical and mysterious. Said by Celtic mythology to be a sea tomb to which souls of the dead were sent, Mont St-Michel: is rich in legend and history, keenly felt as you make your way across the bridge – or barefoot across rippled sand – to this stunning architectural ensemble. Walk around it alone or, better still, hook up with a guide in nearby Genêts for a dramatic day hike across the bay.

Champagne

Known-brand Champagne houses in the main towns of Reims and Épernay are famed the world over. But – our tip – much of Champagne's finest liquid gold is created by passionate, small-scale vignerons (winegrowers) in drop-dead-gorgeous villages, rendering the region's scenic driving routes the loveliest way of tasting fine bubbly amid rolling vineyards. Our favourite: exploring the region’s best Champagne museum, the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin:, in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, followed by a tasting and lunch in the village at Le Mesnil.

Loire Valley Châteaux

If it's aristocratic pomp and architectural splendour you're after, this regal valley is the place to linger. Flowing for more than 1000km into the Atlantic Ocean, the Loire is one of France's last fleuves sauvages (untamed rivers) and its banks provide a 1000-year snapshot of French high society. The valley is riddled with beautiful châteaux sporting glittering turrets and ballrooms, lavish cupolas and chapels. If you're a hopeless romantic seeking the perfect fairy-tale castle, head for moat-ringed Azay-le-Rideau:, Villandry and its gardens, and less-visited Château de Beauregard.

Chamonix Action

The birthplace of mountaineering and winter playground to the rich, famous and not-so-famous, this iconic ski resort in the French Alps has something for everyone. Snow-sports fiends fly down slopes on skis or boards in order to savour the breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and surrounding mountains. But there's absolutely no obligation to do so: nonskiers can hop aboard the Aiguille du Midi: cable car – and onwards to Italy aboard the Télécabine Panoramique Mont Blanc – for the ride of a lifetime above 3800m.

Dune du Pilat

The Dune du Pilat: is a 'mountain' that has to be climbed – and gleefully romped down at speed. Not only is the coastal panorama from the top of Europe's largest sand dune a stunner – ogle at the Banc d'Arguin bird reserve and Cap Ferret across the bay – but nearby beaches have some of the Atlantic Coast's best surf. Cycle here from Arcachon and feast afterwards on locally farmed oysters and crepinettes (local sausages) at a 1930s hunting lodge redesigned by Philippe Starck, aka the-place-to-be-seen La Co(o)rniche.

Nice's Three Corniches

It's impossible to drive this dramatic trio of coastal roads:, each one higher and with more hairpin bends than the next, without conjuring up cinematic images of Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock, the glitz of Riviera high life, and the glamour of the Monaco royal family – all while absorbing views of the sweeping blue sea fringing Europe's most mythical coastline. To make a perfect day out of it, shop for a picnic at the cours Saleya morning market before leaving Nice.

Carcassonne at Dusk

That first glimpse of La Cité's sturdy, stone, witch's-hat turrets above Carcassonne: in the Languedoc is enough to make your hair stand on end. To properly savour this fairy-tale walled city, linger at dusk after the crowds have left, when the old town belongs to its 100 or so inhabitants and the few visitors staying at the handful of lovely hotels within its ramparts. Don't forget to look back when you leave to view the old city, beautifully illuminated, glowing in the warm night.

D-Day Beaches

A trip to these peaceful, broad stretches of fine sand and breeze-blown bluffs is one of France's most emotional journeys. On 6 June 1944 (the 75th anniversary is in 2019), beaches here became a cacophony of gunfire and explosions, the bodies of Allied soldiers lying in the sand as their comrades-in-arms charged inland. Just up the hill from Omaha Beach, the long rows of symmetrical gravestones at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial: bear solemn, silent testimony to the profound price paid for France's liberation from Nazi tyranny.

Pont du Gard

This Unesco World Heritage Site: near Nîmes in southern France is gargantuan: 35 arches straddle the Roman aqueduct's 275m-long upper tier, containing a watercourse that was designed to carry 20,000 cu metres of water per day. View it from afloat a canoe on the River Gard or jig across the top. Oh, and don't forget your swimming gear for some post-Pont daredevil diving and high jumping from the rocks nearby. Flop afterwards on a floating deck a little way downstream.

Provençal Markets

No region is such a market-must. Be it fresh fish by the port in seafaring Marseille, early summer's strings of pink garlic, Cavaillon melons and cherries all summer long or wintertime's earthy 'black diamond' truffles, Provence thrives on a bounty of local produce – piled high each morning at the market. Every town and village has one, but those in Aix-en-Provence: and Antibes are particularly atmospheric. Take your own bag to stock up on dried herbs, green and black olives marinated a dozen different ways, courgette flowers and tangy olive oils.

Hilltop Villages

Impossibly perched on a rocky peak above the Mediterranean, gloriously lost in back country, fortified or château-topped… Southern France's portfolio of villages perchés is vast and impressive, and calls for go-slow touring – on foot, by bicycle or car. Most villages are medieval, built from golden stone and riddled with cobbled lanes, flower-filled alleys and hidden squares silent but for the glug of a fountain. Combine a village visit with lunch alfresco – La Table de Ventabren: near Aix-en-Provence is one such dreamy address that you'll never want to leave.

Lyonnais Bouchons

The red-and-white checked tablecloths, closely packed tables and decades-old bistro decor could be anywhere in France. It's the local cuisine that makes Lyon's bouchons (small bistros) unique, plus the quaint culinary customs, such as totting up the bill on the paper tablecloth, or serving wine in a glass bottle wrapped with an elastic band to stop drips, or the 'shut weekends' opening hours. Various piggy parts drive Lyonnais cuisine:, but have faith – this French city is said to be the gastronomic capital of France. Dine and decide.

Carnac Megaliths

Pedalling past open fields dotted with the world's greatest concentration of mysterious megaliths: gives a poignant reminder of Brittany's ancient human inhabitants. No one knows for sure what inspired these gigantic menhirs, dolmens, cromlechs, tumuli and cairns to be built. A sun god? Some phallic fertility cult? Post-ride, try to unravel the mystery from the soft-sand comfort of La Grande Plage, Carnac’s longest and most popular beach, with a 2km-long stretch of pearly white sand.

Alsatian Wine Route

It is one of France's most popular drives – and for good reason. Motoring in this far northeast corner of France takes you through a kaleidoscope of lush green vines, perched castles and gentle mist-covered mountains. The only pit stops en route are half-timbered villages and roadside wine cellars, where fruity Alsace vintages can be swirled, tasted and bought. To be truly wooed, drive the Route des Vins d'Alsace: in autumn, when vines are heavy with grapes waiting to be harvested and colours are at their vibrant best.

Angola

• Angola, country located in southwestern Africa.
• A large country, Angola takes in a broad variety of landscapes, including the semidesert Atlantic littoral bordering Namibia’s “Skeleton Coast,” the sparsely populated rainforest interior, the rugged highlands of the south, the Cabinda exclave in the north, and the densely settled towns and cities of the northern coast and north-central river valleys.
• The capital and commercial centre is Luanda, a large port city on the northern coast that blends Portuguese-style colonial landmarks with traditional African housing styles and modern industrial complexes.

Angola has so much to offer, here are some of the things Angola is known for.

• Kalandula Falls These massive waterfalls are as spectacular and large as any in Africa, but, as yet, get very few visitors.
• Miradouro de Lua A magnificent lookout over a canyon of moonlike cliffs that cascade dramatically into the Atlantic Ocean.
• Parque Nacional da Kissama Angola's most accessible and largest national park has been partly replenished with big fauna.
• Benguela Angola's cultural capital has colonial architecture, reasonable restaurants and some blissfully quiet Atlantic beaches.
• Lubango Almost untouched by the war, the highland city of Lubango has busy markets, dramatic volcanic fissures and a giant statue of Christ.

• Marshall Islands is located in Oceania.

Cuba

• Cuba, country of the West Indies, the largest single island of the archipelago, and one of the more-influential states of the Caribbean region.

Cuba has so much to offer, here are some of the things Cuba is known for.

Live Music Scene

If you've been in Cuba for more than 10 minutes and still haven't heard any live music, you're clearly hanging out in the wrong bars. Welcome to one of the most musically diverse countries on the planet, where guitars still outnumber MP3-players and singing is seen as just another form of verbal communication. The traditional genres of son and salsa are merely one groove on a larger record. Cuba has been pushing the musical envelope for decades. From Benny Moré to hip-hop, the country bleeds syncopated rhythms.

Historic Habana Vieja

International observers regularly single out Cuba's healthcare system for universal praise. But, arguably one of the greatest achievements of the last 50 years is the piecing back together of Habana Vieja:. This detailed, meticulous, lovingly curated restoration process has created one of the historical wonders of the Americas, a kind of Latin American 'Rome' where the past can be peeled off in layers. Armed with a sharp eye and a lucid imagination, you can walk through Havana's cobbled streets and evoke the ghosts of mega-rich sugar barons and sabre-rattling buccaneers.

Cuba's Casas Particulares

Stay in a private homestay and you quickly uncover the nuances of everyday Cuban life. Picture rocking chairs on porches, neighbors popping over for rum and cigars, roosters crowing at 5am, pictures of José Martí placed strategically above the TV set. and animated conversations that go on well into the night and always seem to end with the words 'no es facil' (it ain't easy). Some casas particulares are positively palatial, others remain refreshingly down-to-earth, all offer a candid and uncensored view of Cuba that no hotel could ever replicate.

Eclectic Architecture

Sometimes extreme yet rarely constant, Cuban architecture retains certain binding threads, a definable 'Cuban-ness' that sets it markedly apart from other genres. Originally built by the brutal system of Afro-Cuban slave labor, these buildings are an important means through which to understand Cuba's multifaceted culture and sometimes difficult past. Today, the architecture is a melody of influences; a muscular slice of Spanish baroque, sprinkled with some French classicism, a generous portion of North American art deco and a hint of European art nouveau. Visit the Unesco-listed cities of Havana:, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Camagüey to see for yourself.

Idyllic Beach Escapes

Cuba's beaches are famous for a reason – they're uncrowded, well endowed with tropical beauty, and extremely varied. There's the long, wide tourist-heavy beaches of Varadero: backed by massive resorts; the wild, deserted eco-beaches of Península de Guanahacabibes where turtles lay their eggs; the little-visited black-sand beaches on the Isla de la Juventud where pirates once roamed; and the unashamedly nudist beaches of Cayo Largo del Sur where package tourists lounge with mojitos. Search around long enough and you're sure to find your own slice of nirvana.

Bird-Watching

Crocodiles aside, Cuba has little impressive fauna, but the paucity of animals is more than made up for by the abundance of birdlife. Approximately 350 species inhabit the shores of this distinct and ecologically weird tropical archipelago, a good two dozen of them endemic. Look out in particular for the colorful tocororo (Cuban trogan), the zunzuncito (bee hummingbird), the critically endangered ivory-billed woodpecker and the world's largest flamingo nesting site. The Ciénaga de Zapata: and the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve are two of many bird-watching highlights.

Revolutionary Heritage

An improbable escape from a shipwrecked leisure yacht, handsome bearded guerrillas meting out Robin Hood–style justice and a classic David versus Goliath struggle that was won convincingly by the (extreme) underdogs: Cuba's revolutionary war reads like the pages of a barely believable movie script. But it all happened right here. Just to prove it, you can visit the revolutionary sites in person. Little has changed in more than 50 years at the disembarkation point of the Granma yacht and Fidel's wartime HQ at mountaintop Comandancia de la Plata:.

Diving and Snorkeling in the Caribbean

There will be protestations, no doubt, but let's say it anyway: Cuba is home to the best diving in the Caribbean. The reasons are unrivaled water clarity, virgin reefs and sheltered Caribbean waters that teem with fish. Accessibility for divers varies from the swim-out walls of the Bahía de Cochinos: (Bay of Pigs) to the hard-to-reach underwater nirvana of the Jardines de la Reina archipelago. For repeat visitors, Punta Francés: on Isla de la Juventud – host of an annual underwater photography competition – reigns supreme.

Time-Warped Trinidad

Soporific Trinidad: went to sleep in 1850 and never really woke up. This strange twist of fate is good news for modern travelers who can roam freely through the perfectly preserved mid-19th-century sugar town like voyeurs from another era. Though it's no secret these days, the time-warped streets still have the power to enchant with their grand colonial homestays, easily accessible countryside and exciting live music scene. But this is also a real working town loaded with all the foibles and fun of 21st-century Cuba.

Labyrinthine Streets of Camagüey

Get lost! No, that's not an abrupt put-down; it's a savvy recommendation for any traveler passing through the city of tinajones (clay pots), churches and erstwhile pirates – aka Camagüey:. A perennial rule-breaker, Camagüey was founded on a street grid that deviated from almost every other Spanish colonial city in Latin America. Here the lanes are as labyrinthine as a Moroccan medina, hiding Catholic churches, triangular plazas, and a growing ensemble of smart boutique hotels encased in restored colonial buildings.

Cycling Through the Valle de Viñales

With less traffic on the roads than 1940s Britain, Cuba is ideal for cycling and there's no better place to do it than the quintessentially rural Valle de Viñales:. The valley offers all the ingredients of a tropical Tour de France: craggy mogotes (limestone monoliths), impossibly green tobacco fields, bucolic campesino huts and spirit-lifting viewpoints at every turn. The terrain is relatively flat and, if you can procure a decent bike, your biggest dilemma will be where to stop for your sunset-toasting mojito.

Cienfuegos' Classical Architecture

There's a certain je ne sais quoi about bayside Cienfuegos:, Cuba's self-proclaimed 'Pearl of the South.' Through hell, high water and an economically debilitating Special Period, this is a city that has always retained its poise. The elegance is best seen in the architecture, a homogeneous cityscape laid out in the early 19th century by settlers from France and the US. Dip into the cultural life around the city center and its adjacent garden suburb of Punta Gorda and absorb the Gallic refinement.

Fábrica de Arte Cubano

Back in 1968, when the fledgling environmental movement was a bolshie protest group for long-haired students in John Lennon glasses, the prophetic Cubans, concerned about the ecological cost of island-wide deforestation, came up with a good idea. After saving hectares of denuded forest from erosion by planting tree saplings on terraced slopes, a group of industrious workers built an eco-village, Las Terrazas:, and set about colonizing it with artists, musicians, coffee growers and an architecturally unique hotel. Fifty years later, the village is still there quietly practicing its Cuban-style sustainability.

Playa Girón

One of the few parts of Cuba that has never been truly tamed, the Zapata swamps: are as close to pure wilderness as the country gets. This is the home of the endangered Cuban crocodile, various amphibians, the bee hummingbird and over a dozen different plant habitats. It also qualifies as the Caribbean's largest wetlands, protected in numerous ways, most importantly as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar Convention Site. Come here to fish, bird-watch, hike and see nature at its purest.

Evolving Food Culture

Ever since new privatization laws lifted the lid off Cuba’s creative pressure cooker in 2011, a culinary revolution has been in full swing. A country that once offered little more than rice and beans has rediscovered its gastronomic mojo with a profusion of new restaurants experimenting with spices, fusion and – perhaps best of all – a welcome re-evaluation of its own national cuisine. Havana: leads the culinary field in number and variety of eating establishments, Viñales offers exquisite traditional plates, while isolated Baracoa rules for regional originality.

Santa Clara's Youthful Energy

Leave your preconceived notions about Cuba at the city limits. Santa Clara: is everything you thought this country wasn't – progressive, creative, welcoming to people of all persuasions, enthusiastic about rock 'n' roll, and keen to push the boundaries of art in every direction. Being a university town helps. Youthful energy runs through Santa Clara like nowhere else in Cuba. Check out the drag shows at Club Mejunje, meet the arty students at the Casa de la Ciudad, or wander Parque Vidal in the evening when an orchestra is playing.

Unlocking the Secrets of Matanzas

For too long the city of Matanzas: has been overlooked by travelers, cast as an ugly cousin to nearby Varadero. But, things are gradually changing. Amid the bridges and rivers of this once great cultural city, flickers of its erstwhile beauty have started to re-emerge in revived classical music venues, a refurbished theater and a cutting-edge art co-op. Granted, there still isn't much of a tourist infrastructure. But, with a little time, Matanzas' gigantic historical legacy will teach you more about the real Cuba than 20 repeat visits to the resorts.

Ebullient Festivals

Through war, austerity, rationing and hardship, the Cubans have retained their infectious joie de vivre. Even during the darkest days of the Special Period, the feisty festivals never stopped, a testament to the country's capacity to put politics aside and get on with the important business of living. The best shows involve fireworks in Remedios, folklórico dancing in Santiago de Cuba, movies in Gibara and every conceivable genre of music in Havana. Arrive prepared to party.

Baracoa

Over the hills and far away on the easternmost limb of Guantánamo Province lies isolated Baracoa:, a small yet historically significant settlement, weird even by Cuban standards for its fickle Atlantic weather, eccentric local populace and unrelenting desire to be, well, different. Despite being hit hard by 2016's Hurricane Matthew, the town remains unbowed and open for business. Watch locals scale coconut palms, see bands play kiribá, the local take on son (Cuban music style), and, above all, enjoy the infinitely spicier, richer and more inventive food, starting with the sweet treat cucurucho (ice-cream cone).

Folklórico Dance in Santiago de Cuba

There's nothing quite as transcendental as the hypnotic beat of the Santería drums summoning up the spirits of the orishas (deities). But, while most Afro-Cuban religious rites are only for initiates, the drumming and dances of Cuba's folklórico (traditional Latin American dance) troupes are open to all. Formed in the 1960s to keep the ancient slave culture of Cuba alive, folklórico groups enjoy strong government patronage, and their energetic and colorful shows in Santiago de Cuba:, remain spontaneous and true to their roots.

Pico Turquino

The trek up Cuba's highest mountain, Pico Turquino:, is a mixture of endurance sport, nature tour and fascinating history lesson. Guides are mandatory for the tough two- to three-day 17km trek through the steep cloud forests of the Sierra Maestra to the 1972m summit where you'll be greeted by a bronze bust of Cuban national hero, José Martí. Revolutionary buffs can make a side trip to Fidel's wartime jungle HQ, La Plata, on the way up.

Description of flag of Latvia

national flag consisting of a crimson field (background) divided horizontally by a narrow white stripe. The flag’s width-to-length ratio is 1 to 2.

• Netherlands is located in Europe.

@blackwolf811 I don't believe you.

In Africa at least, Nigeria is hugely powerful and is, for my money, the most influential nation.

• Has the largest GDP in some way after it rebased GDP in 2014.

From a government perspective it does not get along with South Africa, the other "power" in Africa, and is not afraid to show it. It treats South Africa with disdain and dismissively showing that it has the balance of power in the relationship. The South African government seems to have no semblance of a response. Take for example the fine of MTN a South African mobile company that is the second-largest emerging markets player after Airtel. There is no doubt that MTN was in the wrong and deserved sanction but they were fined US$1,000 per subscriber when the ARPU for the offending subscribers is US$8 per month. The fine is a staggering US$5bn and is basically the value of MTN's entire mobile business in essence a f*ck off fine. Standard Bank, a South African bank that is the largest in South Africa by Assets (not profits or market capitalization) is in regulatory trouble as well under less than clear circumstances. South Africa was until 2012 the largest investor on the continent (not in Nigeria as oil-producing countries predominate Nigeria's FDI) but has now fallen to third place behind the UK and US but its investments are still significant and larger than China's for example, but Nigeria's actions are clear to South Africa: we don't want or need you and your capital here. That is power. South Africa looked as though it was in pole position to invest in the non-oil sectors of the economy Nigeria seeks to develop, especially in light of the drop in oil prices and therefore revenues but I think it is clear that South Africa is not invited and if it still wants to invest anyway (which everyone expects anyway) it will be at the pleasure and possibly even whims of the Nigerian government.

Nigeria is in the league of few nations that actively and profitably export their culture. Nollywood ranks alongside Bollywood, Holywood, British Film, and Television as regularly exported cultural products opening up new and lucrative markets for its artist particularly in South Africa. In the most recent copy of Forbes magazine, South Africa's self-proclaimed prince if hip hop, AKA, cited Nigerian artists as those who've got it right in terms of plying their trade.

Nigeria is home to the richest black man in Aliko Dangote.
Nigeria's population at circa 180m, mineral resources, arable land, and people who are very industrious who are used to less enabling environments (military dictatorships until 1999 for example) seems poised for growth too tantalizing for the world to ignore and even under great difficulty many people are sizing up and embarking on the arduous adventure of Nigerian operations where the infrastructure and various other macro enablements are underdeveloped.

In terms of power, I don't see a more powerful state on the continent.