Hello in Chad Africa?
Posts made by silverswan809
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RE: What are some things to do when visiting Iceland?
Iceland is an amazing place for a tourist. First, dont miss riding an Icelandic Pony, even if you are not a rider. You may go on a trail ride with ponies that simply follow behind the leader. Mostly you will walk but they will make the pony do the famous trot. Typically horses have four gaits: walk, trot, cantor and gallop. In Iceland they have a fourth. This is a lot of fun because it is faster than walking but slower than running. The country is full of beautiful waterfalls, rivers and even geysers. The best way to see all this is by taking a road trip all the way around Iceland. Easily achievable in a week, but even better for a fortnight trip if you want to take in every stop along the way. It is simple to rent a car at the airport or in the capital after a night or 2 to take in the sights there- then hit the road! A good place to look to get you on the right track is this short but very informative guide about taking a road trip around Iceland. The thermal activity is quite high so visiting a few sites with steamy water coming out of the ground is a must! They even heat their homes with this! Rent a car a go on a drive to visit several sites like this in a day. Two continental plates meet in Iceland creating a spectacular crack in the earth. You may walk along it for miles as it is not too deep. It is almost like walking in a small canyon. In Reykjavik the capital you should spend an evening at the Volcano Show where you can learn about the volcanic activity underground and see how recently some of the island was formed! You are able to attend folklore shows with people of all ages dressed in typical historic outfits dancing for your entertainment. The live music scene in Reykjavik is popular as well. You may see live music any night of the week. Before you go, read a few Icelandic sagas. These are the legends of the early days of the country and speak about the people. It will give you some true insight into the culture.
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RE: What is Belgium's national tree?
til now there is no official tree.
Belgium has no national tree. -
RE: Why don't many people live in the Canadian Shield?
because it is really cold in Canadian shield
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What kind of clothes do the people in Niger wear?
What kind of clothes do the people in Niger wear?
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What are some famous Uruguayan dishes?
Here are a few popular Uruguayan dishes. Please share your favorites as a reply.
- Lengua a la vinagreta (Appetizer)
- Chajá (Cake)
- Reggianito (Cheese)
- Martín Fierro (Cheese Dessert)
- Garrapiñada (Street Food Sweets)
- Tortas fritas (Snack)
- Choripán (Sandwich)
- Pancho (Hot Dog)
- Chivito (Sandwich)
- Asado (Barbecue)
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What is Belize known for?
Belize
- Belize, country located on the northeast coast of Central America.
- Belize, which was known as British Honduras until 1973, was the last British colony on the American mainland.
- Its prolonged path to independence was marked by a unique international campaign (even while it was still a British colony) against the irredentist claims of its neighbour Guatemala.
- Belize achieved independence on September 21, 1981, but it has retained its historical link with the United Kingdom through membership in the Commonwealth.
Belize has so much to offer, here are some of the things Belize is known for.
Diving the Blue Hole
The sheer walls of the Blue Hole Natural Monument: drop more than 400ft into the blue ocean. Although it is partly filled with silt and natural debris, the depth still creates a perfect circle of startling azure that is visible from above. The wall of the Blue Hole is decorated with a dense forest of stalactites and stalagmites from times past. A school of reef sharks and the odd hammerhead keep divers company as they descend into the mysterious ocean depths.
Kayaking Glover's Reef Atoll
Lying like a string of white-sand pearls, Glover's Reef Atoll: consists of half a dozen small islands surrounded by blue sea as far as the eye can see. Its unique position, atop a submerged mountain ridge on the edge of the continental shelf, makes it an ideal place for sea kayaking, both between the islands and around the shallow central lagoon. Get a kayak with a clear bottom and you're likely to see spotted eagle rays, southern stingrays, turtles and countless tropical fish swimming beneath as you paddle.
Ambergris Caye
Also known as La Isla Bonita, Ambergris Caye: is the ultimate tropical paradise vacation destination (and that's what Madonna thought, too). Spend your days snorkeling the reef, kayaking the lagoon or windsurfing the straits; pamper yourself at a day spa or challenge yourself at a yoga class; ride a bike up the beach or take a nap at the end of your dock. After the sun sets, spend your evenings enjoying the country's most delectable dining and most happening nightlife in San Pedro.
Garifuna Culture
Garifuna culture is strong in Southern Belize and its most obvious cultural impression is music and drumming. Dangriga and Punta Gorda both have opportunities to study drumming and drum-making with Garifuna drum masters, while the Garifuna village of Hopkins: is a hotbed of drumming for most of the year, especially around full moon nights. Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19) is an event not to be missed, particularly in Hopkins or Dangriga. Tasty Garifuna cuisine can also be found at shack restaurants in these communities.
Caye Caulker
A brisk breeze is almost always blowing (especially between January and June), creating optimal conditions to cruise across the water on sailboat, windsurfer or kiteboard. The world's second-largest barrier reef is just a few miles offshore, beckoning snorkelers and divers to frolic with the fish. The mangroves teem with life, inviting exploration by kayak. All these adventures await, yet the number-one activity on Caye Caulker: is still swinging in a hammock, reading a book and sipping a freshly squeezed fruit juice. Paradise.
Altun Ha
You've drunk the beer, now it's time to visit the ruins that inspired the Belikin beer-bottle label. The most accessible of Belize's ancient ruins, Altun Ha: displays 10 different structures dating from the 6th and 7th centuries, and it was also the site of some of the richest archaeological excavations in Belize, although the artifacts have long since been removed. You'll get your exercise climbing to the tops of the temples to take in the surrounding jungle panorama.
Xunantunich
Xunantunich: isn't Belize's biggest or oldest archaeological site, but it's still one of the most impressive, especially for its remarkable hieroglyphics. After taking a hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River, you'll walk through bird- and butterfly-filled jungle, until you reach a complex of temples and plazas that dates back to the early Classic Maya Period. Once there, you can explore a number of structures, and even climb to the top of 130ft-high El Castillo for a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounds.
Belize Carnival
This is not the usual pre-Lenten extravaganza that takes place in other parts of the Caribbean in anticipation of the fasting season. In the 1970s, Belizeans started celebrating their own Carnival: in September, as a spicy addition to the national holidays. Revelers don outrageous costumes and take to the streets in Orange Walk, Corozal Town and especially Belize City. In a flurry of movement, music and color, neighborhood camps design floats and wear costumes that depict local cultures and customs.
Lamanai
Spanning all phases of ancient Maya civilization, the ruins at Lamanai: are known for their stone reliefs, impressive architecture, and the marvelous setting overlooking the New River Lagoon and surrounded by some of Northern Belize's densest jungle. Arrive at this outpost by boat, allowing up-close observation of birds and wildlife along the New River. On site, hear the roar of the howler monkeys while climbing the steep facade of the High Temple and admiring the deformed face on the Mask Temple.
Snorkeling Shark Ray Alley
Local fisherfolk used to come to Shark Ray Alley: to clean their catch, and their discards would attract hungry nurse sharks and southern stingrays. As a result these predators have long become accustomed to the sounds of boat motors, which now bring snorkelers rather than fishers. Shark Ray Alley is the top snorkeling destination in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a shallow, protected part of the Belize Barrier Reef that harbors an amazing diversity of colorful coral and other marine life.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
Belize is for the birds. Nowhere is that statement truer than at Crooked Tree:, a fishing and farming village centered on a picturesque lagoon. The wetlands attract hundreds of bird species (around 300), including dozens of migrants who stop on their way north or south. Birding is best during the drier months (February to May), when the lagoon dries up and the birds congregate around the remaining puddles. Expert guides will lead you by boat or on foot to spot and identify your feathered friends.
Jungle Hiking
If it is off-the-beaten-path you are after, take a hike in one of Belize's many protected areas, such as Mayflower Bocawina National Park: or Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. With jungle, mountains, waterfalls, swimming holes and even some small Maya ruins, you'll feel like you've left civilization and the 21st century behind entirely. Off the tourist trail, you'll be sharing the park with countless birds, mammals, reptiles and, no doubt, a resident squad of black howler monkeys.
Deep-Sea Fishing
The Northern Cayes are the base for anglers who are drawn to the flats offshore – a prime spot to pull off a 'Grand Slam' (reeling in a permit, tarpon and bonefish in one outing). The remote Turneffe Atoll: is home to a handful of all-inclusive resorts that cater to folks who are focused on the fish and only the fish. Alternatively, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are both perfectly situated for fishing-orientated day trips, while Placencia and Punta Gorda are bases for more remote expeditions.
Maya Villages
To experience Maya life firsthand, trek through the villages of Belize's rural Toledo District, where ancient and contemporary Maya culture exist side by side, and rituals and folklore play an important role in everyday life. From the ancient ruins of Lubaantun: to the cultural circuit through Big Falls, San Miguel and San Pedro Columbia, your trek will take you through some of Belize's most beautiful villages and allow you time to interact with a people whose civilization once surpassed Rome in political influence and grandeur. And they make great chocolate.
Caracol
Step out of the modern world and into the ancient realm at Belize's largest Maya site, where you'll spend the day wandering through a city that once rivaled Tikal in political influence and, for many, is more impressive today. Standing in the central area of temples, palaces, craft workshops and markets, you'll feel the power and glory of ancient Caracol:. At 141ft, Caana (which means Sky Place) is still the tallest building in Belize. In addition to being the country's pre-eminent archaeological site, Caracol also teems with jungle wildlife.
Nohoch Che'en Caves
Floating through a darkened cave river on an inflated tube with a helmet flashlight is a remarkably calming experience. Delve even further into the bowels of the earth with an experienced guide to discover some remarkable cave systems and subterranean rivers known as Caves Branch. At the Nohoch Che'en Caves: you'll float through an underground network, experiencing wonders unseen in the world above. For more adventure, there are jungle ziplining courses, nature trails and ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) trails nearby.
The Hummingbird Highway
Arguably Belize's most beautiful stretch of road, the winding Hummingbird Hwy: offers unparalleled views of the Maya Mountains as it passes through jungles, citrus orchards and tiny villages. The Hummingbird also offers plenty of reasons to stop for a few hours and there are some fine upmarket lodges and budget guesthouses along the way. Explore St Herman's Cave, hike the jungle loop trail, take a dip in the crystal-clear Blue Hole, zipline through the jungle or rappel down Angel Falls.
Placencia
It's hardly off the beaten path, but at the end of a long peninsula there's a reason so many feet beat the path to Southern Belize's most popular beachside resort village. Placencia: is just too chilled out to not spend some time kayaking, sailing or simply walking barefoot on the beach by day, and drinking rum cocktails by night. As for dining, it has most of Southern Belize's best restaurants and freshest lobster. Get here by road, sea ferry or the Hokey Pokey water taxi.
Hopkins
Halfway between the hustle of Dangriga and the tourist vibe of Placencia lies slacked-out Hopkins:, a low-key Garifuna village where life hasn't changed much in decades. Children walk the town's one street selling their mothers' freshly baked coconut pies and chocolate brownies; local men catch fish by day and play drums at night; and the pace of life is pleasantly slow. The beach is slender but on a fine day the view out across the Caribbean is sublime.
Community Baboon Sanctuary
The 'baboons' at this sanctuary: are not really baboons, but rather black howler monkeys, an endangered species in Central America. The 'sanctuary' is not exactly a protected area, but more a network of private properties where the howlers live. Thanks to this community-based, grassroots effort, property owners have agreed to preserve their land for the benefit of the resident monkeys. Although the sanctuary encompasses about 20 sq miles, guides take tourists to a small area where the welcoming troop allows for up-close observation of the funny monkeys.
Belize Zoo
Even people philosophically opposed to the concept of caged creatures will approve of this humane, earthy and educational zoo:. As a halfway house and rehabilitation center for injured, orphaned and rescued Belizean jungle animals, the Belize Zoo is a fabulous and friendly place to get a good look at the dozens of species of indigenous animals and birds that are difficult to spot in the wild. The zoo hosts myriad educational programs for kids and adults, including a festive birthday party for April the tapir; the tapir is the national animal of Belize.
Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
Part of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Half Moon Caye: provides a nesting ground for the rare red-footed booby bird. Thousands of these rare waterfowl make their homes in the treetops, alongside the magnificent frigate bird and 98 other species. Dive the Half Moon Caye Wall (or snorkel the surrounding shallows); enjoy a picnic on the beach; then hike across the island and climb the observation platform to get a good look at the boobies. Sea turtles also lay their eggs on the southern beaches.
San Ignacio
Western Cayo's main town: is a relaxed and vibrant community from where you can organize any activity in the region. Saturday is the main market day, where locals sell their produce and wares, but on any day of the week you can chill at a traveler cafe on pedestrian Burns Ave, listen to live music at the Bamboo Bar, stroke green iguanas at San Ignacio Resort Hotel or simply plan your next foray to Mountain Pine Ridge, Caracol or Guatemala. Some of the best-value accommodation in Belize is right here.
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What are some famous Palauan dishes?
Here are a few popular Palauan dishes. Please share your favorites as a reply.
- Taro Rösti (Side Dish)
- Udon (Palau) (Noodle Dish)
- Ulkoy (Snack)
- Tama (Snack)
- Fruit Bat Soup (Meat Soup)
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Is Bangladesh is between Malaysia and India?
Is Bangladesh is between Malaysia and India?
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RE: Why is Canada a land of diversity?
many people are not 100% pure Canadians. many are younger generations of immigrants from all over the world.
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RE: Are there any major festivals of Christianity?
Christmas
Easter
Whitsun
many saints days
Additional Answer:
Christianity is notable for the following holidays and festivals:ChristmasSaint Patricks Day Mardis GrasValentines Day EasterAll Hallows Eve (Halloween)Thanksgiving
Another Answer:
Christmas and Easter
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What are some famous Paraguayan dishes?
Here are a few popular Paraguayan dishes. Please share your favorites as a reply.
- Dulce de mamón (Dessert)
- Queso Paraguay (Cheese)
- Chipa guasu (Side Dish)
- Soyo (Soup)
- Mbeju (Pancake)
- Sopa Paraguaya (Bread)
- Bori-bori (Soup)
- Tereré (Herbal Infusion)
- Chipa (Bread)
- Kivevé (Vegetable Dish)
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What is Austria known for?
Austria
- Austria, largely mountainous landlocked country of south-central Europe.
- Together with Switzerland, it forms what has been characterized as the neutral core of Europe, notwithstanding Austria’s full membership since 1995 in the supranational European Union (EU).
Austria has so much to offer, here are some of the things Austria is known for.
Grossglockner Road
Hairpin bends: 36. Length: 48km. Average slope gradient: 9%. Highest viewpoint: Edelweiss Spitze (2571m). Grossglockner Road: is one of Europe’s greatest drives and the showpiece of Hohe Tauern National Park. The scenery unfolds as you climb higher on this serpentine road. And what scenery! Snow-capped mountains, plunging waterfalls and lakes scattered like gemstones are just the build-up to Grossglockner (3798m), Austria’s highest peak, and the Pasterze Glacier. Start early and allow enough time, as there’s a stop-the-car-and-grab-the-camera view on every corner.
Imperial Palaces of Vienna
Imagine what you could do with unlimited riches and Austria’s top architects at hand for 640 years and you’ll have the Vienna of the Habsburgs. The monumentally graceful Hofburg: whisks you back to the age of empires; marvel at the treasury’s imperial crowns, the equine ballet of the Spanische Hofreitschule and the chandelier-lit apartments fit for Empress Elisabeth. The palace is rivalled in grandeur only by the 1441-room Schloss Schönbrunn, a Unesco World Heritage site, and baroque Schloss Belvedere, both set in exquisite gardens.
Skiing in the Alps
In a country where three-year-olds can snowplough, 70-year-olds still slalom and the tiniest speck of a village has its own lift system, skiing is more than just a sport – it’s a way of life. Why? Just look around you. There’s St Anton am Arlberg: for off-piste and après-ski, Mayrhofen for freestyle boarding and its epic Harakiri, Kitzbühel for the perfect mix – the scope is limitless and the terrain fantastic. Cross-country or back-country, downhill or glacier, whatever your ski style, Austria has a piste with your name on it.
Cafe Culture in Vienna
A pianist plays and bow-tied waiters bustle to and fro with cakes and encyclopaedic coffee menus. Ahhh, this is what the Viennese mean by Gemütlichkeit (cosiness), you realise, as you sip your melange (milky coffee), rustle your newspaper and watch life go decadently by. Café Sacher: for the richest of chocolate cakes, Café Jelinek for its quirky vibe, Café Leopold Hawelka for bohemian flavour – Vienna has a coffee house for every mood and occasion. Indulge, talk, read and dream; just as Trotsky and Freud, Hundertwasser and Warhol once did.
Festung Hohensalzburg
Work up a sweat on the steep walk or step into the funicular and sway up to Salzburg's glorious fortress, Festung Hohensalzburg:, beckoning on a forested peak above the city. As you make your way around Europe's best-preserved fortress, glide through the Golden Hall, with its celestial ceiling capturing the starlit heavens. After all this beauty, you will find yourself cast among a chilling array of medieval torture instruments in the Fortress Museum, and don't miss the 360-degree views from the tower.
The Wachau
When Strauss composed ‘The Blue Danube’, he surely had the Wachau in mind. Granted Unesco World Heritage status for its harmonious natural and cultural beauty, this romantic stretch of the Danube Valley: waltzes you through poetic landscapes of terraced vineyards, forested slopes and apricot orchards, with the meandering river nearly always in sight. Beyond the highlight attraction of Stift Melk, Dürnstein’s Kuenringerburg begs exploration. This ruined hilltop castle is where the troubadour Blondel attempted to rescue Richard the Lionheart from the clutches of Duke Leopold V.
Salzburg Festival
No country can outshine Austria when it comes to classical music. The country was a veritable production line of great composers in the 18th and 19th centuries. And there’s always a reason to celebrate that great heritage, especially at the much-lauded Salzburg Festival:, held late July to August, which was staged for the first time in 1920 and is today a highlight of Austria's cultural calendar. As well as concerts featuring illustrious composers such as home-grown Mozart, make sure you catch an opera and a theatre performance or two.
Hiking the Pinzgauer Spaziergang
You’re on the Pinzgauer Spaziergang:, a crisp blue sky overhead, snowy peaks crowding the horizon. You’re waking up to a rose-tinted sunrise in the Dolomites. Or perhaps tramping along the Zillertal Circuit, its highest peaks frosted with glaciers. You’re thanking your lucky stars you packed your walking boots… Locals delight in telling you that the best – no, no, the only – way to see the Austrian Alps is on foot. And they’re right. Here a peerless network of trails and alpine huts brings you that bit closer to nature.
Eisriesenwelt
The frozen, twinkling chambers, vaults and passageways of Eisriesenwelt: are like something out of Narnia under the White Witch. Sculpted drip by drip over millennia, the icy underworld of the limestone Tennengebirge range is billed as the world’s largest accessible ice cave. Otherworldly sculptures, shimmering lakes and a cavernous Eispalast (ice palace) appear as you venture deep into the frozen heart of the mountain, carbide lamp in hand. Even in summer, temperatures down here are subzero, so wrap up warm.
The Sound of Music
Salzburg is a celebrity for those who have never even set foot in the city, thanks to its star appearance in The Sound of Music. Should you wish, you can fine-tune your own tour of the film locations. The sculpture-dotted Mirabellgarten: of ‘Do-Re-Mi’ fame, the Benedictine nunnery Stift Nonnberg, the ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ pavilion in Hellbrunn Park – it’s enough to make you yodel out loud. For the truth behind the celluloid legend, stay the night at the original Villa Trapp, a 19th-century mansion in the Aigen district.
Stift Melk
Austria’s greatest works of art are those wrought for God, some say. Gazing up at the golden glory of Stift Melk:, Austria’s must-see Benedictine abbey-fortress, you can’t help but agree. The twin-spired monastery church is a baroque tour de force, swirling with prancing angels, gilt flourishes and Johann Michael Rottmayr’s ceiling paintings. Such opulence continues in the library and marble hall, both embellished with illusionary trompe l’oeil tiers by Paul Troger. If you can, stay to see the monarch of monasteries strikingly lit at night.
Spa Sensations
With its crisp mountain air and thermal springs, Austria positively radiates good health. For an otherworldly spa experience, drift off in flying-saucer-shaped pools at crystalline Aqua Dome: at the foot of the Ötztaler Alps, or in the fantastical hot springs of Hundertwasser’s technicolor Rogner-Bad Blumau. History bubbles to the surface in the Wienerwald’s Römertherme, where beauty-conscious Romans once took the sulphuric waters. The Victorians favoured belle-époque Bad Gastein, whose radon-laced springs reputedly cure a multitude of ills. Wherever you're heading, there's a spa to suit and soothe.
MuseumsQuartier
The former imperial stables have been born again as one of the world’s biggest exhibition spaces. Vienna’s enormous (and enormously impressive) 60,000-sq-metre MuseumsQuartier: contains more art than some small countries. Emotive works by Austrian masters like Klimt, Kokoschka and Schiele hang out in the Leopold Museum, while the basalt MUMOK highlights provocative Viennese Actionists, and the Kunsthalle new media. Progressive boutiques, workshops and cafes take creativity beyond the canvas. On warm days, Viennese gather in the huge courtyard to chat, drink and watch the world go by.
Outdoor Adventure in Tyrol
Anywhere where there’s foaming water, a tall mountain, a snowy slope or a sheer ravine, there are heart-pumping outdoor escapades in Austria – and Tyrol tops the lot in the adventure stakes. For a summertime buzz, you can’t beat throwing yourself down raging rivers such as the Inn and Sanna in Tyrol, Austria’s rafting: mecca. Or strap into your harness and be blown away by the alpine scenery, paragliding in the Zillertal. Cyclists use the cable car network to access the many high-altitude and downhill routes.
Wine Tasting in Heurigen
Vienna is one of the only world capitals to grow serious wine within its city limits, and there's no place better to sample it than at a Heuriger:, a rustic wine tavern, often with a vine-canopied terrace for summer imbibing and a cosy wood-panelled interior for cooler days. Look for the pine branch hanging above the door that denotes it's open, then step inside for good vibes, Grüner Veltliner white and spicy Blaufränkisch wines, and hearty food. Come in the golden month of September for new wine and vineyard strolls.
Krimmler Wasserfälle
No doubt you’ll hear the thunderous roar of the 380m-high Krimmler Wasserfälle:, Europe’s highest waterfall, before you see it. You can’t help but feel insignificant when confronted with the sheer force and scale of this cataract, which thrashes immense boulders and produces the most photogenic of rainbows. As with all natural wonders, this one looks best from certain angles, namely from the Wasserfallweg (Waterfall Trail). The path zigzags up through moist, misty forest to viewpoints that afford close-ups of the three-tiered falls and a shower in its fine spray.
Semmeringbahn
The monumental Semmeringbahn:, or Semmering Railway, is a panoramic journey through the Eastern Alps and a nostalgic trip back to early rail travel. Some 20,000 workers toiled to create the railway, an alpine first, in a feat of 19th-century engineering that is now a Unesco World Heritage site. Though steam has been replaced by electricity, you can imagine the wonder of the first passengers as the train curves around 16 viaducts, burrows through 15 tunnels and glides across 100 stone bridges. The grandeur of the railway and landscapes is timeless.
Mozart’s Salzburg
Mozart’s spiritual home may have been Vienna, but the musical prodigy was born and bred in Salzburg’s baroque Altstadt. Here you can see where the 18th-century superstar lived, loved and composed:. Orchestras wish the late Amadeus a happy (if rather belated) birthday at Mozartwoche in late January. Year-round there are chamber concerts of Mozart’s music in the exquisite surrounds of the Marmorsaal (Marble Hall) at Schloss Mirabell. Marionettes bring his operas magically to life at the nearby Salzburger Marionettentheater.
Admont's Benedictine Abbey
Situated deep in the rifts of the Gesäuse mountains in Styria, Admont's Benedictine Abbey: is a remarkable fusion of landscape, architecture and museum space. The Benedictine Abbey's baroque library, with its ceiling frescoes from the 18th century, should be sufficient to lure you into this remote region of gurgling streams and soaring peaks. But take the time to stroll around the abbey's museums, which bring together the region's natural history and contemporary art. From a glass staircase you can revel in the spectacular view to the Nationalpark Gesäuse.
Vienna's Naschmarkt
Austrians pride themselves on home-grown flavours, with almost every region producing mouth-watering surprises. And most of these find their way to Vienna's largest and most famous market, the Naschmarkt: – fresh cheeses from the Kemptal in Lower Austria or the Bregenzerwald, or Thum ham from the Mangalitza breed. A market mooch takes you not only through Austria's culinary regions, but also into a sensory world of exotic spices. Drop by the food stalls, where you can take a break and fill up on some of the capital's best street food.
Innsbruck
Set against the uplifting backdrop of the Nordkette Alps, Tyrol's capital: is the kind of place where one minute you're celebrating cultural achievement in elegant state apartments or Gothic Hofkirche, and the next you're whizzing up to the Alps inside Zaha Hadid's futuristic funicular and zipping down ski pistes. Culture is folded neatly here into the crevices of the landscape. If clinging to a fixed rope on the Innsbrucker Klettersteig while you make your way across seven peaks sounds too head-swirling, try the marginally less vertiginous Nordkette Singletrail mountain-bike track.
Lakes of the Salzkammergut
With its jewel-coloured alpine lakes, the Salzkammergut: is one of Austria's most enticing regions for escaping the city and diving into crystal-clear waters. The Hallstätter See, at the foot of the abrupt and monumentally rugged Dachstein Mountains, is a spectacular place to enjoy the lakes. Across the lake in Obertraun the shore retains a sleepy air. A stroll or bike ride around warmer, gentler Wolfgangsee is an alternative easily reachable from small towns like Bad Aussee and Bad Ischl. Or unfurl the sails and go with the wind across Mondsee.
Graz
Austria's largest city after Vienna is also one the country's most relaxed. After you have visited Schloss Eggenberg and climbed the Schlossberg for magnificent views over the red rooftops of town – perhaps sipping a long drink or two on a warm afternoon at the Aiola Upstairs – set your sights upon the south Styrian wine roads. This wine-growing region about 50km south of Graz: is a treat to the taste buds as well as to the eyes: rolling, verdant hills and picturesque vineyards unfolding to the Slovenian border.
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Where is Rwanda?
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Rwanda is located in Africa.
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As an African country, Rwanda is considered to be in both the Eastern Region and Central Region of Africa. Four other African countries border Rwanda. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi surround Rwanda.
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The GPS coordinates of Rwanda indicate where Rwanda is on a map. With a latitude of 1.9403° S, Rwanda is positioned below the equator, in the southern hemisphere. The country’s longitude is 29.8739° E, which places Rwanda in the eastern hemisphere.
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To the north, Rwanda extends as far as a latitude of 01°03' S. This latitudinal coordinate is just south of the city of Kagitumba. Interestingly enough, Kagitumba is the exact point where Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda diverge. The southernmost point of Rwanda is situated along the border that separates Rwanda from Burundi. Just outside of the city of Butare, this southern extremity is found in the district of Nyaruguru. Positioned right along the border between Rwanda and Burundi, the latitude of this point is 02°51' S.
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The most extreme point of Rwanda to the east is located along the border that Rwanda shares with Tanzania. As the 88th most eastern point of all countries in the world, Rwanda’s easternmost point has a longitude of 30°53' E, placing this specific point of extremity in the country’s Eastern Province. In the opposite direction, the westernmost point of Rwanda lies along the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Positioned at a longitude of 28°52' E, the most extreme point of western Rwanda is in the country’s Kisoro District.
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Rwanda is a country of 10,169 square miles. The total area of Rwanda is roughly 94% of land areas and 6% of water sources. Going from percentages to numerical values, the land of Rwanda takes up 9,524 square miles of the total area. Water regions account for only 645 square miles of Rwanda’s total square mileage. As a country of twenty-four communes and forty-seven cantons, or states, Rwanda is 268.47 miles long and 303.26 miles wide.
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The population of Rwanda has reached a record number of 12,658,566 people, though this number is predicted to increase in no time, as populations do. As of now, the current population is 0.17% of the entire population on Earth.
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What is Laos known for?
Laos
- Laos, landlocked country of northeast-central mainland Southeast Asia.
- It consists of an irregularly round portion in the north that narrows into a peninsula-like region stretching to the southeast.
- Overall, the country extends about 650 miles (1,050 km) from northwest to southeast.
- The capital is Vientiane (Lao: Viangchan), located on the Mekong River in the northern portion of the country.
Laos has so much to offer, here are some of the things Laos is known for.
Luang Prabang
Bordered by the Mekong River and the Nam Khan (Khan River), this timeless city: of temples is the stuff of travel legends: rich in royal history, saffron-clad monks, stunning river views, world-class cuisine and some of the best boutique accommodation in the region. Hire a bike and explore the tropical peninsula’s backstreets, take a cooking class or just ease back with a restful massage at one of the many affordable spas. Prepare to adjust your timetable and stay a little longer than expected.
Si Phan Don
Laos’ hammock-flopping mecca has been catering to weary travellers for years. While these tropical islands: bounded by the waters of the Mekong are best known as a happy haven for catatonic sun worshippers, more active souls are spoilt for choice. Between tubing and cycling through paddy fields, grab a kayak, spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins, and then round off your day with a sunset boat trip. Don't miss a side trip to the largest falls in Laos, the mighty Khon Phapheng, often referred to as the Niagara Falls of Laos.
Vientiane
Meandering along the banks of the Mekong, Vientiane is surely Southeast Asia's most languid capital. The wide streets are bordered by tamarind trees and the narrow alleys conceal French villas, Chinese shophouses and glittering wats. The city brews a heady mix of street vendors, saffron-clad monks, fine Gallic cuisine, boutique hotels and a healthy vibe that sees visitors slinking off for spa treatments and turning their time to yoga and cycling. It may not have Luang Prabang’s looks, but Vientiane: has a certain charm all of its own.
Vang Vieng
The riverine jewel in Laos' karst country, Vang Vieng: sits under soaring cliffs beside the Nam Song (Song River) and is the undisputed adventure capital of Laos. Since the party crowd moved on, tranquillity reigns again with more family-oriented visitors dropping in to soak up such well-organised activities as hot-air ballooning, trekking, caving and climbing. And don't forget the original draw: tubing down the river. Where once there were only budget guesthouses and same-same traveller cafes, now they have been joined by smarter boutique hotels and restaurants serving delicious food.
Trekking and Homestays
Laos is famous for its wide range of community-based treks, many of which include a traditional homestay in a local ethnic minority village for a night or more. Trekking is possible all over the country, but northern Laos is one of the most popular areas. Luang Namtha: is the most accessible base for ecotreks in the Nam Ha NPA, one of the best-known trekking spots in the Mekong region, and there are lots of local homestays available in Lanten, Khmu and Tai Daeng communities.
Vieng Xai Caves
This is history writ large in stone. An area of outstanding natural beauty, Vieng Xai: was home to the Pathet Lao communist leadership during the US bombing campaign of 1964–73. Beyond the breathtaking beauty of the natural caves, it is the superb audio tour that really brings the experience alive. When the bombers buzz overhead to a soundtrack of Jimi Hendrix you'll be ducking for cover in the Red Prince's lush garden. It's a long, hard journey to this remote corner of the country, but well worth the effort.
Tham Kong Lor
Imagine your deepest nightmare: the snaggle-toothed mouth of a river cave beneath a towering limestone mountain, the boatman in his rickety longtail taking you into the heart of darkness. Puttering beneath the cathedral-high ceiling of stalactites in this extraordinary 7.5km-long underworld: in remote Khammuan Province is an awesome experience. You'll be very glad to see the light at the other end of the tunnel. The village of Ban Kong Lor is now the most convenient base for visiting the cave, after an explosion of guesthouses and small resorts in the last few years.
Wat Phu Champasak
Not as majestic as the temples of Angkor, but just as mysterious, this mountainside Khmer ruin: has both the artistry and the setting to impress. Once part of an important city, it now sits forlorn on the side of Phu Pasak. You'll discover something special at each level as you walk up to the summit where the views are vast and the crowds are thin. Other related ruins can be found in the rice paddies and forest down below.
River Trips
River trips: are a major feature of travel through Laos. One of the most popular connects Luang Prabang and Huay Xai, the gateway to the Golden Triangle, via Pak Beng. From local boats to luxury cruises, there are options to suit every budget, including floating through sleepy Si Phan Don in the far south. Beyond the Mekong, other important rivers such as the Nam Ou connect places as diverse as Nong Khiaw and Muang Khua (for Phongsali). It's also possible to kayak some of these regional rivers on multiday trips.
Zipline Adventures
Laos has really emerged as the zipline capital of Asia with high wires criss-crossing the jungle and karst landscape from the far north to the deep south of Laos. The original zipline adventure is the Gibbon Experience: which spans the forest valleys of the lush Nam Kan NPA. There are now many other world class ziplines in Laos, including the Nong Khiaw Jungle Fly, the Green Jungle Park in Luang Prabang, the Tad Fane Zipline on the Bolaven Plateau and the Mekong Fly over a Mekong waterfall. Adrenaline adventures await.