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Colorful sunset over Minneapolis skyline with the Mississippi River and Hennepin Avenue bridge in the foreground. The Mississippi River through the Twin Cities is part of the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area.
Painting of Armenian motif of a cherub's head surrounded by folded wings, inside the main prayer hall of Vank Cathedral (Holy Savior Cathedral, Church of the Saintly Sisters), in Isfahan, Isfahan province of Iran.
The cathedral was established in 1606, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees that were resettled by Shah Abbas I during the Ottoman War of 1603-1618.
© All rights reserved. You may not use this photo in website, blog or any other media without my explicit permission.
The church of San Clemente, of medieval origin, extends its side on the square of the same name, located right at the meeting point of the two hills where the historic center insists. Основанная в тринадцатом веке, церковь Сан - Клементе расположена у подножия развалин древнего замка
Floral decoration, painted majolica tiles in Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, also known as the Pink mosque, situated in Shiraz, the capital of Fars province of Iran.
Nasir al-Mulk mosque was built during the Qajar era, between 1876 to 1888, by the order of Mirzā Hasan Ali (Nasir ol Molk), a Qajar ruler. It includes extensive colored glass in its facade, and displays other traditional elements such as the Panj Kāse ("five concaved") design.
© All rights reserved. You may not use this photo in website, blog or any other media without my explicit permission.
Chapel Viaduct .Renowned as being the second largest brick built structure in England, the first being recognised as Battersea Power Station, Chappel Viaduct is situated near Wakes Colne in Essex off the A1124 (Colchester Road) and spans the picturesque Colne Valley. It presently still supports the Sudbury to Marks Tey line which regularly connects with trains to and from London's Liverpool Street Station along the main line.
The foundation stone for this man made wonder was laid on the 14th September 1847. A bottle containing a newly minted sovereign, a half-sovereign, a shilling, a sixpence and a four-penny piece was placed underneath this stone. This bottle and all its contents were stolen shortly after the laying ceremony; the culprit was caught after he tried to pass over a brand new sovereign coin in the Rose and Crown public house.
Chappel Viaduct is 1,066ft long and some 5 to 6 million bricks are believed to have been used in its construction. A work force of 606 men known at the time as 'navvies' were employed to complete the work which took two years, this was relatively fast for such a large structure. The Viaduct has 32 arches; each having a span of 30ft and at its maximum the height is 75ft. Although so many bricks were used in the construction, to save money and to cut down on weight, the piers were left hollow.
The engineer of the viaduct was Peter Schuyler Bruff and his plan was for the line to continue on as far as Ipswich in Suffolk, but the railway company did not have sufficient funds for this. Bruff later built the line himself and is also credited for founding the Essex seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea.
On the 2nd July 1849, the first passenger train crossed the viaduct from Colchester to Sudbury carrying an official party. A large crowd greeted the honoured guests at Sudbury despite its station still being unfinished.
To this day Chappel Viaduct is in daily use by trains and is well worth a visit if you are in the area. It attracts many tourists and visitors every year and is a highly photographed structure. Bordering the viaduct is The Chappel Millennium Green and as the name suggests this was opened to celebrate the Millennium. It contains a walk around area and children's play area which should keep the kids amused while you take in this wonder.
Horton tower is a substantial brick-built structure, in an isolated position above the village. It was built in the mid 18th century by Humphrey Sturt -- allegedly so that, when he grew too old to ride to hounds, he could still watch the progress of the local hunt from the top of his tower. I find this story unconvincing, myself. If he was so old and decrepit, how did he get up the tower? The tower is now used as a mobile phone transmitter.
During the autumn season, Kiyosato Lake becomes a favored spot as the foliage transforms into vibrant hues, creating a stunning display of colors.
© yohanes.budiyanto, 2013
2012 was another phenomenal year. It was a year of travel, so much travel indeed that it has disturbed my daily jobs; my time with family and friends back home; and most importantly, it has severly postponed the completion of my current pet project: my own residence!. The 1,400m2 built structure has remained an unfinished project, while the designer items (Chairs and sofas by Antonio Citterio, Poltrona Frau, Marc Newson, Carl Hansen; Phillipe Starck sanitary fittings; Iconic lamps by Tom Dixon and Arco by Castiglioni; et al) are currently on their way through the Indian Ocean directly from Europe at the risk of being homeless.
That said, the amazing time I took flying over Asia seemed to have paid off as I finally stayed at 3 hotels that have been on my dream list for years: The Lalu in Taiwan by Kerry Hill; Plateau Spa in Hong Kong by John Morford; and I.sawan Residential Spa & Club in Bangkok by Tony Chi. They have proven to be some of my most favourite hotels of all time, with I.sawan Spa actually reigns supreme on my list this year.
I was also extremely excited to finally stayed at some of the year's most eagerly awaited hotel re-openings after an extended period of closure for a complete refurbishment, which included these grande dames: The Peninsula Hong Kong, Shangri-la Singapore's iconic Garden Wing, and The Palace Hotel, Tokyo and the Park Hyatt Sydney. Unfortunately, the results have been a mixed bag. Park Hyatt Sydney started with a bang and it delivered. The newly refurbished interiors are modern, luxurious and elegant, yet it is quite subtle not to compete with the million dollar (Opera) view outside. I love the hotel so much that I paid 3 separate visits in less than 2 months.
On the other hand, both Peninsula Hong Kong and Shangri-La Singapore's Garden Wing fell short of my expectation, although Peninsula collectively still scored high on the list. The biggest surprise was actually the unveiling of the newly rebuilt Palace Hotel in Tokyo as it brings glamour back to the city with its beautifully decorated guest rooms, magnificent public spaces and uninterrupted views over the Imperial Palace next door.
Last year, I managed to stay at 3 Amanresorts (Amankila, Amanjiwo and Aman Summer Palace); and this year I visited another 3, including a stay at one of its oldest and pioneering properties: Amandari in Bali, which was spectacular. I was most impressed with the fact that it ages well, although no one ever suspected it being 25 years old now.
The trips this year would not be complete without my annual visit to my #1 favourite place on earth, Tokyo; But there is a twist this time as I made it special: Tokyo 777 as a sequel to my Shanghai 777 trip in the past; and this time it involved 7 Hotels, 7 Designers and 7 Michelin Restaurants, which included key players such as Park Hyatt, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental; and fine dining institutions from the kitchens of Joel Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Michel Troisgros and Paul Bocuse. My clear favourite? Joel Robuchon and the Palace Hotel Tokyo.
The most memorable stay this year? Without a doubt, the Aussie outback experience at the 6-star Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in the Blue Mountains. It is truly out-of-this-world; and it is absolutely one of the places that you must visit before you die!. It scored very high across my 13 categories of assessment with seven perfect score of 100 (Only eclisped by I.sawan Bangkok with eight). Here, the all-inclusive food and activities were absolutely phenomenal; the natural surrounding was breathtaking; each villas even have its own fireplace and indoor/outdoor swimming pool; and best of all? You get to see Kangaroos, Wallabies and Wombats so close to you that they could almost be your pet; plus you get to see the Southern Cross stars by your naked eyes at night. After checking-out, it did not get better than this: flying back to Sydney on the cockpit of the helicopter that took me pass the greater Blue Mountains range and Sydney's beautiful harbor. It is truly a lifetime experience.
Pictured above is the breathtaking natural surrounding of the 6-star Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Blue Mountains, Australia.
38 hotels stayed in 2012 and here are the best of the best:
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All Time Best Hotel:
Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 95.38/100
#1 for the 7th consecutive year, since 2006
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1. Best Hotel
I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 93.92/100
2. Best Resort
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 94.28/100
3. Best Room
Spa Cottages (I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok) 100/100
Plateau Deluxe Room (Plateau Spa, at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong) 100/100
Opera Deluxe Room (Park Hyatt, Sydney) 100/100
Vivienne Tam Suite (Hotel Icon, Hong Kong) 100/100
Junior Suite (Keraton at the Plaza, Jakarta) 100/100
4. Best Bathroom
Four Seasons Hotel, Guangzhou 100/100
I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
St. Regis, Singapore 100/100
W Taipei 100/100
Palace Hotel Tokyo 95/100
5. Best Bed
I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
St. Regis, Singapore 100/100
W Taipei 100/100
W Hong Kong 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 100/100
6. Best Service:
Amandari, Bali 100/100
Keraton at the Plaza, Jakarta 100/100
Amanfayun 95/100
Bvlgari, Bali 95/100
Palace Hotel Tokyo 95/100
7. Best In-room technology
The Peninsula, Hong Kong 100/100
I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 95/100
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 95/100
St. Regis Singapore 95/100
Palace Hotel Tokyo 95/100
8. Best In-room amenities
Amandari, Bali 100/100
I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 100/100
Vivienne Tam Suite, at the Hotel Icon, Hong Kong 95/100
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 95/100
9. Best Architecture / Design
I.sawan Residential Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
The Vivienne Tam Suite, at the Hotel Icon, Hong Kong 100/100
The Lalu, at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan 100/100
Plateau Spa, at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 100/100
Sofitel So, Bangkok 100/100
W Taipei 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 100/100
10. Best Hotel Food
St. Regis Bali 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 100/100
Bulgari Bali 95/100
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo 95/100
Four Seasons Hotel, Guangzhou 95/100
11. Best View
Vivienne Tam Suite, at the Hotel Icon, Hong Kong 100/100
Opera Deluxe, at the Park Hyatt, Sydney 100/100
Premier Suite, at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore 100/100
Grand Deluxe Harbour View Room, at The Peninsula, Hong Kong 100/100
Plateau Deluxe Room, at the Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong 100/100
12. Best Pool
Amandari 100/100
Peninsula Hong Kong 100/100
Sofitel So, Bangkok 100/100
Bvlgari, Bali 100/100
Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong 95/100
13. Best Health & Spa Facilities
I.sawan Recreational Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
Grand Hyatt, Jakarta 100/100
Plateau Spa, at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 100/100
The Lalu, at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Vallery Resort & Spa 100/100
14. Best Location
Amanfayun 100/100
Bvlgari, Bali 100/100
I.sawan Recreational Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
The Peninsula, Hong Kong 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 100/100
15. Best Value
Amandari, Bali 100/100
Four Seasons Hotel, Guangzhou 100/100
I.sawan Recreational Spa & Club, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok 100/100
Vivienne Tam Suite, at the Hotel Icon, Hong Kong 100/100
Plateau Spa, at the Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong 100/100
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa 100/100
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View of the magnificient frescos depicting Bible stories, inside the main prayer hall of Vank Cathedral (Holy Savior Cathedral, Church of the Saintly Sisters), in Isfahan, Isfahan province of Iran.
The cathedral was established in 1606, dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of Armenian deportees that were resettled by Shah Abbas I during the Ottoman War of 1603-1618.
The interior is covered with fine frescos and gilded carvings and includes a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of the creation of the world and man's expulsion from Eden. Pendentives throughout the church are painted with a distinctly Armenian motif of a cherub's head surrounded by folded wings. The ceiling above the entrance is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style of Persian miniature. Two sections, or bands, of murals run around the interior walls: the top section depicts events from the life of Jesus, while the bottom section depicts tortures inflicted upon Armenian martyrs by the Ottoman Empire.
© All rights reserved. You may not use this photo in website, blog or any other media without my explicit permission.
Католический приход города Владимира был основан в 1891 году. Тогда же было получено разрешение городских властей на приобретение участка земли и строительство часовни в Куткином переулке (ныне улица Гоголя), неподалеку от Золотых ворот. Строительство было начато в 1892 году и завершено в первые месяцы 1894 года. В том же году часовня была освящена как филиал нижегородского прихода во имя Божией Матери — Царицы святого Розария.
The announcement made in October 2009 by General Secretary Kim Jong-Il, the North Korean leader, to have built 100,000 apartments in Pyongyang by 2012 officially aims at facing the housing shortage in the capital city. But it also represents a challenge to give evidence of the communist regime overall prosperity. The Stalinian regime had already pretended to amaze the rest of the world in the 1950’s claiming its ability to construct an apartment for a family in 14 minutes only!
This time it might be a little different. Despite the university students’ conscription and the mobilization of the army, many observers doubt the ability of North Korea to complete the buildings by its founder’s 100th birthday in 2012. In fact, it is not only a matter of housing: the energy and water supply as well as transports for 100,000 families need the building of extra-infrastructure.
Lately, reports have emerged of construction projects having been downsized and sites idling due to materials shortages. By the end of 2011, only 500 units are built, which forces the authorities to reduce the target to 20,000 to 25,000 apartments in total.
© Eric Lafforgue
The Roman Catholic church of St Charles in Gosforth was built in 1911 (replacing an earlier iron-built structure) and is a handsome building with two small west steeples flanking the main facade and a wide cruciform body culminating in a shallow apse. The interior is partially enlivened by marble-cladding, particularly around the sanctuary.
The outstanding features here however are in glass, principally the two large windows that dominate the north and south transepts, the largest windows in the church and both filled with gloriously rich stained glass by Harry Clarke Studios of Dublin and installed in 1945 (long after the death of Clarke himself and most likely designed by his successor Richard King). The south window depicts the Nativity, whilst that to the north represents the Deposition, with Christ's body being removed from the Cross. There is a further window by the same studio in the south nave clerestorey depicting Christ before Pilate, somewhat smaller and sadly less accessible.
This is a thoroughly rewarding church to visit for lovers of stained glass, though it is best to check with the church about access as it isn't always open outside mass times.