the centre of the Ionion Islands

Lefkas is at the centre of the Ionion Islands a stones throw from Mainland Greece (25m approx). The area we call Lefkas is in fact made up of three islands, those being, Lefkada, Meganissi and Scorpios (owned by the famous Onassi family). There are many small uninhabited islands dotted short distances from Lefkas which can be explored and enjoyed with relative privacy

Church of Saint Demetrios,

The Church of Saint Demetrios, or Hagios Demetrios, is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, dating from a time when it was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire . It is part of the site Palaeochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1988.

OTE Tower

OTE Tower is a 76 metres tall TV tower at Thessaloniki, Greece . OTE Tower is located inside the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair in central Thessaloniki, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe. From OTE Tower, which was completed in 1966, the first black and white broadcasts of the Greek State Television took place in the same year. OTE tower has a revolving restaurant in its top. The tower first openend in 1966 and was totally renovated, transforming it into a modern tower, in 2005.

White Tower of Thessaloniki

fter the history lesson... time for sightseing.
Come with me for a walk around the most famous places in Thessaloni and let's start from the White Tower of Thessaloniki (Lefkos Pyrgos in Greek language).
It is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the city of Thessaloniki, capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. It has been adopted as the symbol of the city, and also as a symbol of Greek sovereignty over Macedonia.

The present tower dates from the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–66). There was an older tower on the same site, probably built by French knights during the period of the Latin Empire in Constantinople . The Tower was used by the Ottomans successively as a fort, garrison and a prison. In 1826, at the order of the Sultan Mahmud II , there was a massacre of the prisoners in the Tower. Owing to the "countless victims of Ottoman torturers and executioners", the tower acquired the name "Tower of Blood" or "The Red Tower", which it kept until the end of the 19th century.

Famous Places in Greece

Located in Southeastern Europe, Greece is one of the most famous destinations for those who are inclined towards nature as well as for those who love places of historical significance. The landscape of Greece is mountainous with an interesting mix of plains as well. Tourism in Greece is a large industry, which is why one can find extremely good amenities. The beautiful landscapes and interesting monuments continue to attract visitors particularly from China. To know more about this beautiful country, read about some famous places in Greece.

Some Famous Places by Shahid Khwaja

Pakistan karachi_moenjodaro

If you are an archaeological fan Moenjodaro- once a city of an Indus valley civilization- and the Chaukundi tombs are well worth a visit.

pakistan Famous place

Geographically Pakistan was the meeting place of different religions. The pleasures of Pakistan are old Buddhist monuments, Hindu temples, Islamic places, tombs and pleasure grounds, and widely spaced Anglo-Mughal Gothic mansions. Graeco-Buddhist friezes dominate sculpture, and crafts by ceramics, jewelry, silk goods, engraved woodwork and metal work.
Traditional dances are lusty and vigorous; music is either classical, folk or devotional; and the most patronized literature is a mix of the scholastic and poetic. Field hockey is the national sport but cricket is the obsession. Pakistan ruled the world of squash for last fifty players producing many great players including Jehangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Hashim Khan etc.
Nearly all Pakistani are Muslim and Islam is the state religion. Christians are the largest minority, followed by Hindus and Parsees (descendents of Persian Zoroastrians). It is preferred that a woman visitor should follow the Islamic dress code, which include knee length dress with full sleeves.

Pakistani food is a combination of northern Indian and Middle Eastern influences. This means menus peppered with baked and deep fired breads (roti, chapattis, puri and nan). Meat curries, lentil mush (dhal), peas and rice. Street snacks (samosas and tikka) are made of either potatoes, meat or chicken. The most common sweet is barfi, which is made of dried milk solids and comes in a variety of flavors. Though Pakistan is officially dry, it brews its own beer, which is very popular among foreign visitors. Besides there are specially designated bars and top-end hotels which can cater to any

Agra and Jaislemer

The TaJ Mahal is really beautiful. It’s heart breakingly beautiful. A tear drop on the face of humanity. A marble affirmation of one mans love for his wife. The ultimate one-upmanship for male romance. I thought a bunch of flowers would do but after finding out she bore the Raja 13 children and died pushing out the last one it all seems worth it.


Being one of the most famous buildings in the world I thought I knew what to expect.. I’ve never had a building evoke such a strong emotional response as the Taj. On seeing it in the flesh I wanted to hug it, love it, be part of it. I’ve seen it’s image 100’s of times but you can’t beat the real thing. We got up at sunrise to watch the sun bath the white marble in a pinkish hew and also to beat the rest of the tourists to this wonder. Every part of the building is designed to look beautiful to the eye. From your first glimpse from afar to the jewel encrusted details on closer inspection. It’s all in the details and this place was faultless. Sue and I spent the morning there just watching this building. The place gets packed by about 9:00am but there is plenty for all to see.

The Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is certainly one of the most beautiful buildings in the Ile-de-France region. Tourists to the palace can visit the Queen and King's bedrooms, the famous Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel (Chapelle Royal) and many other interesting rooms in Versailles Palace.

local cable car, balakot, pakistan

Rain in saifulmaluk, pakistan

Lake Saif ul Maluk is situated in Naran Valley of District Kaghan, Pakistan. There are a lot of fantasies about Saifulmaluk that this lake was formed by the tears of Prince Sail ul Maluk in the rememberence of his beloved. Another fantasy is that fairies visit the lake i the midnight. A local eyewitness told me that he personally seen different light i the mid night so many times. Nevertheless im sure this place is the most beautiful sight in the world.

giza_misar

giza_misar

Bologna's two famous towers

Bologna's two famous towers - Torre degli Asinelli and Torre degli Garisenda

domey building in Italy

Felice Beato's Japan: Places

These photos of men and women from different walks of life catered to foreign curiosity about the "exotic" Japanese. Most were taken in Beato's studio in Yokohama. Album courtesy of the Smith College Museum of Art. Essay by Alona C. Wilson.

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gateway-of-india

taj-mahal-agra

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Mount Everest

Mount Everest is so famous for being so high that you've probably heard of it before. It has been known the world over since the early 1950s when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay first climbed to its awesome summit. Hillary surveyed Everest at the time and determined that it was 29,000 ft/8840m high - a figure amazingly close to the current reading of 29,035 ft/8850m, which was confirmed using radar and global positioning satellite (GPS) technology.

Using state-of-the-art technology Professor Brad Washburn of the Boston Museum of Science, the world's foremost mountain cartographer, and his team have calculated that earth's highest elevation is actually 7 feet higher than the previous record. That makes the official height 29,035 ft/8850m. Thanks to some engineering whizzes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who developed really light, high-tech gear, the work of Washburn was made easier because he was able to hand carry a radar device to the top of Everest where it could be positioned to measure the actual height of the mountain - underneath all that snow. GPS technology was also deployed near the summit, which uses satellite signal relays to take readings from the top of Everest. After months of crunching numbers Washburn's team arrived at the new, official world-record elevation.

They've also determined that the Himalayan Mountains are still growing higher, at a rate of about 2.4 in/6.1cm per year. That's twice as fast as previously thought. A growth rate of 2.4 in/6.1cm per year doesn't sound like very much. If you think about it, that means in the last 26,000 years the Himalayans have risen almost a mile into the upper reaches of the earth's atmosphere!

When Hillary and Norgay climbed to the top of Everest they wore oxygen tanks. Because Everest is so high it juts into the upper reaches of the earth's atmosphere, where there are much lower concentrations of oxygen than at sea level. What that means to folks trekking up the side of Everest is that their bodies get less oxygen from each breath they breathe while climbing. But their brains and muscles require the same amount of oxygen to perform as they would at sea level. That makes it especially tough to climb Everest.

Try to imagine what it feels like to climb up a mountain with very little oxygen in your body - you get dizzy, your nose, fingers and feet get numb and tingly, your heart thunders in your chest trying furiously to keep up with the muscles' demand for oxygen. You feel sleepy, confused, downright stupid as your brain struggles to function on limited oxygen. Every step you take is extremely slow and plodding, requiring every ounce of will you have. Hillary and Norgay had extra oxygen to help them make the trip, but there have been a few people who have made the trip since who did it without the aid of oxygen - taking one step about every five minutes! About 4,000 climbers have attempted the summit of Everest, but only 660 have made it. One-hundred forty-two people have died trying.

Highest Mountains

Mount Everest is just one of over 30 peaks in the Himalayas that are over 24,000 ft/7315m high. Himalaya is a Sanskrit word meaning, "abode of snow", which is so true. The snowfields which dominate many of the peaks in the Himalayas are permanent. Yes, they never melt (not even in the summer). That means there are glaciers in the Himalayas - lots of them. Mount Everest is permanently covered in a layer of ice, topped with snow. The "top" of the mountain at which the elevation was measured can vary as much as twenty feet or more, depending on how much snow has fallen on its peak. Scientists believe that the actual tip of the rock lies tens of feet below the ice and snow on its summit. There are current plans to use ground penetrating radar to get a reading of the actual height of the mountain beneath all that snow. Although the Himalayan Range is only 1,550 miles/2480km long, the average height of all the major peaks in the Himalayas easily makes it the highest mountain range on land.

Highway from Karachi to Gawadar

Highway from Karachi to Gawadar

Highway from Karachi to Gawadar

Highway from Karachi to Gawadar

Highway from Karachi to Gawadar

Highway from Karachi to Gawadar

Scenic Landscape:A drifwood sculpture of a riverbank in Helsinki,Finland

Post card Mumbai

The amazing photographs that show the world's most famous landmarks replaced by cheap souvenirs Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10

At a moment's glance this picture could be the real Big Ben.

But then you notice the hand below and the incredible optical illusion is revealed.

Tourist Michael Hughes today unveiled his extraordinary holiday snaps of the world's famous landmarks - perfectly blended with cheap souvenirs.

Michael, 56, stumbled across his unusual technique in 1998 and has perfected it after travelling to hundreds of famous sights.

His series of stunning photos include a Golden Gate fridge magnet slotted ideally into the San Francisco landscape.

UCSD Visual Arts Project Featured at World-Famous Digital Media Festival

Scalable City -- an interactive multimedia demonstration of how computers can auto-design aesthetically compelling layouts for new urban or suburban environments, but highlighting serious limitations as well -- is a featured exhibit at the prestigious Ars Electronica Festival in Linz , Austria . Beginning Aug 30, the project will be on display in the Ars Electronica Center, one of the world’s leading museums of digital and media art, for at least a year.

Fatima Jinah Park

Islamabad , Pakistan.

Default Re: Architecture in Pakistan: A Historical Overview

Masjid in Kotli, Azad Kashmir


Jehangir Kothari Parade located in Clifton beach in Karachi


The Sialkot Clock Tower.
Sialkot, located in the province Punjab, Pakistan, is an ancient city dating back to some 5000 years. Its mention is made in history when it was invaded by Alexander the Great in 327 AD. Presently it is a thriving business city with specialties in sports and surgical instruments. The footballs (soccerballs) for the World Cup are also manufactured here.
The Sialkot Clock Tower, located in the cantonment, was build in the 19th century by the British and has recently been renovated.


Cunningham Clock Tower, Peshawar
Built in 1900 by the British, the name of the Cunningham Clock Tower refers to a British officer Sir George Cunnigham, who was governor of Peshawar during that time. The tower is commonly known as "Ghanta ghar" by the locals.


A house in Abbottabad
Masjid in Kotli, Azad Kashmir


Jehangir Kothari Parade located in Clifton beach in Karachi


The Sialkot Clock Tower.
Sialkot, located in the province Punjab, Pakistan, is an ancient city dating back to some 5000 years. Its mention is made in history when it was invaded by Alexander the Great in 327 AD. Presently it is a thriving business city with specialties in sports and surgical instruments. The footballs (soccerballs) for the World Cup are also manufactured here.
The Sialkot Clock Tower, located in the cantonment, was build in the 19th century by the British and has recently been renovated.


Cunningham Clock Tower, Peshawar
Built in 1900 by the British, the name of the Cunningham Clock Tower refers to a British officer Sir George Cunnigham, who was governor of Peshawar during that time. The tower is commonly known as "Ghanta ghar" by the locals.


A house in Abbottabad
Masjid in Kotli, Azad Kashmir


Jehangir Kothari Parade located in Clifton beach in Karachi


The Sialkot Clock Tower.
Sialkot, located in the province Punjab, Pakistan, is an ancient city dating back to some 5000 years. Its mention is made in history when it was invaded by Alexander the Great in 327 AD. Presently it is a thriving business city with specialties in sports and surgical instruments. The footballs (soccerballs) for the World Cup are also manufactured here.
The Sialkot Clock Tower, located in the cantonment, was build in the 19th century by the British and has recently been renovated.


Cunningham Clock Tower, Peshawar
Built in 1900 by the British, the name of the Cunningham Clock Tower refers to a British officer Sir George Cunnigham, who was governor of Peshawar during that time. The tower is commonly known as "Ghanta ghar" by the locals.


A house in Abbottabad

MCB Tower in Karachi, currently the tallest building in Pakistan. Bahawalpur Nur Mahal in Bahawalpur Karachi Port Trust, Karachi The Forum, a shopping mall in Karachi Citi Towers, Karachi

Masjid in Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim

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Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, the country’s largest park spreaded over 130 acres, inaugurated by former President Pervez Musharraf.


Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, Karachi


The Zamzama Gun, also known as Kim’s Gun or Bhangianwala Toap is a large bore cannon. It was cast in 1757 in Lahore, at that time Lahore was part of the Durrani Empire. It is currently on display in front of the Lahore Museum in Lahore, Pakistan.


Sheikh Zaid Center for Islamic Studies, Lahore

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Lalik Jan Crossing Monument, Lahore


The tomb of Hafeez Jullandhuri, a poet and composer of the National Anthem of Pakistan. The tomb is located in Lahore, Pakistan.

Bhong Mosque is located in the village of Bhong, Sadiqabad in the district of Rahimyar Khan, Pakistan. The compound was designed and constructed over a period of nearly 50 years (1932-1982) and won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1986. A postal stamp with its picture was issued in May 12, 2004 in Pakistan.


The Food Street of Lahore was a project undertaken by the municipal authorities to bring the best in taste to a single location. Selecting the historically popular place for food, the authorities provided incentives and funds to renovate the whole street.
The facade of many buildings redone, painted and properly lighted, food street is a sight to behold. The buildings date from the pre-partition days and are definitely part of the architectural heritage


Masjid-i-Tuba, in Karachi.


Mules Mansion, Karachi. Built in 1917.


Teen Talwar (three swords), Clifton, Karachi
The three swords represent: Unity, Faith, and Discipline

Supreme Court of Pakistan in Karachi.
Karachi used to be the capital of Pakistan but the capital later changed to Islamabad.


Saudi-Pak Tower, Islamabad


Al Hamra Cultural Complex, Lahore

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Jinnah Gardens, Faisalabad


The Basant Court at Faisalabad Serena Hotel


Aga Khan Higher Secondary School in Gilgit, Northern Areas


Tomb of the Sufi Saint Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan

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Karachi Municipal Corporation office building

An old image of Karachi from 1889 Downtown Karachi (the city is undergoing much construction today) This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1600x1200. Replica of the famous Charminar at Bahadurabad roundabout in Karachi Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x768. National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences main building, Karachi Campus This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1860x1152. Jinnah International Airport, Karachi This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 986x680. Karachi This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x768. National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi
Emaar Plaza, Islamabad Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 800x600. Citibank, Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad A Church in Islamabad Islamabad Serena Hotel, Islamabad Panorama at Jaulian - Ancient Buddhist Monastery, Taxila Taxila is an important archaeological site in Pakistan. Taxila was an important Buddhist centre of learning from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE and Alexander the Great also set foot in this site. In 1980, Taxila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with multiple locations. Stupa base at Sirkap, decorated with Hindu, Buddhist, and Greek temple fronts in Taxila. Mughal-e-Azam Marriage Hall, Lahore Hotel in Peshawar Peshawar High Court Agriculture University of Peshawar Habib Bank Peshawar This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 768x1024. Islamia College, Peshawar This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x768. St John's Cathedral, Peshawar This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x768. Khyber Steam Train in Peshawar Station Inside the Peshawar Museum (there's many ancient Buddhist artifacts dating back from thousands of years ago displayed in this museum). Bruce Street, Quetta This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 665x386. This is view of Bruce Street, Quetta before the 1935 Earthquake This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1280x960. Quetta Serena Hotel This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x679. Quetta International Airport Quetta Sandeman Memorial Hall in Quetta, destroyed in 1935 Earthquake. This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 885x556. Tameer-i-Nau College Quetta Club Road Mosque, Quetta This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 713x559. Governor's House, Quetta This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x716. Hanna Lake, Quetta