(France) – Visiting Château Gaillard, Normandy

At 40km from Rouen, Chateau Gaillard is a classified historic monument (classified in 1852) standing in impressive ruins above the village of Les Andelys in the Normandy countryside.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

Brief history of Chateau Gaillard

The castle was built by Richard the Lionheart over a two year period starting in 1196, to an unusual design that involved successive rings of moats and fortifications, making the inner keep almost impregnable.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

The castle had a colourful history through the Middle Ages, including a terrible siege in 1203 in which many hundreds died of hunger in the castle, as part of the wars between England and France at that time, and was won and changed hands between the English and French at various times during the Hundred Years War.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

Various sieges and imprisonments continued during the centuries that followed - including the imprisonment (and death) of the adulterous wife of Louis X. In 1417 the castle held out against a siege by the English for 16 months, eventually failing because the last rope that was being used to get water from the wells broke and they at last were forced to surrender.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

Largely abandoned the castle was already falling to ruin until Henry IV had it substantially destroyed in 1603 - for safety reasons rather than military reasons.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

Visiting Chateau Gaillard

The sunstantial ruins of the castle that remain are a romantic and evocative sight on the hill above Les Andelys village, with far reaching views over the Seine Valley, and are a highlight of a visit to the region.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

The original layout is still apparent, largely in the form of three defensive walls (the inner, middle and outer baileys) and the substantial keep inside the inner bailey. A particular innovation at gaillard was the use of machicolations* on the walls, a technique that substantially protected the soldiers in the castle from external attack and was virtually unknown in earlier castles.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

*The use of a 'stepped' wall around the top of the defences, so that soldiers could shoot from between sections of wall - like the top of the walls in a childs drawing of a castle.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

Visiting the castle you feel that you are walking in the footsteps of the kings and soldiers that have come before you, and Chateau Gaillard is a fascinating testament to the events that have taken place here. it also has nice views across the village below and surrounding countryside.

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

(France) – Château Gaillard, Normandy

Suggested places to visit near Chateau Gaillard, France

- Lyons-la-Foret: 17km

- Giverny Gardens 21km

- La Roche-Guyon 24km

- Rouen 31km

- Evreux 32km

- La Bouille 37km

(France) - View of Château Gaillard to La Seine

- Gerberoy 45km

- Jumieges Abbey 48km

- Abbey of Bec-Hellouin 50km

- Beauvais 54km

- Villa Savoye 57km

- Caudebec-en-Caux 59km

(France This Way)
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(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey – The paradise of hikers

Goreme (Göreme, pronounced guh-reh-meh, uh like er in "her") is a town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. The town is centered in the middle of a internationally popular region that is best known for its natural rock formations, often called "fairy chimneys".

(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey

The Goreme Valley is quite large, connected by several towns. In order to see all of the valley’s popular rock formations, fairy chimneys and breathtaking viewpoints, you will need a vehicle. If you have an international driver’s license, renting a car is quite simple and relatively inexpensive. If you’re riding solo, it may make more sense to join a tour group or organize a private guide at your hotel.

(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey

The Goreme Valley is a hiker’s paradise, with hundreds of trails suitable for all levels. Most of the trails are marked and visible, so it is not necessary to hire guide if you’re confident in your skills and fitness level. You can find maps and hiking trails at most travel agencies or hotels. For those looking for a more organized hike with a guide that shares history and information about the unusual environment, small group tours are easily organized in Goreme city or by your hotel.

(Turkey) – Fairy Chimeny Hotel in Goreme

Keep in mind, temperatures will rise and fall dramatically throughout the day so pack accordingly. The terrain can also be challenging and slippery in some sections, so wear proper hiking shoes or boots.

(Turkey) - Goreme Open Air Museum

(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey

(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey

(Turkey) - Goreme Open Air Museum

(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey

(Turkey) – The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, Turkey

(Turkey) - Goreme Open Air Museum

 (Wiki Travel, Traveling Canucks)

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(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island - Home of the dugong

Located off the western coastline of Abu Dhabi, Bu Tinah Island is a unique and matchless wonder of nature that is still wild and undisturbed by human activity and is home to the second-largest dugong population in the world. With shallow sparkling blue waters and its sandy beaches and inhabited by endangered animals, musical birds, Bu Tinah Island is the perfect retreat away from human hustle and bustle.  A horse-shoe shaped island, Bu Tinah boasts rich marine and terrestrial ecosystems worthy of global recognition and preservation.

(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island

  As part of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve with an area of ​​more than 4,000 sq. km, Bu Tinah’s extensive network of shoals, reefs, lagoons and sandbars enjoy some degree of protection but remained threatened by rapid development in and around the UAE.

(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island

If you are coming to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for work or or just for a holiday, visiting this beautiful wonder of nature might be worth your visit.  Located approximately 130 km to the west of Abu Dhabi, it is easy to make it here.  Even coming from Dubai or any other emirate, Abu Dhabi is accessible from car and within a matter of two hours or more; you can get here to see this natural masterpiece.

(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island

With colorful coral reefs, up to 7 meter high mangrove tress and thriving habitat, Bu Tinah is the ultimate destination that speaks volumes about peace and beauty that can be found here.

(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island

The sea birds such as the flamingos and the osprey along with diverse species of dolphins including Indo-Pacific humpback and bottlenose and the rare hawksbill turtle are some of the precious treasures to be found in Bu Tinah. Not only this, but the island is also home to the planet’s second largest population of dugong, a large marine mammal that is fast becoming extinct. All this makes Abu Dhabi home to one of the best and priceless natural habitat.

(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island

Due to its great beauty and specially for housing some of the best natural and marine life, Bu Tinah Island was also one of the 28 official finalists for the “New 7 Wonders of Nature”. This was one great honor that brought Bu Tinah Island immense publicity and exposure to be recognized as a masterpiece of nature.

(United Arab Emirates) – Bu Tinah Island

All this, combined with the exciting and fun filled life of Abu Dhabi with a short distance to Dubai, make Bu Tinah Island a place to be seen. With so much to do to make your time in the Emirates more enjoyable and paying, coming here is an unforgettable experience that you will want to go through once more in your life!

(Wiki, Dubai Fun Holidays)

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(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary – The complex of Champa Architecture

My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa (Chiêm Thành in Vietnamese). The temples are dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva, known under various local names, the most important of which is "Bhadresvara."

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

Geographical position

My Son Sanctuary is set in a small valley belonging to Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province, about 70km southwest of Danang City and 40km from Hoi An City. Of the 225 Cham vestiges that are founded in Vietnam, My Son possesses 71 monuments and 32 epitaphs, the content of which is still being studied.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

History

The Cham Kingdom had two sanctuaries belonging to two main opposing clans. My Son of the Dua Clan, ruled over the north of the kingdom and was the place for the worship of God Srisana Bhadresvara. The Cau Clan, who reigned over the south had Po Nagar Sanctuary, dedicated to Goddess Po Nagar. Nevertheless, My Son was considered as the sanctuary of the Cham Kingdom.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

The first constructions date back to the 4th century under the reign of Bhadravarman for the worship of God Shiva-Bhadresvara. But later on, the temple was destroyed. At the beginning of the 7th century, King Sambhuvarman had it rebuilt and rebaptized Sambhu-Bhadresvara. Each new monarch came to My Son after his accession to the throne, for the ceremony of purification and to present offerings and erect new monuments, which explains why My Son is the only place where Cham art flourished without interruption from the 7th to the 13th century.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

Architecture in My Son

The temples in My Son were built into groups that basically followed the same model. Each group was comprised of a main sanctuary (kalan), surrounded by towers and auxiliary monuments. The kalan, which is a symbol of Meru Mountain (centre of the universe, where the gods live) is dedicated to Shiva. The small temples are devoted to the spirits of the eight compass points. In the towers, topped with tiled, curved roofs, were stocked the offerings and sacred objects of the pilgrims. Cham temples do not have windows, so they are very dark inside. Windows are only found on the towers.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

Cham towers and temples are built of bricks associated with sandstone decorations. It is quite noteworthy that no adhesive can be seen in between the bricks, which is amazing since some of the works have survived thousands of years. The structures were built, and only then did the sculptors carve the decorations of floral patterns, human figures or animals. This technique is unique in Asia.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

 Every kalan in My Son is comprised of three parts: the bhurloka (foundations), the bhurvaloka (body of the tower) and the svarloka (roof).

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

The bhurloka represents the terrestrial world. It is decorated all the way round by engravings of patterns, animals, human characters praying under small vaults, masks of Kala or Makara (monsters), dancers, musicians…

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

The bhurvaloka symbolises the spiritual world where, after being purified, men could meet the ancestors and the gods. It is built with very thick bricks (about 1m thick), but its height can vary from one monument to the next. The outside is decorated with pilasters, false doors or windows.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

The svarloka usually has three storeys in the same style as the base, and features a main door and other, false, ones. It is decorated with small sandstone or brick statues representing mythical animals, which are mounts ridden by gods in the Indian tradition: birds, swans, buffaloes, elephants or lions. There are small decorative towers at the corners of the 1st and 2nd storeys. This roof, made of sandstone or brick, can be either pyramidal or boat-shaped.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

Methods used to identify and categorise the style of the My Son Sanctuary

In 1895, C. Paris, a French scholar, was the first one to clear the My Son Sanctuary. Then, many scientists came to My Son to study Cham epitaph, sculpture and architecture such as Henri Parmentier, C. Carpeaux, P. Stern…

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

Thanks to Henri Parmentier, the temples of My Son were classified into groups of letters (A, A’, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and K), and then numbered according to their functions. It starts with the main sanctuary, the kalan, (number 1), then the gate tower (number 2), and so on. Even though these categories break up the architectural complex of My Son as a whole, they are remarkably efficient for the study and maintenance of the ruins.

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

In December, 1999, at the 23th meeting of World Heritage Committee of UNESCO in Marrakesh, Marocco, My Son was recognised as world cultural heritage based on two prominent criterions: typical example about cultural exchange and unique evidence of disappeared Asia civilization

(Vietnam) - My Son Sanctuary

(Wiki, Vietnam Tourism)

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(Puerto Rico) – A journey to El Yunque tropical rainforest

El Yunque is the local name for The Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico.

A tropical rain forest is found in warm climates in the tropics close to the equator. There are many tropical rain forests around the world. El Yunque is the only Tropical Rain Forest in the United State's National Forest System.

(Puerto Rico) – El Yunque tropical rainforest

A rain forest is a quiet place but at El Yunque you can hear the ocassional coquí or two chirping in the middle of the day. The ground is wet and muddy and is shaded by tall trees. The trees have huge trunks with small plants growing on them. There are vines hanging from their branches.  There are small insects flying amidst the rain, fog, or mist.  On the trees you might see colorful birds, and butterflies. Many other animals hide in the branches and even under leaves on the ground. The abundant rainfall is shed through rocky rivers creating many cascades of waterfalls and pools.  Everywhere you look, is green. Orchids (some only the size of a fingernail) and bromeliads perch in the trees.

(Puerto Rico) – El Yunque tropical rainforest

"Yuke" means white lands and refers to the mountain tops usually covered by clouds. The Taíno Indians of Puerto Rico considered their mountain range sacred. Taíno petroglyphs are sprinkled throughout the sacred Luquillo mountain range. El Toro, at 3533 Ft is the tallest peak.

(Puerto Rico) – El Yunque tropical rainforest

Up to 240 inches of rain per year have been recorded on the higher peaks. More than 100 billion gallons of rainwater fall on the Forest per year. Here it rains about 4 times a day. The result of such heavy rainfall and the warm tropical climate is a dense evergreen forest containing 240 native tree species (26 found only at El Yunque), and masses of vines, 50 native orchids, epiphytes, giant ferns, and mosses. Air plants such as orchids, grow on the trunks and branches of the trees. Woody air plant vines called, lianas, hang from and often wrap around tree trunks and limbs.

(Puerto Rico) – El Yunque tropical rainforest

The roots of rain forest trees do not go down very deep, so they can take up only water and food found near the top of the soil. The thick parts on the tree trunks are called buttresses keep the large trees from falling over.

The top layer of a tropical rain forests is called the canopy. The canopy is the tops of the trees which are the branches and leaves. Many rain forest animals live in the canopy. Below the canopy is the layer called the understory. This layer is made up mostly of tree trunks, young trees and air plants. The bottom layer of the forest is called the forest floor. The forest floor has few plants growing because the soil is very thin. It is made up mostly of dead plant parts, fallen tree trunks covered in with moss, ferns, and fungi.

(Puerto Rico) – El Yunque tropical rainforest

The rain forest is home to many species of animals. Frogs and spiders hide under leaves. Ants, spiders, beetles, and even termites live under tree bark or in the soil. Snakes slither along the ground or wind around tree branches. Rodents and other small animals abound. Here you can find snails with shells as big as a child's fist.  At night the forest comes alive. Millions of insects fill the air. Moths suck nectar from flowers, bats fly out of their nesting place to feed. Millions of coquíes climb tree branches to feed on the insects. The forest is lit by thousands of cucubanos. Bats and owls fly from their nests. Coquies sing at night.

At El Yunque there 50 species of birds, 11 species of bats, 8 species of lizards, and 13 species of coquí (a tree frog). Also found here are several species of shrimp and fish. Snakes are rare. The Puerto Rican Boa, which can reach a length of 90 inches, can be found. El Yunque is a small rain forest and there are no large primates such as gorillas or monkeys. There are no wild pigs or alligators.

(Puerto Rico) – El Yunque tropical rainforest

Tropical rain forests provides us with beautiful woods such as mahogany, teak, and rosewood. At El Yunque, majestic tabonuco trees drape the lower forest while giant tree ferns fan in the wind. Rain forests are also important for the environment by taking large amounts of carbon dioxide out of the air and giving us fresher cleaner air.

El Yunque Tropical Rain Forest is in danger of being destroyed. Too many trees have been cut. Civilization is getting too close to the forest. When the forest disappears the animals that live there will also disappear.

(Elboricua)

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(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

Kamchatka is without exaggeration one of the most spectacular regions in Russia. It occupies the area of 470,000 sq. km, which equals the size of France, Belgium and Luxembourg combined, and separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. One should not confuse Kamchatka with Siberia; this name is used for the peninsula itself and the closest part of the continent, including Karaginsky Island and the Komandorsky Archipelago. The mountain ridges - Sredinny, Valaginsky, Ganalsky and Kumroch - stretch from the north to the south giving the peninsula the shape of a giant fish. There are more than 160 volcanoes on the peninsula (29 of them are active), due to the fact that it lies on the Great Pacific “ring of fire”. Volcanoes and volcanic peaks, cyclones and underground heat created here a mixture of twenty climate zones and a great variety of flora and fauna. But the main attractions of Kamchatka are volcanic calderas, stone sculpture “parks” and lakes in craters, geysers and mineral springs, all in pristine condition.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

The Cossack, Vladimir Atlasov, apparently "discovered" Kamchatka in 1697. He built two forts on the Kamchatka River, which became Russian trading camps. The native Koryak, Itelmen, Chukchi and Evens tribes were beaten down by these traders, and their population greatly diminished. Out of the few that remain, the Chukchi live in the northeast, Evens are in the central part of the peninsula and the Koryaks live on the west coast. They still live by traditional reindeer herding and sea fishing, which provide both food and clothing, and still preserve their culture and traditional lifestyles, which is the reason why one of the most remote regions is visited by so many people every year.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

The famous marine explorer Vitus Y.Bering discovered it in 1740, when he chose the Avacha Bay as a base for sailing across the Pacific Ocean to the shores of future Russian America. From that time, Petropavlovsk was the main base for all subsequent round-the-world expeditions. The ships of Captain James Cook, La Perouse, I.F.Krusenstern, Captain Clark and other expeditions all visited Kamchatka.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

Until the late 19th century, when the Imperial lands in Alaska were sold, Kamchatka was considered to be the least hospitable place in the Russian Empire. Nobody bothered visiting the region as it took six months to get there - only to face vast wilderness and a diminishing supply of fur. Around 1920, it nearly ended up in American hands. Washington Baker wanted to buy the province and was offered a 60-year concession by Lenin, but they couldn't agree on a deal.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

Until 1990, no foreigners or nonresident Russians were allowed to visit. In 1991, the Russian Federation was established as an independent republic and Kamchatka was opened for visiting by foreign guests.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

The main settlement of the peninsula and the capital of Kamchatka Region is the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The city is located on the southeastern shore of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Petropavlovsk's streets wind around green volcanic hills where city residents still pick berries and mushrooms. Covered with white snow, the peaks of Koryaksky, Avachinsky and Kozelsky volcanoes rise over them. And there are eternal moorage ribbons going along the Avacha Bay.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

With a population of about 240,000 people, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is an important port as well as a center of industry, science and adventure tourism.

(Russia) – Kamchatka – The land of true wilderness

 (Travel Kamchatka)

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