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VPG-DVD-116 - SINGAPORE Singapore is a city of gardens and the heart of South East Asia. Its history began in 1819 with Stamford Raffles, a young official who worked for the British East India Company. Raffles estimated that the natural harbour was perfect for trading ships and so he bought the land from the Sultan of Johor and founded a trading settlement. As a free port, Singapore attracted trading ships from all over the world and today four million people live here on an area that covers 640 square kilometres. In June each year there is an exciting boat race in Marina Bay known as the Dragon Boat Race that features magnificently painted dragon boats with hand-carved heads and tails accompanied by the sound of frenetic drumbeats. Dating back to colonial times, British influence is omnipresent, whether the Cricket Club or the Parliament, traditional English spirit rules despite Singapore's Independence. The World Famous Raffles Hotel is situated in the Colonial District near to the Singapore River. In the hotel's Ashanti Bar it was customary to throw expired peanut shells directly onto the floor and at the same time to reverently sip a Singapore Sling, the national drink. The Singapore Zoo is one of the finest in the world in which the animals can roam freely, their territory being surrounded by a landscaped ditch. Approximately 2800 animals live in the spacious enclosures and even those from the world's coldest regions can be observed both below and above water, thanks to cleverly designed viewing areas. A complete mix of ethnic cultures, there's Chinatown, Little India and the Arab Street Quarter in which there are mosques, women wear burqas and there is all the hustle and bustle of a bazaar. Singapore is an exotic city of skyscrapers, a cultural melting pot and the exciting gateway to South East Asia!
Vista Point SINGAPORE
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m42s
Views: 21  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-157 - YUNNAN Kunming is located in the Chinese province of Yunnan in south west China. The Buddhist temple of Ykan Ton Si dates back to the Tang Dynasty. The design of the city's largest temple complex was influenced by many diverse ethnic groups. The highlight of the complex is a lake in the middle of which a number of bridges lead to an octagonal pavilion. The Temple Of Total Penetration (yes, that's it's name!) is a tranquil and peaceful haven amid the busy alleys of Kunming's old town. In the west of Yunnan Province there are magnificent views from Xi Shan Mountain across Dian Lake and nestling among the rocks there are numerous temples that were once the scene of ritual sacrifice. On the downward journey the temples loom larger and larger while earthenware images of Buddha depict various stages of life. Yunnan's most famous site is the unique Stone Forest of Shi Lin. Its limestone rock originated from a long since dried--up ocean when the elements set to work on creating its fantastic and bizarre forms. The most amazing formations were given dramatic names such as The Sea Of Fire, Dragon's Tooth and Heavenly Sword. Pagodas, columns and strange flowers appear to rise from the rock and to facilitate access, tunnels and paths have been cut into the rock face. The Venice Of The Far East is the nickname of the ancient Chinese city of Lijiang in the northwest of Yunnan Province. The picturesque centre of the old town of Dayan is an architectural gem. Three rivers and several small creeks flow through the historic cit and there are various splendid stone bridges date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Buy Shan is a typical village of the region. Just as it was hundreds of years ago with farmers slowly leading their ox wagons through the village. The houses were built over a period of more than two hundred year between the Ming and Qing Dynasties in 14 and 16 A.D. Yunnan Province - place of simplicity, exquisite culture and spectacular natural wonders!
Vista Point YUNNAN China
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m38s
Views: 21  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-203 - YANGON Yangon is a river city and the capital of Myanmar. A country surrounded by India, China, Laos and Thailand with a fascinating mêlée of tribes and cultures plus a tranquil harmony of churches, pagodas, Hindu temples and mosques. Here, contrast is all, and that makes Yangon unique! The Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda contains one of the largest prone Buddha statues in the world. Its length makes up for its lack of artistry as it is seventy metres long. Over six hundred monks live in the adjoining monastery that was founded in 1907 for the study of Buddhist scripts that are known as 'Palikanums'. Three seasons determine the climate of this subtropical country: the cool of winter, the heat of summer and the monsoons when it rains for most of the afternoon and entire regions are flooded. But then follows the lush green sight of endless paddy fields. In Yangon the early morning is the best time to travel to the nearby city of Bago which was once the capital of the Second Burmese Realm. It was thought by Europeans to be the most magnificent city in the East, a fact highlighted by its many splendid monuments. The city of Yangon is like travelling back in time to the colonial days of British Rangoon and hopefully this fascinating city will continue to be a golden fairy tale behind a tantalising bamboo curtain!
Vista Point YANGON Myanmar
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m27s
Views: 23  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-231 - VIENTIANE Since the sixteenth century Vientiane has been the capital of Laos and is situated in the heart of Indochina. The city originated at the point at which the first navigable section of the Mekong River joins with the Gulf Of Thailand. Vientiane was once a group of rural settlements and even today contains several village-like districts each with its own temple and traditional marketplace. At the end of the nineteenth century the French began to renovate the city's most important buildings and made Vientiane the administrative capital of their new colony and gave it a French look. There are some fascinating places to visit outside the city such as the Cultural Park Of The Laotian People, a large area on the banks of the Mekong River. Historic Vientiane also has some fine reconstructed buildings such as the Wat Impeng on the western bank of Pagoda Street. Artistic wooden carvings on the windows and doors, along with the paintings and stucco work on the walls, feature various legends from the life of Buddha. Some signs of affluence are beginning to appear and in future years Vientiane may become yet another Asian metropolis with skyscrapers, smog and manic rush hours. It is now poised to leap into contemporary times as it gradually emerges from its atmospheric curtain of bamboo.
Vista Point VIENTIANE Laos
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m29s
Views: 15  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-173 - VANCOUVER Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada and one of the most beautiful on the American continent, a dynamic metropolis set in a beautiful location with a temperate climate throughout the year. Close to the harbour area the city's skyscrapers have proliferated in recent years. The capital of the southwestern province of British Columbia has developed into an economic centre of renown. The city's oldest buildings were built less than a hundred years ago because the former wooden houses of old Vancouver were destroyed by fire. Several buildings reflect the origin of their inhabitants and are similar to those in the United States and Europe. Inspired by the Colosseum in Rome, an elegant structure of pink stone and glass, Canada Place, is located in the busy centre of the new harbour district and is also the city's most recent landmark. Close by is Harbour Centre, a modern skyscraper complex with a shopping centre and a Skylift to the top floor. A glass elevator transports visitors to a one hundred and sixty seven-metre high observation platform where the view across the city, harbour and bay is overwhelming. The exciting Skytrain is the city's most popular means of transport, an ultra-modern train built on posts that zig zags its way through the city. Each of the city's most important destinations are easily accessible and it has reduced the city's traffic problems considerably. For the World Exhibition of 1986, on the edge of Chinatown gardeners and craftsmen from Suzhou in China established Canada's first classical Chinese garden, the Doctor Sun Yat Sen Garden. Its ponds, bridges and small pavilions are similar to those in China, masterpieces of Far Eastern garden design. Everything in Vancouver is youthful, attractive and dynamic, a place in which Canadian politeness unites with the Pacific way of life!
Vista Point VANCOUVER Canada
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m28s
Views: 21  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-166 - SULTANATE OF OMAN The Sultanate Of Oman is a fabulous land full of surprises, a splendid example of original Arabia that extends from the Straits Of Hormuz to the southern Dhofar. Up until the 1970's the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula was only accessible by various caravan routes but today it boasts an abundance of mysterious desert towns and splendid palaces. The white city of Sohar is the historic harbour of the Islamic world and the 'Gateway To China'. It is still guarded by the white Sohar Fort, a mighty four-storey structure that dates back to the 14th century. The Hajar Mountains extend for almost six hundred kilometres from the Musandam Peninsula in the north to its eastern sections. They are also known as the Oman Mountains and divide the coast from the inland. Oman covers around three hundred thousand square kilometres and is one of the most sparsely settled countries in the world with only one and a half million inhabitants. Nizwa, the religious center of the Omans, has a moving past that manifests itself in the city's defensive fortress. Until the 12th century it was the capital of the Desert State of Oman. Even today this oasis city and trading metropolis has lost none of its former importance. Al-Hamra is the name of a three hundred year old oasis village that dates back to the reign of Imam Saif Bin Sultan. At the end of the 17th century members of the Abriyin Tribe settled here the descendants of whom still live in the Jebal-Akhdar Mountains. Al-Hamra means 'The Red One', an Arabic name that is also to be found in the word 'Alhambra', in Spain's Granada. The Sultanate Of Oman is a treasure trove of rarities. Its twelve thousand year old history is visible throughout the entire country and the beauty of the mysterious Arabian Peninsula is a truly captivating experience.
Vista Point SULTANATE OF...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m19s
Views: 14  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-147 - SHANGHAI Shanghai is a gigantic city that is a meeting point of both east and west. The shoreline is without a doubt the city's main focal point. The city is a combination of the past, present and future and contains the historic monuments and eye-catching buildings of a great metropolis. It was once referred to as 'the whore of Asia': capital of crime, the Paris of the east and the centre of Maoism. But today the city is ruled by modern-thinkin communists and the Yangzi Delta is not only China's largest port but also its new shining star of capitalism. The Oriental Pearl Tower is a mighty four hundred and sixty-eight metre high television tower that contains an entertainment centre, futuristic luxury hotel, fine restaurant and offers the most superb views across the city. In the centre of the city's labyrinth-like shopping alleys a zigzag bridge extends across a small pond to a famous tea house. The bridge was designed thus in order to fend off evil spirits who, it was believed, could walk only in a straight line! Located in the countryside, Suzhou is above all famous for its gardens. The 'Garden Of The Policy Of The Common People' is one of China's four most famous gardens. The complex was built between 1522 and 1566 at the command of an important mandarin and designed according to his wishes. South of Suzhou is Zhou Zhuang that is said to have been the first water village in China. A journey on its canals is certainly worthwhile as the surrounding area is covered with thousands of canals and rivers and many villages in the area are only accessible by boat. Shanghai and its surrounding area has now freed itself from its early growing pains and from the restrictions imposed by Chairman Mao and today enjoys the rich rewards of capitalism.
Vista Point SHANGHAI China
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m34s
Views: 21  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-210 - SAIGON: HO CHI MINH CITYSaigon, an exotic trading post of bygone times, derived its name from the banks of the river upon which it is located. In 1859 the French arrived and transformed it into the capital of French colonial Indochina. With nearly six million inhabitants Saigon is also known as Ho Chi Minh City and, although large, is no longer the capital of Vietnam.Following the eventual withdrawal of both the French and the Americans the city has prospered once again with a lively trading spirit and a special flair that has helped it to become known as, The Paris Of The East. The Post Office, a mighty colonial building of 1883, highlights the splendour of old Europe and with its colourful glass windows and cast iron gratings and balustrades it is more like a European train station. The History Museum was built in 1929 according to Neo-Vietnamese design and features a large range of fascinating exhibits from each epoch of the country's history. Statues, pottery and other artefacts of various epochs are on display in various atmospheric rooms and they range from the Bronze Age culture of the Dong Son to the Funan, Chenla, Khmer and Cham periods as well as various Vietnamese dynasties. Although past, present and future live side-by-side in this richly cosmopolitan city, today Saigon is experiencing a massive property boom and its city centre premiums now match those of both Singapore and Jakarta. Saigon's dramatic past began with it being a small fishing village followed by its development as the 'Paris Of The East' and then as an American garrison city until it eventually became South Vietnam's modern metropolis of today.
Vista Point SÀI GÒN Ho...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m20s
Views: 13  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-224 - PHNOM PENH Phnom Penh is the reawakened capital of Cambodia and former Land Of The Khmer, now a wonderful place with all the charm of a bygone age. The Wat Ounalom Monastery is the centre of Cambodian Buddhism and home of the patriarch and around two hundred monks. The monastery once contained more than forty buildings that were either damaged or totally destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. During the second half of the nineteenth century Phnom Penh became a French colonial town with wide streets, shops, government buildings, hotels and villas all in colonial style. The Mekong has its origin in China on the edge of the Tibetan High Plateau and for almost five thousand kilometres it crosses China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. During the rainy season the river is at its highest and not only floods the land but also creates a miracle of nature. The Tonle Sap changes its direction and the surplus water of the Mekong flows into the Tonle Sap Lake that has ample room for the extra water. After the monsoon period the water drains out of the lake back into the Mekong when everyone celebrates the Festival Of The Turning Water. Today, one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in Asia is gradually recovering from the tragic events of the past. It is as though Phnom Penh is now keen to enjoy everything that was forbidden during the Vietnam War and the savage rule of the Khmer Rouge.
Vista Point PHNOM PENH...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m29s
Views: 26  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-215 - NORTH VIETNAM In colonial times the Europeans referred to North Vietnam as Tongking. Today the Vietnamese people call it, Bac Bo. Hanoi is North Vietnam's lively capital city. It was here that in 1882 the French created their administrative headquarters and main capital city. Compared to other southeast Asian cities that have developed into modern metropolis' at breathtaking speed, Hanoi could be described as being a provincial city. The Hoh Chi Minh Museum, a three storey concrete building, was inaugurated in May 1990 to commemorate Hoh's one hundredth birthday. Den Dao Quan is one of the most beautiful Taoist temples in Vietnam and an oasis of tranquillity. It is a place dedicated to the worship of benevolent spirits and for those who believe in divine and spiritual natural powers. Haiphong is the most important industrial harbour town in North Vietnam and has a population of one and a half million. Under French rule thousands of workers built this city at record speed and the harbour was enlarged, making it the largest in Indo China. Hoa Binh is one of the north's less attractive provincial towns but this, the former centre of a prehistoric Bronze Age culture on the Black River, is the gateway to the mountains of the north. Located within a remote and mountainous landscape, the village of Ban Lac Thai is a peaceful place set within an elevated and fertile valley. It is believed that the Viet are related to the Thai people and originally separated from the Muong tribe when they cultivated the Red River Delta. Everywhere the Thai folk offer hand made arts and crafts for sale such as knitted blankets, woven cloth and numerous bags. From the nostalgic capital of Hanoi as far as the mountain tribes of the north, North Vietnam is a country of charm and beauty with natural wonders and ancient cultures full of age-old traditions and new hope for the future!
Vista Point NORTH VIETNAM
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m33s
Views: 17  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-104 - NEW YORK New York is capital city of the American Dream, with its population drawn from each corner of the world. The Empire State Building is a symbol of the glamour and fascination of this frenetic city, yet the Chrysler building is just as imposing, its unusual tower being decorated with car motifs such as bonnets, hub caps and car wheels of the 1930's. Wall Street derived its name from a wall which had been erected to protect the emerging town from attack by Native American Indians and now most of the city is an open powerhouse of ceaseless activity with a constant mêlée of car horns, sirens, and screeching tyres. Greenwich Village is one of the few areas of the city that has no clearly-defined symmetry. Attractive steps grace many of its 19th century houses of red brick and brown sandstone and, until the 1960's, many important artists and authors lived there, such as Edgar Allen Poe and Henry James. Little Italy, Chinatown, The Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Ellis Island, The Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Times Square...each has its own colourful stories to tell amid the fantastic man-made Manhattan glass horizons: the skyscrapers which shamelessly reach up to the heavens and exclaim that New York is most assuredly the commercial capital of the universe.
Vista Point NEW YORK
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m27s
Views: 26  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
VPG-DVD-123 - NEPAL At the foot of the huge peaks of the Himalayas is Pokhara and it is from here that we begin our journey through Nepal. At one time this high valley contained seven fresh water lakes named Pokhari and they gave this holiday paradise its present day name. In the past, Pokhara was an important trading link between India and Tibet but the trading of salt and wool came to an end after Tibet closed its doors to the outside world. Its population is extremely tolerant and both the Buddhist and Hindu faiths coexist side by side. A safari by elephant is a real adventure as the mahuts skilfully lead the ambling giants through the bush. Travelling through the jungle on the back of an elephant offers good protection from rhinoceroses and other predators. Kathmandu is a melting pot of both race and religion, a metropolis in the heart of the Kingdom of Nepal. In the centre of the city is the ancient palace of Hanuman Dhoka. More than seven hundred thousand people live in the metropolis of Earth's most ancient kingdom. It was only a few decades ago that ancient Nepal opened up its borders. Until then, due to the command of the ruling Gurkha Dynasty, the 'Home of the Divine' was totally isolated. Patan is Nepal's second largest city and has retained much of its original character due to its three hundred monasteries and temples. It is also one of the oldest settlements in Kathmandu Valley and during the 15th century was the capital of one of three kingdoms. Two huge lions guard the entrance of the former royal palace that originated from a monastery complex. Bhaktapur is the third ancient regal city of the thirty kilometre long Kathmandu Valley that has always been a prosperous trading route between China, Tibet and India. Our journey through this fairytale land ends at the foot of the mighty Himalayas amidst a wonderful world in which the gods are still very much alive!
Vista Point NEPAL
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 160 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m20s
Views: 26  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
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