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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: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m42s
Views: 28  | Comments: 0
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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: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m38s
Views: 27  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-172 - YUCATÁN It is in Uxmal where historic Mexico is at its most beautiful and that our journey through the millennia begins, along the Yucatan Peninsula, land of Maya culture. The Cuadrángulo De Los Monjas comprises four buildings with many entrances that lead into various small rooms, typical of Puuc architecture. The forty two metre high Fortune Teller Pyramid is situated in the centre of the complex and the main entrance to the Nuns' Quadrangle dates back to the 9th century and is flanked on both sides by columned halls. Since the 10th century the remains of the Pre-Columbian architecture of Chichen Itza have combined two cultures, the Maya and the Toltecs. The total number of steps that lead up to the temple, including those on each of its four sides, number an amazing three hundred and sixty five - one for each day of the year! The facades of its buildings are adorned with mosaics. Geometrical ornaments alternate with images of numerous deities and the heads of fantastic animals. Today, the Isla Del Cozumel, an island close to Yucatan, is the destination of luxurious cruise liners that lay anchor so that passengers can enjoy the local scenery. Whether feathered or scaled, the abundant variety of Yucatan's animal kingdom is a fascinating sight both above and below water. The turquoise coloured water of the bay makes it possible to view the seabed to a depth of thirty metres. Women in traditional costume prepare tortillas: what Cortez once referred to as a 'corn pancake' is today an international favourite. Daily routine is just as it was hundreds of years ago and each season of the year determines the daily work of the rural population. Ancient culture and snow white sandy beaches, this is the YUCATAN Peninsula!
Vista Point YUCATÁN Mexico
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m37s
Views: 29  | Comments: 0
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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: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m29s
Views: 23  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-152 - TRINIDAD Located to the south of the Caribbean island of Cuba, Trinidad was founded by the Spaniard, Velazquez and in the 18th century the city experienced great wealth and recognition through the cultivation of sugar cane. The exclusive palaces and villas of the sugar barons still leave their mark on the city with tall wooden gates, barred windows and original roof tiles that characterise the style of bygone days. The Palacio Padron is located on the Plaza Mayor, the centre of the city. A few years ago the palace was lovingly restored in painstaking detail and transformed into an archaeological museum. Around the main square the most beautiful palaces stand in rows and are an impressive indicator of the colonial lifestyle enjoyed by the former sugar aristocracy. The slave trade and the cultivation of sugar cane made the island's inhabitants incredibly wealthy and Trinidad became the most important cultural and trade centre in the whole of Cuba. The former palace of the Cantero sugar barons now houses the Museo De Historia, an impressive building in the Calle Bolivar in which visitors can marvel at old timepieces, porcelain, furniture and valuable crystal chandeliers. The seven storey Torre De Iznaga rises menacingly into the sky, the bells of which once summoned the plantation slaves to work while watchmen surveyed the valley from above because of the fears of the plantation owners who believed that one day the slaves would rebel against them. Splendid exotic beauty in a land situated between sun and socialism, sugar and cigars, rumba and revolution. In Trinidad it is as though everything is in a state of suspended animation waiting to be kissed awake.
Vista Point TRINIDAD
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m23s
Views: 22  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-121 - TORONTO Toronto is a sensational city. Canada's 'secret' capital: boomtown, show town and financial metropolis, clean, safe and with five million inhabitants. Gigantic skyscrapers and with a frenetic lifestyle, Toronto is where many Canadian banks and multi-national companies have their palatial offices of steel and glass built in what was once a waterfront wilderness. The old City Hall was built in 1899 in Victorian style and consists mainly of sandstone. Its Venetian clock tower faces an array of modern skyscrapers and almost opposite is the futuristic looking new City Hall, a symbol of the city's cosmopolitan flair. It's easy to become disorientated in Toronto's Underground City. Most of this subterranean complex extends beneath the financial district and is the largest of its type in the world with countless shops, restaurants and subway stations. An endless network of corridors and passages connects these vast shopping centres and offices to the Central Business District. Since 1975 the city has possessed a unique monument, the Canadian National Tower or, the C.N.Tower. At a speed of six metres a second four external elevators zoom to the top of the building and it takes only fifty-eight seconds to reach the Skypod platform. The massive Skydome stadium is home to the Blue Jays baseball team. The huge pitch contains a hundred and six rolls of light green turf and is illuminated by more than seven hundred two thousand watt spotlights. The building is multi-functional and has a movable dome that can be opened and closed as necessary depending upon the weather. Niagara Falls, although extremely touristy, is an unforgettable experience. For the adventurous there are bridges and platforms close to the raging waters and the roar of the mighty torrent can be heard from a great distance while the awe-inspiring view of the waterfalls make it easy to forget the surrounding hustle and bustle of fellow sightseers. The Indian meeting place of bygone times has been transformed into a huge city that is a true gem among Canada's other great cities. Toronto is without a doubt the most multicultural city in the world!
Vista Point TORONTO Canada
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m39s
Views: 24  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-126 - STOCKHOLM Stockholm is a city that floats on water: the 'Venice Of The North' was built on fourteen islands. Gamla Stan, or 'Old Town', is the name of the city's three central islands that are linked by numerous bridges. Its ambience is that of the Middle Ages and small and mysterious alleys and beautiful buildings that date back to the 7th century characterise the life of the traders who once lived there. The old town's most dominant building is the royal castle of Kunglia Slottet. Larger than London's Buckingham Palace it contains six hundred and eight rooms. The Stadshuset is one of the city's landmarks and was designed in Medieval style and with a tower that is almost 106 metres tall. The most important artists of the time were engaged in the creation of the Blue Hall in which the Noble Prize ceremony now takes place each year. Those who appreciate museums will not be disappointed by Stockholm as it boasts more than fifty! The National Museum located on the Strömmen Canal contains countless works of art. Due to the passion for art of various of Sweden's royal family and also generous public donations, the museum has a truly outstanding collection of French paintings that date back to the 18th century. Six kilometres south of Stockholm is a cemetery that has been designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, the Skogskyrkogarden, the final resting place for many of Stockholm's past inhabitants and also some of its most famous, including Greta Garbo. This extraordinary complex took thirty years to build and is unique in the world. Since 1998 this centuries-old Hanse city has also been the cultural capital of Europe. This city of the Vikings is a true architectural gem!
Vista Point STOCKHOLM Sweden
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m22s
Views: 26  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-105 - St. Petersburg In 1703, Tsar Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in the swampy delta mouth of the Newa. It became Russia's capital city and remained so until 1918 when Lenin and his revolutionary Bolshevik government moved to Moscow. Today it is a living monument to the lives and times of Russia's Imperial Tsars The Winter Palace contains Russia's largest museum, the Eremitage, which houses more than two and a half million exhibits. Since Peter the Great, Russian rulers purchased many major works of art, but it was Catherine The Great who acquired complete collections from the auction houses of Europe. The Admiralty, with its needle-shaped, gold-plated tower, is one of the city's most famous landmarks, its grand architecture depicting the emergence of Russia as a naval power and the marvellous Isaaks Cathedral has the third largest dome in the world. Twenty four thousand tree stumps were used for its foundations and it can accommodate a congregation of 14,000. The Peter And Paul Cathedral was the burial place of the Tsars and it contains the marble coffin of Peter the Great. The most colourful church in Russia is the Resurrection Of Christ Cathedral which was built on the orders of Tsar Alexander the Third on land where, in 1881, his father, Alexander the Second, had been killed by a bomb planted by a revolutionary group. Russian Baroque and Russian Classicism were established in St. Petersburg -- city of monumental events, outstanding architecture and an Imperial metropolis on the grand scale.
Vista Point ST....
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m32s
Views: 33  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-196 - SALZBURG The Austrian city of Salzburg is a city of bishops as well as being the birthplace of world famous classical composer, Amadeus Mozart. The cathedral is located in the heart of the city, a Baroque building situated on the same site as the city's first church and now surrounded by several squares. Even today the cultural picture of the city on the Salzach is dominated by more than a hundred churches, castles and palaces. Hohensalzburg is the largest fully-preserved medieval fortress in Middle Europe. It is located one hundred and nineteen metres above the city and covers over thirty thousand square metres. It is like a small medieval town within itself with several buildings, courtyards and squares. Bastions with mighty towers were built at strategic points and together with powerful gates they make the fortress near impregnable. It is believed that during a siege the famous Salzburg Bull tricked the city's attackers into believing that the population had a good stock of food! Medieval Salzburg became a 'German Rome', an Italian looking city of Early Baroque design. The Getreide-Gasse is the main street in the centre of the city and in former times was called, Trabe-Gasse, a name that demonstrates the fact that the people there were always in a hurry! The city is a work of art within itself, an historic treasure chest of timeless beauty, full of southern flair and joie de vivre. Salzburg is most definitely a Baroque gem located in the very heart of Europe.
Vista Point SALZBURG Austria
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m28s
Views: 14  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-225 - ROVANIEMI Rovaniemi is a lively, modern city in the north of Finland and the gateway to Lapland. Lappiatalo is a modern building complex that contains a theatre and also a government building plus a museum and Radio Lapland. Tourists visit this city throughout the year, a fact that seems at odds with most people's perception of Lapland as a land of icy desolation. The city's shopping malls contain a huge range of goods and all the latest gadgets are also available. Rovaniemi has always been the centre of trade in this region and has become increasingly important as a tourist destination. Pajakyla is the home of Santa Claus and is open to the public throughout the year. At the Arctic Circle eight kilometres north of the city is a special attraction that pulls in six hundred thousand visitors each year. Several tiny log cabins contain Santa's work rooms and a number of his helpers in traditional Lap costume offer a variety of colourful arts and crafts. The Christmas village also features an entertainment park and a reindeer enclosure. Santa's main post office is busy each month of the year and thousands of letters arrive from all over the world and millions of messages are sent via the Internet. Once, early pioneers embarked from Rovaniemi and today it is a busy centre of tourism. From this unusual city the full spectacle of the midnight sun can be experienced, the Arctic Circle can be crossed and Santa Claus prepares for his annual deliveries!
Vista Point ROVANIEMI...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m27s
Views: 28  | Comments: 0
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ROMA Roma Aeterna, eternal city and ancient centre of the world. The Piazza Navona is situated in one of the Italian capital's most beautiful squares in a city that has always been a dream destination for travellers from all over the world. Three large fountains adorn the large oval square that was built above the ruins of a Domitian stadium that dates back to the 3rd century A.D. The Romans had a special regard for fountains the most famous of which is the Fontana Di Trevi. It was designed by Nicolo Salvi for the façade of the Palazzo Poli. The Via Appia Antica was the most important street in ancient Rome and it connected the southern area with the main city and even today one can walk over its ancient cobblestones. Pope Gregor The 13th had the Palazzo Del Quirinale built as his summer residence but it was not long before the Italian monarchs acquired it as their Renaissance palace. Today it is the residence of Italy's President and the daily changing of the guards ceremony is still a popular attraction. The 17th century St. Peter's Square is the most beautiful square in the world and is situated in the centre of the Vatican, an autonomous Church State in the heart of Rome that also contains the imposing and breathtaking Petersdom, the largest Christian church in the world. The allure of this city lies in its combination of chaos and joie de vivre, elegance and creativity. Rome is a complete work of art!
Vista Point ROMA Italy Rome
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m19s
Views: 22  | Comments: 0
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VPG-DVD-137 - RABAT Rabat is the capital of Morocco and also its royal seat of power. The main residence of King Mohammed the Sixth is a fascinating modern metropolis. Along with its monumental works of art the fourth oldest of the Makhzen cities is also one of Morocco's most important. Cafés and workshops reflect daily life and most of the city's souks are divided into specialised areas with items such as leather goods, blankets and carpets for sale: and with a little haggling it's possible to purchase quality handicrafts at a very modest price! The Kasbah Des Oudaias was built by Yacoub El Mansour in the 12th century. It is located at Rabat's most elevated point and is like a village within the city. The eight metre high wall once protected the Kasbah and its inhabitants and the fortress is inhabited to the present day. Barred windows create an Andalusian ambience. The Kasbah is one of the most popular though most expensive addresses in Rabat. Throughout the centuries the Moroccan coast was dominated by pirates but the might of European colonialists put an end to their dubious activities. The mausoleum of Mohammed the 5th was built in 1967 and the tomb complex contains a mosque, a mausoleum and a small memorial that contains images of the king. At the end of the 12th century Yacoub El Mansour constructed the largest mosque in the Maghreb. At a height of sixty metres its minaret was taller than any other in North Africa. Four hundred columns support the prayer room and it has fourteen gates. Rabat is a fascinating capital city and royal residence. An exotic world that lies between both occident and orient.
Vista Point RABAT Morocco
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 209 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m35s
Views: 23  | Comments: 0
Rating: Not yet rated
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