Gold Coast

One of the best tourist destinations in the world with eye catching beaches is the Gold Coast city located near the Queensland state capital Brisbane, Australia. Ample entertainment can be seen here via surfing, night life, theme parks, sandy beaches etc. Owing to the subtropical climate of the area also more and more tourists are attracted as well as its ever growing population.

Thanks to 57km long coast line is well rich in surfing opportunities including South Stradbroke Island, The Spit, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh Beach, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Beach, Palm Beach, Currumbin Beach etc. Gold Coast is supposed to own one of the world's best surfing beaches such as Duranbah Beach. 

As mentioned earlier tourism plays an important role in the lives if Gold Coast people. Since early times as 1980s Gold Coast was able to attract tourists which now exceeds 10 million per year. Basically it is the 5th most  visited destination in Australia. Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Water World, Warner Bros. Movie World, WhiteWater World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, David Fleay Wildlife Park, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country are the theme parks found in Gold Coast. Another fascination most of the visitors tend to visit is the Q1 Building; world's highest residential tower which was opened in 2005.

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Cape town

What is more beautiful about a city is the variety of people of it but not the huge buildings or clean roads. Cape Town in South Africa is such a city with other beauties like its harbour and many multi cultural people. Cape Town serves as the provincial capital and seat of National Parliament. It is only second to Johannesburg in population but largest in size in South Africa. In earlier times Cape Town was the way station of Dutch East India Company which monitored ships. Origins of native people of Cape Town is believed to be from Indonesia and Madagascar due to slave labour immigrants at that time. 

Cape Town is part of Cape Peninsula accompanied by Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Lion's Head. It has a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and winters and Cape Town shares striking similarities in weather with San Francisco. It is with great pleasure that is to say Cape Town has one of the highest levels of Biodiversity in the world. Which is to determine that it has many verities of flora and fauna and it is located in a CI Biodiversity Hotspot. Among many there are 19 different vegetation types and few are endemic. There are about hundreds of species and a lot of them are indigenous too. But at the same time it has become the world's number one area with largest number of threatened species. This is because of the rapid growth of population and urbanization that results in loss of the forest areas and grasslands. However most of the threatened species are protected in national parks and sanctuaries.

Cape Town has other interesting values too. Naturally tourists are attracted to Cape Town because of its good weather, developed infrastructure and beauty of course. Cape Town's main attraction is Table Mountain and Table Mountain National Park. Chapman's Peak Drive, Signal Hill, Cape Town beaches, Surfing and boating, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town Harbour, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope etc include other attractions. Over all it is to say that every inch of this city has a different experience to provide to its visitors.

Travellers' Guide

A good vacation in Cape Town is not complete without a good stay. Here are some of the best hotel deals you can get in Cape Town. Don't forget that you can enjoy sun bathing and wild life in the same place so get prepared for the adventure.

2Inn1 Kensington
21 Kensington Crescent | Oranjezicht, Cape Town Central 8001, South Africa
+27 (0)21 4231707
Blackheath Lodge 
6 Blackheath Road | Sea Point, Cape Town Central 8005, South Africa
+27214392541
Derwent House Boutique Hotel
14 Derwent Road | Tamboerskloof, Cape Town Central 8001, South Africa
Four Rosmead 
4 Rosmead Avenue, Cape Town, 8001 | Oranjezicht, Cape Town Central 8001, South Africa
+270214803810
An African Villa
19 Carstens St. | Tamboerskloof, Cape Town Central 0881, South Africa
+27 214232162
Kensington Place  
38 Kensington Crescent | Higgovale, Cape Town Central 8001, South Africa
+27 (0)214244744
Cape Grace
West Quay Rd, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town Central 8002, South Africa
0027 21 410 7100

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Maldives

Maldives is a collection of 1192 islands covering about 90000km2 located to the south west of Sri Lanka in Indian Ocean but only 200 islands are inhabited by people. It is the smallest of countries found in Asia and country situated at the lowest point. Due to this reason, Maldives is on top of the list of million cities that are greatly threatened by rising of sea level by global warming. Maldives capital is Male and is world's number one dry fish supplier. About 80% of total land area is coral reefs. These act as natural barriers for high waves and storms but is less effective if there is a great Tsunami situation. Maldives face two seasons of climatic changes as dry season with northeastern monsoon and the rainy season of strong winds and storms. 

Maldives has a limited vegetation and wild life because of the salty land masses. Vegetation near the ocean is weak with coconut trees and some shrubs but towards the interior more plants can be seen. However marine life and coral reef ecosystems are abundant. Ocean near the islands provides home for many rare species of fish and other animals such as Tuna, reef sharks, moray eels, Manta rays, Stingray, Eagle rays, whale sharks, hawksbill and green sea turtles. One of the main attractions of this island collection is the marine life and its ecosystems. Live colourful coral reefs are definite to get more and more tourists into Maldives. There are over 1000 species of fish, 5 species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins, 187 species of corals, 400 species of molluscs, and 83 species of echinoderms. 

Talking about environmental issues, Maldives is one of the first countries that face the affects of many issues. As we talk on, the country's many islands are threatened to be drawn by the rapid rise in seal level. The Maldivian Government even has pleaded world in common response to cut the emission of green house gases. 

Apart from fishing industry, Maldives largely depend on its tourism. Fine sea waters and ocean creatures along with relaxation and holiday resorts attract many from all over the world. There was a down fall in the industry due to the Tsunami in 2004 however now they have recovered. Transportation between islands is by boats. 

Travellers' Guide

Maldives main attraction is marine life and relaxation and it is a favourite on lists of honeymoon destinations. So mainly you have to get a good hotel facility first.

Cocoa Island Resort 
Cocoa Island
+9606641818
Baros Maldives 
PO Box 2015, 20-02
9606642672
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa 
North Male Atoll
Mirihi Island Resort
Ari Atoll, Mirihi Island
Soneva Gili by Six Senses
Lankanfushi Island, 20188
+960664030
Lily Beach Resort & Spa
Huvahendu Island, Maldives, 20077
Veligandu Island Resort 
Veligandu Island

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Moeraki Boulders

I have to admit that even the weirdest things on this earth can be fascinating sometimes. So in a weird way, even rocks on earth can be fascinating sometimes because of their weirdness. Moeraki Boulders are such that deserves a visit of anyone interested in them. They are found in Koekohe Beach between Moeraki and Hampden of Otago coast, New Zealand. These boulders are large in size and spherical in shape with diameters varying from 0.5m to 1m like and looks like large bean bags lying on the beach. 

Moeraki Boulders which are grey-colored septarian concretions can occur as either isolated or clusters of boulders. Wave action like bedrock and landslides, exposure make mudstone erode naturally. Although the striking feature of Moeraki Boulders is their spherical shape and large size, they cannot be considered entirely one of a kind because of other boulders found around the world like from North Dakota, Kansas and Ontario. These Ontario spherical concretions are smaller in size and known as "kettles".

  

The boulders have been experimented under various scientists to identify their composition using optical mineralogy, X-ray crystallography, and electron microprobe and there has been found that the boulders consist of mud, fine silt and clay, cemented by calcite. Also the cementation varies from relatively weak in inside to harder outside. Boulders are very often cracked with large cracks which are known as "septaria". These formation of "septaria" remains an unsolved mystery for many although there are possible theories explained. However it is calculated that larger boulders with diameters at least of 2m must have taken 4 to 5.5 million years to grow. Once they are formed septaria cracks form and get filled with brown calcite, yellow calcite, and small amounts of dolomite and quartz.

Naturally, Moeraki Boulders are bonded with many legends. They say as in Māori legends, these are what is left of eel baskets, calabashes, and kumara that got to the shore from wreck of an Arai-te-uru. Because of the significant difference from usual rocks we see, Moeraki Boulders attract many tourists in large numbers every year.

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Pamukkale, Turkey

Nature does give us wonderful miracles and it would be a sin if we avoid Pamukkale from the list of most beautiful places in the world. Pamukkale is a site of hot water springs and travertines founded in Denzili Province, Turkey. They are formed in a pattern of terraces which are actually made of carbonate minerals. Also the site is provides the view of ancient city Hierapolis nearby.

The area has 17 hot water springs with temperature ranging from 35 °C to 100 °C. Water from the springs travel about 320m and deposit Calcium Carbonate on the surface. As these waters are highly saturated with Calcium Carbonate, they release Carbon Dioxide to the air. Finally the water and air acquires a dynamic balance of Calcium Carbonate  and seize to deposit. These depositions of Calcium Carbonate are jelly like but eventually they turn into travertines.

Pamukkale is insanely famous for these terraces and hot water springs because not only they are rare but beautiful in every way. Also many tourists get here to have the one of a life time experience of hot water bath. Mind you, your are not allowed to wear shoes when you step into the waters in order to protect the deposits.

Travellers' Guide

If you are planning to visit Pamukkale, note that you are not allowed to wear shoes in the waters and take plenty of towels and clothes because you have to enjoy the sensational bath at Pamukkale. Also make sure you visit these hotels and inns too.

Melrose House Hotel 
Pamuk Mahallesi, Vali Vekfi Erturk Cad, No. 8, Pamukkale 20280, Turkey
Venus Hotel  
Pamuk Mh. Hasan Tahsin Cd. No: 16, Pamukkale, Turkey
Ayapam Boutique Hotel 
Kale Mah. Bahce Sok. No: 2 / 1, Pamukkale 20280, Turkey
Hal-Tur Hotel 
Mehmet Akif Ersoy Bulvari no:71, Pamukkale 20280 , Turkey
Sinter Terasse Hotel
Pamuk mh. Hasan Tahsin cd. no:22 | pamukkale denizli, Pamukkale, Turkey

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