RED SEA, EGYPT

Red Sea beautiful Coast line with the mountains in the background

EGYPT RED SEA ~ HISTORY

The Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is one of the most beautiful places in the world to go diving. The waters of the Red Sea are renowned for their spectacular visibility and features some of the most exotic seascapes. With its wide expanse of coral formation on the reefs, it is home to thousands of different sea creatures. Red Sea beach resorts are located on both sides of the sea, on the east side and part of the Sinai peninsula is the long established Sharm el Sheikh and its neo-hippy counterpart, Dahab. On the west coast of the Red Sea lies relatively old and touristy Hurghada and a cluster of new resort towns.

• Home to over 1,100 species of fish
• Approximately 1 in 10 are exclusive to the area
• The reef extends over 1,200 miles

Best way to see the Red See Reef:

• The best way to see and experience the Red Sea Reef is through snorkelling and diving adventures. Egypt is the most popular access point for the reef, buy access is available through neighbouring African countries as well as Israel and Jordan across the sea.
• Reef systems are fragile and require care and protection. Although snorkelling and diving are the best ways to encounter the life of the reef, they are also one of the leading threats to the reef and the life that calls her home. It s imperative that visitors take all precautions to experience the reef responsibly.

The most saline sea in the world

• The average salinity of the world’s oceans and seas are about 35%; compared to this, the average salinity of the Red Sea is about 40%. The Red Sea is one of the most saline water bodies in the world. There are several factors that contribute to the salinity of the Red Sea. Highevaporation rate, little precipitation, absence of a fresh water system that drains into the sea and the lack of connectivity with the Indian Ocean are some of the factors that contribute to the high salinity of the Red Sea. 

Water currents of the Red Sea

• Not much is known about the currents of the Red Sea due to lack of data. The water currents of the Red Sea are amazingly weak compared to that of other seas. The deciding factor for the currents in the Red Sea is wind. The overall direction of the Red Sea current is towards North, though it is most of the time unpredictable.

Climate of the Red Sea

• Northeasterly monsoon and Southwesterly monsoon describe the climate of the Red Sea. The monsoonal winds are created due to the difference in temperature between the sea and the land surrounding the Red Sea. Due to its high surface temperature, the Red Sea is considered to be one of the hottest seas of the world. The heat is aggravated by the minimal rainfall to the Red Sea. Even though this is the case, the coral life and other marine organisms survive in this environment.

Marine life of the Red Sea

• With approximately 1200 species of fish and some of the varieties of shark that visit, the Red Sea is a very rich and diverse ecosystem. Among the fish found in the Red Sea, 10% of these fishes are unique to the Red Sea. Fringing coral reefs that have aged 5000 to 7000 years are found along the coastline of the Red Sea. These reefs provide shelter to much of the marine life of Red Sea, and contribute to the beauty of the Red Sea.

Some birds are using Egypt and the Red Sea for navigating in their migrating pattern, like Storks and Flamingos.

 

In March and September you can see thousands of storks (left) in the sky in a long line from horizon to horizon. They are using the up-going winds over the desert to save energy. It's an impressive site.

zerr00.....(@~@)

Panjiayuan Flea Market, Beijing, China

.....If you'll be in Beijing over the weekend, get up early and make a trip to Panjiayuan, a giant flea market where every imaginable curio, artifact and fake Tang dynasty knock-off is on sale.....

“Dirt Market”

It used to be called the "dirt market" because peasants would cart in objects they supposedly unearthed themselves, squat in the market's open field and hawk their wares. There are no peasants now, and the market grounds are no longer just an open field, but there are still plenty of merchants selling everything from antiques to paintings.

INFO 

• This colourful and fascinating market offers a huge assortment of antiques and oddities by more than 3,000 registered stallholders.
• Only on weekends, you will find some vendor coming from all parts of China to show their personal stuff or artifacts they collect and sell on the ground in a designatedted area in the market. They just put a piece of blanket on the floor and put what they have on it. If you come here on other week days, you won't see these free vendors. It is actually a huge market place for selling and collecting Chinese folk handcrafts, maybe the largest in Asia! What you will see are jewelry, ceramics,calligraphy, teapots, ethnic clothing, Buddha statues, paper lanterns, Cultural Revolution memorabilia, PLA belts, Ming- and Qing-style furniture, old pipes, opium scales, and painted human skulls and many many more.
• Even Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady of the United States, have purchased things in Panjiayuan antiques market.

                                  

At 7.00 a.m. many vendors and shoppers already inside the market. See the parking lot by the north gate.

What to Buy:

The answer is just about anything. Here's a look at what's on offer virtual tour.

A quick list of some of the things you'll find:

• Jewelry such as amber, jade, pearls, coral, turquoise and much more
• Chinese furniture
• Ethnic minority pieces such as Miao embroidery and silver clothing accessories
• Cultural Revolution-era items
• Chinese paintings and calligraphy objects
• Buddhist statuary
• Porcelain & ceramics
• Cloissone

                          

OTHER INFORMATION:

1) Opening time: 8:30-18:30 from Monday to Friday,

        4:30- 18:30 Saturday & Sunday

2) Satueday and Sunday are best they to go

HOW TO GET THERE:

Panjiayuan Market is located No.18, Huaweili Road, just 100 meters east of Panjiayuan Bridge on the east third ring road. It is its main gate - the north gate. If you take the bus or taxi here, you'd better enter the north gate. If you drive to Panjiayuan Market, you should go through the west gate. The west gate has a huge park lot while there is no parking place at the north gate. To get to the west gate, you just drive past the north gate westward and turn left at the first traffic light, for about 100 meters on your left side, you will find the west gate.

THE END..........(@~@)

GREAT WALL, BEIJING, CHINA

HISTORY....

The Great Wall was originally built in the Spring and Autumn, and Warring States Periods as a defensive fortification by the three states: Yan, Zhao and Qin. It went through constant extensions and repairs in later dynasties. It began as independent walls for different states when it was first built, and did not become the "Great" wall until the Qin Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shihuang succeeded in his effort to have the walls joined together to fend off the invasions from the Huns in the north. Since then, the Wall has served as a monument of the Chinese nation throughout history.

INFO:

The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

Construction:

The mystery of the construction of the wall is amazing. The construction, which drew heavily on the local resources for construction materials, was carried out in-line with the local conditions under the management of contract and responsibility system. A great army of manpower, composed of soldiers, prisoners and local people, built the wall. The construction result demonstrates the wisdom and tenacity of the Chinese people. 

Culture:

Great Wall carries a considerable part of Chinese culture. It has long been incorporated into Chinese mythology and symbolism. The most well-known legend is about the collapse of a section of the Wall caused by Meng Jiangnu, who cried bitterly over the death of her husband after he died while building the wall. This legend has been spread widely through textbooks, folk songs and traditional operas.

                              


                                                 

ADDITIONAL INFO:

For the climbing of the Great Wall, strong footwear is needed! In summer, please prepare for sunblock, sunglasses and water.

Jinshanling Great Wall:

Entrance Fee: RMB 30 

Opening Hours: 08:00 to 16:50 

Hiking time: two hours

Badaling Great Wall:

Entrance Fees: RMB40 (Nov. 01 to Mar. 31); RMB 45 (Apr. 01 to Oct. 31) 

Opening Hours: 06:40 to 18:30 

Hiking Time: Two and a half hours 

How to get there: Take Bus 919. 

Or take tourist bus 

No. 1 at Front Gate ( Qianmen ); 

No. 2 at Beijing Railway Station; 

No. 3 at East Bridge; 

No. 4 at Xizhi Gate or Beijing 

Juyongguan Great Wall:

Entrance Fee: RMB 45 

Opening Hours: 07:30 to 17:30 

Hiking Time : Two hours 

How to get there: 

Take tourist Bus Route as below: 

Take No. 1 at Front Gate ( Qianmen ) 

Take No. 2 at Beijing Railway Station 

Take No. 3 at East Bridge 

Take No. 4 at Beijing Zoo or Xizhimen Gate Top

Mutianyu Great Wall:

Entrance Fee: RMB35 

Opening Hours: 07:30 to 17:30 

Hiking Time: Two and a half hours 

How to get there: Take Bus no 916

Simatai Great Wall:

Entrance Fee: RMB 35 

Opening Hours: 08:00 to 17:00 

Hiking Time: Two hours 

How to get there: 

Take the 970 bus out of Beijing to Miyun and hire a taxi from there.

                                 

                                  

THAT'S ALL ABOUT GREAT WALL IN BEIJING.....(@~@)