Established in the year 1960 the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is the premier cultural institution in the northern capital of Australia and one of the best places to visit in Australia. Located in the inner Darwin suburb of Fannie Bay the museum falls under the jurisdiction of the Northern Territory Government department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport. The museum houses galleries of Top End-centric exhibits. The Aboriginal collection presents carvings from the Tiwi Islands, bark paintings from Arnhem Land and dot paintings from the desert. Exclusive beadwork from tribes in East Malaysia and carvings, woodwork and ceramics from Australia’s neighbouring places are on display. The Maritime Gallery is an assortment of unique craftswork from the nearby islands and Indonesia, as well as a pearling lugger and a Vietnamese refugee boat. The special attraction of the museum is a 50 year old crocodile named ‘ Sweetheart ’ that was captured by rangers on the Finnis river. The ‘ Black Room ’ has recreated the devastation of Cyclone tracy that hit Darwin in 1974. You can get to see footage of the destructive tropical storm, view photographs of the famous buildings destroyed in the storm and listen to audio recordings as well. The museum also exhibits exquisite flora and fauna which includes molluscs, birds and reptiles to minerals of all kinds. The museums’s Cornucopia Café serves traditional Australian meat pie or a fresh seafood salad for lunch has a terrace overlooking the harbour.
Add Comment There are numerous reasons why you should be visiting the Swedish Lapland. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy thrilling winter adventures, exhilarating hikes, enjoy safaris or a ride in a reindeer sleigh, stay in the famous Ice hotel or may be an igloo, visit the traditional market places and many other activities. The places worth visiting here are mentioned below. Abisko National Park which lies at a distance of a few kilometers from north of Kiruna is a great location for viewing the Northern Lights. Abisko has its own microclimate ideal for catching the lights due to the scientifically ‘ blue hole ’ a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake The park is known for its guided tours, back country camping and night trekking. Visitors can take a chair lift-up to the Aurora Sky Station and its lookout tower for a better view of the park. The Northern Lights also known as Aurora Borealis that can be viewed in northern Sweden is a must see for any visitor. These are light curtains of green, red and purple that often dance across the sky from October to March and, depending on weather conditions. Cold winter nights when the sky remains clear and dark, cloudless with little or no moonlight is the best time to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. The village of Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley is also a popular tourist attraction in the Swedish Lapland. The village of Jukkasjärvi having a population of 548 inhabitants boasts of the world’s first ice hotel. It is one of the best places to view the northern lights. The Tornedalen valley is the surrounding region around Lake Poustijärvi and the adjoining villages of Nikkaluokta and Vittangi. This place is an ideal spot for viewing the auroras. Experience the Sami culture when you are visiting the Swedish Lapland. Sami culture is the oldest in Sweden about 10,000 years old. There are roughly 20,000 indeginous Sami living in Sweden. Visiting the Jokkmokk marjet in early February will give you an opportunity to experience the Jokkmokk market which goes on at full swing. You can watch traditional fashion shows and reindeer races, taste reindeer, moose and other dishes. Founded in 1965 Charles H. Wright Museum is located in the Cultural Center of the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. It is the world’s largest permanent exhibit on African American culture. After his visit to Danish World War II heroes in Denmark Dr. Charles Wright, an obstetrician and gynecologist thought of opening this museum to preserve the Black history. In 1965 he with some of his colleagues established this museum. Spreading over 120,000 sq.ft the museum houses more than 30,000 artifacts and archival materials. The well known collections here are - Underground Railroad Collection, Coleman A. Young Collection,Harriet Tubman Museum Collection, and the Sheffield Collection, The museum has a unique collection that exhibits significant events and accomplishments of African Americans. The museum hosts a range of spectacular events that includes concerts, lectures, performances, film screenings, community health and fitness classes. The museum spreads over 125,000 square feet and includes 7 exhibition spaces. Some of the exhibits worth mentioning are inventions of Michigander Elijah McCoy, and masks from Nigeria and Ghana that he had acquired while visiting there. The museum has remarkable interiors the transporting of slaves from Africa to the New World, the opposition against slaves in the United States and the accomplishments of African Americans. Masks on the exterior of this building, represents the style of Mali. Asia’s primary travel destination is Thailand, which attracts an influx of sixteen million foreigners every year. It is an ideal tourist getaway with exotic destinations like Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Phi Phi Island all of which adds to the wonder of the place. Following is a brief description on some of nicest places that on must explore. Any high quality Thailand travel destination guide is likely to recommend many of them. Siam Park City Opened in November 1980, Siam Park City is a spectacular amusement and water park in the Khan Na Yao district of Bangkok also known as Suan Siam. It features a man-made sea which has artificial surf, fountains, whirlpools, waterfalls and towering slides. Other attractions include children's playground, an open zoo, aviaries, a botanical garden and a bird park. The park spreads over 120 acres and is the largest theme and water park in Southeast Asia. Grand Palace Situated on the heart of Bangkok, Grand Palace is a group of buildings that has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. For 150 years it has been the royal residence of the Thai king, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government. The palace complex includes several impressive buildings that include Wat Phra Kaew or The Temple of the Emerald which consists of a magnificent Emerald Buddhadating back to the 14th century. Ko Samet Located 220 kilometres southeast of Bangkok. in the Gulf of Thailand off the coastline of the Thai province of Rayong Ko Samet, is one of the Eastern Seaboard Islands of Thailand. Major part of the island is protected as part of Khao Laem Ya – Mu Ko Samet National Park. It is a favorite weekend beach getaway having a variety of resorts. The three popular resorts in Ko Samet are namely - Hat Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach), Ao Vong Duan and Ao Prao. Railey Beach Situated between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang, Railey beach can be reached only by boat because of the high limestone cliffs which cut off mainland access. The cliffs make it a popular place for rock climbing. The main areas for rock climbing are - Pranang, West Railay, East Railay and Tonsai. You will find here the most stunning white sand beaches in Thailand which are Sunset Beach by some, and Phra Nang Beach. A major attraction on the Phra Nang beach a small cave shrine consisting of phallic statues dedicated to the deity Sri Kunlathewi. Wat Pho Located in the Rattanakosin district directly beside to the Grand Palace Wat Pho is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. According to popular belief Buddha used to live in this monastery. Before the temple was founded it used to be the centre of education for traditional Thai medicine. The statue is a gold plated one which is 46 meters long and 15 meters high signifying the transcendence of Buddha into nirvana. Copenhagen is one of the oldest cities of Europe and one of the cleanest metropolitan cities. It is also a popular tourist destination which offers a lot to the visitors, such as amusement park, gardens, palaces, historical buildings and monuments. You will find below a description on some of the popular sightseeing places of Copenhagen. Denmark may not be as popular a tourist destination as certain other European countries, but it does offer many good reasons Tivoli Gardens It is an amusement park popular with children located close to the City Hall and the Copenhagen Central Station. Live musical performances are held here everyday which has included performances by famous artists like Sting and Suede. Fireworks are held on Saturdays. The Little Mermaid Established in 23rd August, 1913 the Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen. The sculpture is made of bronze and granite. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale the story tells us that there was a mermaid who was in love with a handsome prince on the land. Every morning and evening she swam from beneath the sea to the land and perched on her rock in the water she would stare longingly towards the shore to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince. Canal Tours Copenhagen It is an organized tour in boats that lasts one hour that offers visitors a wonderful view of the city. Guiding is conducted in several different languages like Danish, English, German, Italian, Spanish or French. The tour will take you down the Copenhagen Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palce, the impressive Black Diamond library and the Little Mermaid. Copenhagen Zoo This zoo has more than 3,000 animals and 264 different species. The new interesting addition to the zoo from 5th Feb, 2013 has been improved facilities for polar bears, North Atlantic birds and seals and The Arctic Ring. The Round Tower Rundetårn or the Round Tower is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe belonging to the 17th century. When the tower was built by Tycho Brahe Denmark was famous for it’s astronomical achievements owing to the efforts of famous astronomer Tycho Brahe. After the death of Tycho Brahe the king wished to carry forward Brahe’s research and this led to the development of Round Tower. Amalienborg Palace Built in 1700, the Amalienborg Palace is one of the greatest works of Rococco architecture. It is the royal residence of Her Majestye Queen. t It has an octagonal courtyard comprising of The Christian VII’s Palace is also known as Moltke’s Palace, The Christian VIII’s Palace is also known as Levetzau’s Palace, The Frederik VIII’s Palace is also known as Brockdorff’s Palace and The Christian IX’s Palace or Schack’s Palace. Carlsberg Glyptotek This is an art museum founded in 1888 by Carl Jacobsen. The museum has two main sections – one for ancient art and another for modern art. The Department of Antiquities houses excellent collections of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman art. The modern department exhibits Danish painting and sculpture of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as French art of the same period. There are 40 works by Gauguin on display, a complete series of Degas' bronzes and 35 sculptures by Rodin. A city-state located in Southeast Asia, Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It is a traveller’s paradise known for its culinary delights, vibrant nightlife, good shopping experience. Below you will find a selection of some of the most popular sightseeing spots in Singapore. Sentosa A popular island resort in Singapore Sentosa island attracts near about 5 million people every year. It has a 2km sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses, two five-star hotels. It is 15mins away from the city centre famous for it’s serene beaches, interesting sightseeing places, adventurous sea sports, golf and retreats. Visitors can enjoy numerous activities in the island. They can visit the Butterfly and Insect kingdom and Sentosa Nature Discovery to learn interesting facts about flora and fauna. There are many other sightseeing places to see in the island. Underwater World Opened in 1991 it is an oceanarium that is home to more than 2,500 marine animals belonging to 250 species from various parts of the world. Underwater World is also a part of many educational and environmental projects such as - Living in the Ocean Programme, Ocean Ambassador Programme and the Coral Club. There is a 83m long travelator that takes visitors along a thick acrylic-windowed tunnel from where they can enjoy the sight of exotic marine life such as coral reefs, stingrays, moray eels, turtles, sharks, etc. Universal Studios It is only movie-theme park of Singapore. You will find here Dinosaurs, lemurs, ogres and Egyptian mummies all set to give you a thrilling experience. There are 24 rides and a lot of other attraction like - Shrek 4D Adventure, Enchanted Airways, Donkey Live Show, The Lost World, Canopy Flyer and Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, Ancient Egypt, Sci-Fi City, etc. Jurong Bird Park Builton the western slope of Jurong Hill Jurong Bird Park is managed by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Covering an area of 202,000 square metres the park is home to 5,000 birds of 380 species of which 29 are threatened species. Popular shows of the park are namely - High Flyers Show, Kings of the Skies Show, Lunch with the Parrots. It has the world’s largest walk in aviary which has the longest man made waterfall over 30m. Singapore Botanic Gardens Covering a sprawling 74 hectares the park was opened in the year 1822 by Sir Stamford Raffles on Government Hill at Fort Canning. The garden remains open from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight. The National Orchid Garden has the largest collection of orchids displaying over 60,000 plants and orchids. Asia’s first childrens’ garden - Jacob Ballas Children’s garden is located at Bukit Timah core. An interesting feature of the garden is the Tembusu tree more than 150 years was selected along with 10 other trees National by Heritage Tree in August 2002. The capital city of Iceland is a somewhat cosmopolitan city, having a population of 200,000 people. It the most frequently visited tourist destinations colourful houses, sprawling suburbs, nice restaurants and shopping malls. Visitors can enjoy different guided tours that are organized for different places. Give below are a brief description on some of the popular sight seeing places. Golden Circle A popular tourist trail in South Iceland it covers 300 looping from Reykjavik into Central Island and back. The three important places that are included in the classic tour is - Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the geyser and hot spring area around Geysir. Golden Circle has a lot to offer it’s visitors from pictursque landscapes, glacial rivers and breath taking scenery. Visitors can enjoy 1-2 hours horse ride cross the lava fields in Geysir or Take a dive through Silfra Cathedral and Silfra Lagoon at Thingvellir lake. Harpa Located in the old harbour Harpa is a concert hall and conference centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. It was designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in co-operation with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. The opening concert was held on May 4, 2011. Harpa won many awards like the prestigious MICE Report award for best conference centre in Northern Europe and Mies van der Rohe Award in 2013 for it’s brilliant architecture. Harpa is the residency of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Perlan It is a landmark building 25.7 metres in Reykjavik. situated on the hill Öskjuhlíð where there had been hot water storage tanks for decades. There is an exhibition space known as Winter Garden spreading over 1,000 cubic metres on the ground floor. Many expos markets and concerts have been held here . There is a viewing deck on the fourth floor with panoramic telescopes installed at six different locations on the deck. There are also three shops on the fourth floor - Gourmet Shop, the Souvenir Shop and the Christmas Shop. Church of Hallgrimur It is the largest church in Iceland and the most important landmark in Reykjavik. It is located on top of a hill in the heart of the city. The church has a tower that is 74.5m high recorded as the tallest building in the city. The church was named after a famous Icelandic poet and clergy man, Hallgrimur Petursson, composer of the Passion hymns. In 1937 Guojon Samuelsson the state architect was entrusted with the responsibility of design and architecture. The design of the church resembled natural landscape of Iceland with its volcanoes, ice caps and basalt columns. The Sun Voyager A most remarkable piece of art the Sun Voyager is a famous sculpture which is a dreamboat, an ode to the sun. It is a work of Jón Gunnar Árnason and is located by Sæbraut, by the sea in the centre of Reykjavík, Iceland. Made of quality stainless steel and stands on a circle of granite slabs surrounded by so-called “town-hall concrete”. The structure points towards the sun in the north located near the sea area. The city of Turku is a coastal city in southwestern Finland. While its history goes back to late thirteenth century, it achieved the status of the capital city for the short period of 1809-1812, after which Helsinki became the capital. While Helsinki is now undoubtedly the number one city in Finland by basically all relevant criteria, Turku has maintained its status as one of the most significant Finnish cities. With a population of about 180.000 Turku has the sixth-biggest number of residents among Finnish cities. Turku is a very significant cultural centre in Finland, and it has also great significance as a harbor city that provides the setting for commercial transport of goods as well as the operation of passenger ships and cruises. Some of the most noteworthy attractions of Turku would include the medieval Turku Castle, Turku Cathedral, Michael's Church, Turku Museum of Art and Turku University Botanical Garden. Due to its sea connection to Stockholm, Turku would be a great stopping point during a more comprehensive tour in the Nordic countries. Located 17 km north-west of Innsbruck Seefeld in Tirol is a municipality of the Innsbruck-Land District in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Situated on a south-facing plateau north of the River Inn on the watershed between the basins of the Inn and the Isar it is surrounded by the Wetterstein mountain range to the west. It is a popular tourist destination and is especially famous for skiing in winters. The Nordic events at both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics took place here. The following are just two of the popular tourist attractions of Seefeld in Tirol. Olympia Sports & Congress Centre A short walk from the town center is the Olympia Sports & Congress Centre. Inside the complex you will get restaurant, cinema, congress center, sports facilities and swimming pool both indoor and outdoor. One can enjoy the underwater massage loungers, sauna or take an aqua-fitness lesson. In winters ice-skating is a popular activity. Heiligkreuzkirche It is a lovely small church located in the outskirts of the city built by Archduke Leopold V in 1629. There was an artificial lake there at that time and the church stood in the middle of it and this is why it is also called Seekirchl . The lake was later drained in 1807. The tower has an onion dome and the building is built to the floor plan of a Rotunda. This blog aims to focus on some of the most amazing places that one can see when travelling around the world. You are welcome to explore the site as it develops during the following weeks, months, and years. |