World HistoryAustralia
Sydney Opera House & Seaplanes
We’ve created two new packages combining The Essential Tour with a Sydney Highlights flight or for the ultimate experience - a Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour followed by a Sydney Secrets flight.
The Backstage Tour and Sydney Secrets
Your morning starts with the Backstage Tour. This intimate tour grants you exclusive access to areas normally reserved for the stars and their crew. Includes a full breakfast in the Green Room** - private domain of the performers.
Follow this with Sydney Secrets flight which encompasses Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches and the yachties’ paradise of Pittwater. After landing in Rose Bay, your water taxi will be waiting to take you from the aircraft back to Circular Quay.
The Essential Tour and Sydney Highlights
The Essential Tour takes you on an emotional journey, a story to rival any opera plot and explains how this miracle of architecture and engineering came into existence against impossible odds.
The Sydney Highlights Tour takes in the world-famous Bondi Beach and then completes a circuit of both the Harbour Bridge and Opera House before gently splashing back down to Rose Bay.
Click here to download brochure
Austria
Canada
The New Niagara Falls, Canada-with eclectic restaurants, contemporary hotels, and electrifying attractions-is a true Canadian vacation destination for couples and families alike. Grown ups have upscale hotels, modern casinos, nightlife and concerts, fine dining, golf courses and spas, and wine country is just down the road. For children, Niagara Falls is a veritable theme park with ultra tall buildings (Skylon Tower), water parks inside hotels, Ferris wheels and kid-friendly restaurants (Clifton Hill), and we even sneak in some education at Niagara Falls attractions like the Butterfly Conservatory and Marineland. Let's not forget the Falls. From the Maid of the Mist to Journey Behind the Falls, there are plenty of ways to experience this great wonder of the world.
Situated just 20 minutes from Buffalo International Airport and an hour from the Toronto area, a Niagara Falls vacation is easy to get to and fun to plan. Use the Vacation Planning tools on our site to help you choose your Niagara Falls hotels and attractions and pull together the perfect itinerary.
Start your trip at Niagara Falls Tourism. We'll introduce you to this new Ontario vacation destination!
- Roosevelt (summer home) Campobello International Park, New Brunswick
- Grosse Isle (Irish Famine) Memorial, Québec
- Montreal Museum of Fine Art
- S.S. Moyie, Kaslo, British Columbia
- The Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC
- Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta
- Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre, Cardston, Alberta
- Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Canadian Tourist Railroads
- Montreal Official Tourist Information Site
China
Origin of the Great Wall
From 770 B.C. through 476 B.C. was the Spring and Autumn Period of China. During the Period, princes that held land from the Zhou Kingdom made themselves states. Among all the 149 states, the most powerful were the Qi, Jin, Chu, Qin, Lu and Zheng States.
For the wide use of iron tools and farm cattle, the social production of this period progressed greatly. The higher-rank people started to gain private croplands. The land was privatized, and the basic social system of the day, i.e. the Well Field System, began to collapse, which cracked Zhou Kingdom's leadership over its princes and caused among them wars for domination.
To conquer other states, stronger ones made frequent wars upon others. Only a few out of the more than a hundred had finally survived, and were anxious for a new round of war. These states included Qin, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Han, Qi, Chu, also referred to as "the Seven Powers", and others less strong. And the history came to the Warring States Period (B.C. 475 ~ 221).
The social production of this Period continued to grow. The advancing in agriculture and handicraft gave rise to thriving cities acting as marketplaces. The architecture of this time also improved remarkably and made it possible to build solider constructions of better structures in more flexible steps. On the other hand, wars went on unabatedly between the states, some of which at the same time were harassed by minority nationalities from the north. Hence the states built walls around important cities, especially their capitals.
A latest excavation has revealed that the wall-surrounded capital Linzi of the Qi State in the Warring States Period was four kilometers from east to west, and five kilometers from north to south. Palaces to rulers lay inside. Distributed in the city were workshops selling instruments made by way of smelting iron ores, casting bronze, abrading and carving bones and the like. It is recorded in Shi Ji, a great historical literature, that Linzi had over 700,000 families (the unit ancient Chinese used to count population) and was "so crowed with people and vehicles that they could hardly go without brushing each other".
The city Xiadu of the Yan State was eight kilometers from east to west, and four kilometers from north to south. The capital Handan of Zhao was three and four kilometers from east to west and from north to south.
Because walls around cities proved excellent defense, the states wanted to utilize this advantage widely. Hence they built walls on the borders and joined them up with natural barriers like large embankments and steep mountain ridges.
The building of walls expensed countless labors. But they were undoubtedly grand constructions even seen today.
Besides Great Wall History, which sector we have spent much time building up, we also include several other sectors:
Discover & Research, which answers questions like "how long is the Great Wall," "is the Great Wall visible from the space," and so on;
News related to the conditions of Great Wall, with a high concern on its damages, pollution, and protection;
Anthology of stories and other writings about the Great Wall;
Gallery with a good collection of pictures ever-updated;
Travel Guide, which introduces famous and the most visited sites and spots of the Great Wall.
Egypt
England/UK
- Royal Residences of the Queen
- Houses of Parliament, London
- Imperial War Museum, London
- Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, London
- National Maritime Museum, London
- The British Museum, London
- The National Gallery, London
- National Portrait Gallery, London
- The Victoria & Albert Museum, London
- Tower of London
- Royal Observatory Greenwich, London
- Dicken's House Museum, London
- Southwark Cathedral, London
- St Paul's Cathedral, London
- London's Transport Museum
- The Jewish Museum, London
- Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon
- Wegwood Museum, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent
- Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset
- HMS Victory Warship, Chatham
- Wales Tourist Board
- Scottish Tourist Board
- Northern Ireland Tourist Board
- British Tourist Authority
- Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA)
France
Germany
Greece
Indonesia
What You Can See & Do in Bali, Indonesia
Bali's natural attractions include miles of sandy beaches (many are well-known amongst surfers), picturesque rice terraces, towering active volcanoes over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) high, fast flowing rivers, deep ravines, pristine crater lakes, sacred caves, and lush tropical forests full of exotic wildlife.
The island's rich cultural heritage is visible everywhere - in over 20,000 temples and palaces, in many colorful festivals and ceremonies (including tooth filings and cremations), in drama, music, and dance.
You can experience Bali on many different excursions and guided tours by coach, private car or "Big Bike", by boat or by air plane: seeing Bali's beaches and rice terraces, the famous Besakih Temple on the slopes of holy Mount Agung, Lake Batur and it's active volcano, Ubud, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu from a helicopter is a really special experience. For helicopter tours and private charters (3 to 6 passengers) please contact the Balivillas.com Service Center at 703-060 as soon as you arrive.
Most full day tours by car (about 8 to 10 hours, min 2 persons) cost about US$45 to US$50 per person, half day tours US$30 to US$35. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no meals. Which guide and driver you choose can make or break your day: be warned that those who offer very low prices tend to waste your time by showing you hardly any more than those shops which pay them a commission on your purchases.
Map of Bali Showing the Major Cities of Bali and Places of Interest
 | Kintamani Volcano Tour: The first stop is often in the village of Batubulan to watch a performance of the Barong and Kris Dance. Afterwards you visit the villages of Celuk (silver jewelry) and Mas (wood carving) to see Balinese artisans at work. Ubud, Bali's cultural center, has grown to a busy town with numerous Balinese art galleries and shops. A scenic drive over small roads overlooking beautiful rice terraces brings you to the mountain village of Kintamani (about 5,000 feet above the sea) which offers spectacular views of Lake Batur and the volcano. You can cross the crater lake below the still active Mount Batur and visit the "Bali Aga" village of Trunyan. Return through traditional villages with stops in Tampaksiring to visit the temple of Tirta Empul, and to visit the Elephant Cave "Goa Gajah", a hermitage from the 11th. century used by both Buddhists and Hindus.
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| The "Mother Temple" and East Bali Tour: Drive to Besakih through various villages visiting on the way a weaving factory, see the famous painted ceiling at the old "Palace of Justice" in Klungkung, and visit the school of painting in Kamasan. The "Mother Temple" in Besakih is Bali's most holy and Indonesia's biggest Hindu temple. It was build in the 11th. Century in an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) on the slopes of Mount Agung. You pass picturesque rice terraces on the way to the walled "Bali Aga" village of Tenganan, and continue to Candi Dasa on the East coast. On the way back it's recommended to stop at the famous Bat Cave "Goa Lawah" with thousands of bats hanging from the walls.
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| Bedugul Tour: After a stop in Sangeh to visit its holy forest inhabited by wild monkeys, drive up into the mountains to Lake Bratan (1,200 meters above sea level) and the picturesque water temple Ulun Danu. Visit the busy flower, fruit and spice market in Candikuning where most of Bali's vegetables come from. Drive back through small country roads, villages and rice fields, with a stop in an artisan village specializing in gold threaded textiles (Ikat) worn during important ceremonies.
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| North Bali Tour: Drive the scenic road via Pupuan through the mountains to Bali's North coast. You'll enjoy beautiful views of picturesque rice terraces, and large plantations growing vanilla, chocolate, coffee, cloves, and even wine grapes. Near the village of Banjar is a popular hot spring where you can take a bath in the natural pond. After a lunch on the black beach in Lovina you pass the old capital of Singaraja on the way to Git Git, famous for its multi-tier water fall. Return over back roads to see the unspoiled Bali. (This tour can be combined with the visit to Bedugul.)
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| Monkey Forest & Tanah Lot Tour: Visit the royal Taman Ayun temple in Mengwi (built in 1624), the holy monkey forest near Sangeh, and famous Tanah Lot. This picturesque Balinese temple was built in the 16th. Century on a huge rock 100 yards off Bali's West coast and is surrounded by the sea during high tides. Spectacular sight, however, spoiled by thousands of tourists visiting every day during sunset. To avoid these, enjoy the view from the lobby of the nearby Le Meridien Nirvana Resort.
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| Handicraft Villages & Ubud Tour: Visit the artisan villages of Batubulan (stone carving), Celuk (silver & gold jewelry), Mas (wood carving), and Pengosekan (painting). Stop at the "Bali Art Market" in Sukawati to bargain for all kinds of handicrafts and textiles.
Already in the 1930s Ubud had been made famous around the world as Bali's cultural center by the German intellectual Walter Spies, the Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet and other foreign artists who'd made it their home.
Today Ubud is a fast growing town with numerous art galleries and shops offering paintings, wood carvings, textiles, and all kinds of souvenirs. Don't miss the MUSEUM PURI LUKISAN in the center of Ubud, the NEKA MUSEUM in Campuhan, the NEKA GALLERY in Ubud, the AGUNG RAI GALLERY in Peliatan, and the AGUNG RAI MUSEUM in Pengosekan to see the difference between creative art and more commercial products. Problem is that when you see their "Permanent Collections" at many "Galleries" you've seen real art, and when you return to their show rooms you don't like any of the very commercial products any more.
The SENIWATI GALLERY - ART BY WOMEN, founded in 1991 by Mary Northmore (the very personable wife of famous painter Abdul Azis) to help Balinese women to be accepted as artists, is a place you should not miss whatever you do. The main purpose of this Bali art gallery is to expose the long understated brilliance of independent women artists resident in Bali, and to motivate, train, and encourage young Balinese girls with obvious creative gifts. Visit also the BLUE MOON STUDIO and GALLERY, founded in 1994 with an emphasis on exhibiting contemporary artists.
The LOTUS CAFE is perhaps the most popular meeting point in town and has become kind of an institution, and MURNI'S as well as the BRIDGE CAFE offer tasty snacks and full meals in very pleasant surroundings and at reasonable prices. For other interesting restaurants please visit Restaurants in Ubud. The various Balinese dance and Wayang Kulit performances (see below) in Ubud and in nearby villages are worth spending the early evening there.
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For suggestions what to see and do during your stay on the island of Bali, please visit the following pages:
| Private Vacation Villas in Bali.
You can rent a private villa with two to seven bedrooms, tropical garden with private swimming pool, and trained house staff for a romantic honeymoon or a vacation with your family and friends. |
| Bali Hotel & Resort Bargain Finder.
Find the GUARANTEED lowest rates for famous luxury resorts and budget hotels in Bali. Reserve on-line to save 70% and more on your hotel accommodation. |
| Cruising the Spice Islands from Bali |
| Cruises from Bali to visit fierce dragons which have survived from the Jurassic age in Komodo, and to experience ancient tribes and cultures in the Lesser Sunda Islands. |
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Netherlands
Russia
Spain
