2012 Summer Olympics

Olympic Park, London

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will use a mixture of new venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities, some of them in well-known locations such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. Some of the new facilities will be reused in their Olympic form, while others will be resized or relocated.

The majority of venues have been divided into three zones within Greater London: the Olympic Zone, the River Zone and the Central Zone. In addition to these are those venues that, by necessity, are outside the boundaries of Greater London, such as the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, which will host the sailing events, some 125 miles (200 km) southwest of London. The football tournament will be staged at several grounds around the UK. Work began on the Park in December 2006, when a sports hall in Eton Manor was pulled down. The athletes' village in Portland was completed in September 2011.

In November 2004 the 500-acre Olympic Park plans were revealed. The plans for the site were approved in September 2004 by Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Waltham Forest. The redevelopment of the area to build the Olympic Park required compulsory purchase orders of property. The London Development Agency was in dispute with London and Continental Railways about the orders in November 2005. The LCR accused the LDA of killing off development in the area. The LDA planned to buy land alongside the Olympic Park for the Stratford City development project, bringing the 180-acre site of the former Stratford Rail Lands into a mixed-use development, including 4,500 new homes, office space, hotels and shops. This resulted in 2011 with the completion of the largest urban shopping centre in Europe being operated by Westfield. By May 2006, 86% of the land had been bought as businesses fought eviction; this led to an enquiry being set up. 206 companies had to relocate by July 2007. In addition, residents who opposed the eviction tried to find way to stop it by setting up campaigns. However they had to leave as 94% of land was bought and the other 6% bought as a £9 billion regeneration project started.

                                     

                                                     Aerial view of the Olympic Park in April 2012

 

Inside Olympic Park

Top 10 beaches in the world , Hawaii

5 . Lanikai Beach, Hawaii ( twin islands)

Lanikai Beach is located in Lanikai, a neighborhood within Kailua, on the windward coast of Oahu, Hawaii. This small 0.5 mile beach has been constantly ranked among the best beaches in the world. Adjacent to Lanikai Beach is a primarily upper-class residential area, because of this it is only accessible through public beach access paths. Although the beach itself is public property, it is not state land and is not a county beach park like many beaches in Hawaii. There is no public parking lot and the area lacks facilities like restrooms, showers or lifeguards.

During the weekdays the beach is relatively empty, but on weekends during peak tourist season it can become extremely crowded. Lanikai is a popular spot for photo shoots as renowned models and photographers frequent the place on nice days. Due to its position on the east side of the island, Lanikai is recognized as being great place to watch the moonrise over the Mokuluas, especially during the full moon.

Images for Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

lanikai beach hawaii

Top 10 beaches in the world, New York

4 . The Hamptons, New York  (long island)

One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.

 aerial photo of long island ny

 long island areas 

 map of south hampton ny 

 

hampton bay westhampton ny

 Where to Stay

The Hamptons Hotels

	Hotel Name	Area
	1708 House	Southhampton
	c/o The Maidstone	East Hampton
	Gurney's Inn Resort & Spa	Montauk
	Harborside Resort Motel	Montauk
	Inn at Quogue	Quogue
	Seatuck Cove House	Eastport
	Southampton Inn	Southhampton
	Sunrise Guest House	Montauk

Where to Eat

The Hamptons Restaurants

	Restaurant Name	Area	Cuisine
	Almond	Bridgehampton	French
	Estia's Little Kitchen	Sag Harbor	Mexican
	Golden Pear	Sag Harbor	Diner/Cafe
	Golden Pear	East Hampton	Diner/Cafe
	Golden Pear	Bridgehampton	Diner/Cafe
	Golden Pear	Southampton	Cafe
	The Laundry	East Hampton	American
	Rowdy Hall	East Hampton	American
	Scoop du Jour	East Hampton
	Sip 'n Soda	Southampton	Diner/Cafe
	Southampton Publick House	Southampton	Brewpub
	Tierra Mar	Westhampton Beach	Seafood
	Townline BBQ	In the area	Chicken/BBQ/Grill

 

The Hamptons Attractions

1 . Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum

 Address  2000 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY, 11954 

Location  Located at the very end of Rte. 27 

Phone  888/MTK-POIN; 631/668-2544 

PriceAdmission   $8.50 adults, $7 seniors, $4 children

  

2 .Whaling Museum

 

Address 200 Main St, Sag Harbor, NY 

Location At Garden St, Sag Harbor 

Phone  631/725-0770PriceAdmission $5 adults, $4 seniors and students, $1 for children 11 and        under

 

 

Top 10 Beaches in the world , Tahiti

3 . Bora Bora, Tahiti

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning "First Born"; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th-century accounts, is Bolabolla or Bollabolla. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 meters (2,385 ft).

Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts. The island is served by Bora Bora Airport on Motu Mete in the north, with Air Tahiti providing daily flights to and from Papeete on Tahiti. The major settlement, Vaitape is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. Produce of the island is mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and the plentiful coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. According to a census performed in 2008, the permanent population of Bora Bora is 8,880.

Tourism

Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort

Today the island is almost entirely dependent on tourism. Over the last few years several resorts have been built on motu (small islands, from Tahitian) surrounding the lagoon. Thirty years ago, Hotel Bora Bora built the first over-the-water bungalows on stilts over the lagoon and today, over-water bungalows are a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts. The quality of those bungalows ranges from comparably cheap, basic accommodations to very luxurious and expensive places to stay. Most of the tourist destinations are aqua-centric; however it is possible to visit attractions on land such as WWII cannons. Air Tahiti has five or six flights daily to the Bora Bora Airport on Motu Mute from Tahiti (as well as from other islands).

Although French and Tahitian are the main languages spoken by the inhabitants, people in contact with tourists generally have some command of English. Most visitors to Bora Bora are American, Japanese, or European. Public transport on the island is non-existent. Rental cars and bicycles are the recommended method of transport. There are also small fun-cars for hire in Vaitape. Snorkeling and scuba diving in and around the lagoon of Bora Bora are popular activities. Many species of sharks and rays inhabit the surrounding body of water. There are a few dive operators on the island offering manta ray dives and also shark-feeding dives.

In addition to the existing islands of Bora Bora (called motu), the new man-made motu of Motu Marfo has been added in the north-eastern corner of the lagoon on the property of the St. Regis Resort.

 

 

Top 10 Beaches in the world , Maldives

2 . Maldives

                          Republic of Maldives ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ

                                

Flag	Emblem

 

Geography

 

Malhosmadulhu Atoll seen from space. "Fasdutere" and Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll can be seen in this picture.

A view of an island in the Maldives

Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making this one of the world's most dispersed countries. It lies between latitudes 1°S and 8°N, and longitudes 72° and 74°E. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometres (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldivian government organised these atolls into twenty one administrative divisions. The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives. In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef (collectively called Link Road) and the total length of the road is 14 km (9 mi).

Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in), with the average being only 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, although in areas where construction exists, this has been increased to several metres. However, more than 80 per cent of the country's land is composed of coral islands that rise less than one metre above sea level.

The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands, set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean

A 15 centimetres (6 in) thick layer of humus forms the top layer of soil. Below the humus layer are 60 centimetres (2 ft) of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. Due to high levels of salt in the soil near the beach, vegetation is limited there to a few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants, and small hedges. In the interior of the islands, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the population

The limited vegetation and land wildlife is supplemented by the abundance of marine life. The waters around the Maldives are abundant in rare species of biological and commercial value. Tuna fisheries are one of the main commercial resources. The Maldives have an amazing diversity of sea life, with corals and over 2,000 species of fish, ranging from reef fish to reef sharks, moray eels, and a wide variety of rays: Manta rays, Stingrays, and Eagle rays. The Maldivian waters also host whale sharks and hawksbill and green sea turtles.

 

Top 10 Beaches in the world , Seychelles

1 . Seychelles

                                 Republic of Seychelles

Flag

History

Scholars assume that Austronesian seafarers, and later Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. Remains of Maldivian mariner presence from the 12th century were found in Silhouette Island. The earliest recorded sighting by Europeans took place in 1502 by the Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama, who passed through the Amirantes and named them after himself (islands of the Admiral).

A transit point for trade between Africa and Asia, the islands were occasionally used by pirates until the French began to take control starting in 1756 when a Stone of Possession was laid by Captain Nicholas Morphey. The islands were named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, Louis XV’s Minister of Finance.

  

Geography

An island nation, Seychelles is located to the northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km (994 mi) east of Kenya. The number of islands in the archipelago is often given as 115 but the Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155. The islands as per the Constitution are divided into various groups as follows.

There are 42 granitic islands, in descending order of size: Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette Island, La Digue, Curieuse, Felicite, Frégate, Ste-Anne, North, Cerf, Marianne, Grand Sœur, Thérèse, Aride, Conception, Petite Sœur, Cousin, Cousine, Long, Récif, Round (Praslin), Anonyme, Mamelles, Moyenne, Île aux Vaches Marines, L'Islette, Beacon (Île Sèche), Cachée, Cocos, Round (Mahé), L'Ilot Frégate, Booby, Chauve Souris (Mahé), Chauve Souris (Praslin), Île La Fouche, Hodoul, L'Ilot, Rat, Souris, St. Pierre (Praslin), Zavé, Harrison Rocks (Grand Rocher).

 chauve souris des seychelles

 

Taj Exotica Resort

Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives – Crowns the Beauty of Maldives

Beach seeting - Luxury Hotel

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives is a private, exclusive and romantic island resort. It is enclosed in lush tropical plants and surrounded by clear blue water which is also one of the largest lagoons in Maldives. This five star resort spreads perfectly along an immaculate beach and a serene lagoon. Taj Exotica Resort is a Member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World.

 

Accommodation

Taj Exotica features luxuriously designed villas which are suspended over the beautiful blue lagoon. Every hut here provides the guests with luxury living, stylish, extravagant and unrestrained furnishings, glorious views and once in a lifetime experience. The Lagoon Villas, Deluxe Lagoon Villas, Deluxe Beach Villas and more feature as stay options.

Dining

Taj Exotica offer some of the most exceptional cuisines. For the romantic this resort offers a unique dining option on a private secludes seating on the lagoon. Private Island dining, beach dining, beach dining at 24 degrees and dining at the ocean pavilion are also available for guests.

Spa

The Jiva Grande Spa at Taj Exotica perfectly blending together ancient Indian wisdom with new contemporary therapies. It offers the best Indian rejuvenation therapies that range from Indian aromatherapy massages, yoga, meditation and time-honored Indian treatments. The spa is surrounded by the vast lagoon and is on over-water spa pavilions. Each of the pavilion features a private sundeck and a tranquil relaxation space. The spa is designed as per the Vastu philosophies of space.

Rooms & Suites

  

Eco Initiatives

Luxury with a conscience is not usually what springs to mind when it comes to running a five star luxury property in the Maldives. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, however has risen to the challenge to protect the natural tropical flora and fauna and surrounding blue waters of Emboodhu Finolhu island.

Taj Exotica has applied a range of initiatives to reduce its carbon foot print, whilst ensuring that guests continue to experience a high level of comfort, luxury accommodation, culinary offerings, spa and recreational facilities, as well impeccable service - an international hallmark of the Taj group.

Taj Exotica has meticulously analysed the maintenance of energy efficiency, water management, air quality and handling of noxious substances across the resort.

The property is one of very few in the Maldives to have installed a unique hot water system, which instead of using electric geysers, uses three DG sets (Diesel Generator Cooking Paths) to assist in heat recovery and reduce diesel output. Taj Exotica invested in the installation of insulated pipes all around the island, pumping the water around at a constant pressure of 2kg. The result is an annual saving of 109500 litres of diesel.

In the area of water consumption, the property has activated a rain water harvesting system with the yearly collection of 896000 litres. Taj Exotica boasts a bottling plant on site. The 'Classic Crystal' tropical bottling system, produces both sparkling and still water and reuses glass bottles, thus saving on the usage of tens of thousands of plastic bottles each year. It should also be noted that the trees and plants, including Jade Tree, Sea Hibiscus and Malikuruva rose, located on Emboodhu Finolhu island, are endemic species and do not require any additional watering. This saves the resort an extra requirement of 10,000 litres of water per day.

These are some of the key initiatives, that, along with the recycling of metal (which is rare in the Maldives), have resulted in a daily saving of 1,045,987 watts of energy and a 22% reduction in daily carbon dioxide emission.

The commitment of the staff to the principles of environment sustainability has been recognised and endorsed by the prestigious Green Globe Certified Silver Status - the second highest level of Green Globe's benchmarking, certification and performance improvement system in the travel and tourism industry.

Resort Address

 

Post Box No. 2117
South Male Atoll
Maldives

Telephone: +960 664 2200  |  Facsimile: +960 664 2211

 

Hilton Houston Southwest,Texas

Hilton Houston Southwest 

Southwest Houston is a region in Houston, Texas, United States.

Many low-income apartment complexes are located in Southwest Houston.. The apartment complexes bordered by U.S. Route 59 (Southwest Freeway) and Bissonnet Road, including properties along Bellaire Boulevard and Gulfton Drive, are dense and known for crime.. Illegal immigrants came to the apartments, which began attracting low income tenants after the 1980s Texas oil bust. Hurricane Katrina refugees came to the apartments in 2005 . About 1/5 of Houston's homicides in 2005 occurred in this area

The Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce serves several neighborhoods often identified as "Southwest Houston."

History

From the 1980 U.S. Census to the 1990 Census, many African-Americans left traditional African-American neighborhoods and entered parts of Southwest Houston; areas of Southwest Houston received from more than 1,000 African-Americans per square mile to more than 3,500 African-Americans per square mile. Many Asian-Americans moved into Southwest Houston during the same period. They were mostly Chinese American, Indian American, and Pakistani American; some pockets of Cambodian Americans, Korean Americans, and Vietnamese Americans appeared during that period.

Rooms & Suites

Our rooms are designed with comfort and convenience in mind; providing a place to unwind or to catch up on work. Explore the various types of rooms, explore the amenities, and choose the space that's right for you.

Guest Rooms

Our oversized guest rooms come beautifully appointed with your mahogany woods, choice of 1 King or 2 Double beds, complimentary wireless high-speed internet access, dual line phones with voicemail, 32-inch flat screen television, pay-per-view movies, work desk, iron with ironing board, coffee maker.

Accessible Rooms

Our spacious Accessible Rooms come equipped with choice of 1 King or 2 Double beds, complimentary wireless high-speed internet access, dual line phones with voicemail, 32-inch flat screen television, pay-per-view movies, work desk, iron with ironing board, coffee maker. Accessible bathrooms are equipped with bars in bathtub. The corresponding photo may not reflect the specific accessible room type or room feature.

 

Plan An Event

If you're planning a meeting in the Houston area, look no further than the Hilton Houston Southwest. We aim to please with our spacious meeting rooms & on-site catering services. Meetings, Weddings & Groups of all sizes are welcome! For spacious sleeping accommodations, look no further than our beautiful guestrooms. Enjoy the following amenities:

• Complimentary internet access
• Onsite Fitness Center
• Outdoor Pool
• Convenient access to many Houston attractions

Dining

At Hilton, dining options are designed with you in mind. Start the day with a hearty breakfast or nutritious light bite; savor innovative dishes prepared with only the freshest ingredients, or simply relax with a cup of coffee in the hotel lounge. From business brunches to pre-dinner drinks and everything in between, the options at Hilton are catered especially for you.