The Meteora - One of the Most Amazing Places in Greece

The Meteora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. The six monasteries built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the river and Pindus Mountains Pineios, in central Greece. The nearest town is Kalambaka. Meteora is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria.

The rock has become one of the most beautiful mountain in the world that presents stunning views of the height, and now these monasteries became one of the world's tourist attractions. Millions of tourists inside and outside the country come to Meteora who is said to be "One of the Most Amazing Places in Greece" or "One of the Most Spectacular Places to visit in Greece".

On the 9th century, a group of ascetic monks rose to the top of the old hermit.
They were the first to inhabit the Meteora. They live in hollows and fissures in the stone towers, some of which reach 1800 ft (550m) above the plains.
Originally hermits live a life of solitude, meeting only on Sundays and special days to worship and pray at a chapel built at the foot of a rock known as Dhoupiani. At the beginning of the 11th century ascetic monks are believed to live among the caves and cutouts in the rocks. And until the 17th century, the main tool deliver the goods and the people of these eyries is by basket and rope.
Six of the monasteries remain today, Of these six, four were occupied by men and two women. Each monastery has fewer than 10 people.

The monasteries seem pretty set in the hills belakangkan bukau in the Thessalian valley. Fort to counter with its red earth color of coral rock wall which further highlight color kekelabuan permainya menyerlahkan more beautiful atmosphere. The view from the top of the hill towards the lowlands are filled by perpohonan, ravines and some township areas. It is remarkable that the beauty of Meteora is mentioned as one of the most enchanting places on earth.

Inside the monastery there are a lot of old icons, frescoes, gilded wood carvings of various ancient artifacts and other high-value. But very unfortunately kerana during World War II, the Nazi army has destroyed a lot of antique and historic monasteries sehinggakan than 24 ancient monastery ever established there in the old days, now only six monasteries are still inhabited and may have been used as a museum.

 In the past, if you want to go to the monastery is necessary to use a piece of equipment such as nets, including when to raise and lower the goods. But now the effort for a visit monasteries are not as difficult once again kerana has built a road to get to the Meteora. Instead has built a staircase on a steep rock cliff wall so that people can come up to the top of the hill to arrive safely to the monastery buildings.

Devils Tower

Devils Tower is a very famous rock located in northeastern Wyoming, USA. Height of more than 1266 ft and formed about 65 million years ago by volcanic activity.
The tower was first seen by white explorers from the United States, the Geological Survey in 1875. And was first climbed, using a long wooden ladder attached to the surface of the stone, on July 4, 1893.

Various legends have sprung up that tells about the origin of this tower. One is the story of the Kiowa, Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne and Sioux tribes, terrified group of young girls being chased by a giant bear. The girls escape quickly through the trees, but bears can slowly overtake them. As the situation became desperate to make them, the girls jumped on a low rock and prayed aloud to the Ancestral Spirit to save them. Suddenly small stones began to grow up, raised seven daughters higher and higher into the sky. An angry bear jumped to the side of the tower (the rock) and it left a claw, which can be viewed to date on the stone wall.

Now, the tower has become one of the world's attractions are very popular, especially for hikers, as a popular climbing sites and more than 20,000 ascents have been made. And many visitors have reported seeing strange lights and UFO phenomena are flying around the top of the tower.

The surveyor said the stone was Devils Tower, after they found out that his real name is "The Bad God's Tower," as the local Indians called it.
The tower is still highly revered as the site of the Indian vision quest.

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings are very famous in the world. The temple complex is located in the southeastern part of downtown Beijing. Every part of this temple is circular in shape which is said to represent Heaven. The complex was visited by the emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. And this place is regarded as a Taoist temple.

This temple complex was built during the reign of Emperor Yongle 1406-1420, which is also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of Emperor Jiajing in the 16th century. This temple was renovated in the 18th century under Emperor Qianlong. In 1918 the temple was turned into a park and for the first time open to the public.

Temple of Heaven was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and described as a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony is very important for the evolution of one of the world's great civilizations.
And now the neighborhood of the Temple of Heaven became a very popular park for exercise.

Paro Taktsang

Paro Taktsang is the popular name of Palphug Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger's Nest, the site of the temple complex and highly skaral and famous in the world. This place is situated on the cliffs above the valley of Paro, Bhutan. A temple complex was first built in 1692, where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three months in the 8th century.
According to legend, Guru Rinpoche said that the land on the cliff when he was riding a tigress after which he went to meditate for many years in a cave.

Monastic buildings consist of four major temples and housing shelters ideally designed to adapt to the (granite) stone edges, caves and rocky. Of the eight caves, four relatively easy to access. All the buildings are interconnected through the steps and stairs made ​​of stone. There are some old wooden bridge along the path and stairs to cross. Temple at the highest level has a decor of Buddha. Each building has a balcony, which overlooks a beautiful valley of Paro.

Shwedagon

Shwedagon or also known as the Golden Pagoda, is a stupa or pagoda as high as 98 meters (321.5 feet) gold-plated and is located in the western part of Lake Kandawgyi, in Singuttara hills, and dominates the views of the city of Yangon, Myanmar. The structure is all made ​​of gold and Buddhists use their savings to buy gold leaf, which they attach to the walls of the temple. Buddhist Stupa is the most sacred for the people of Burma because it stores the relics of previous Buddhas, namely stick Kakusandha, Konagamana water filter, a piece of robe Kassapa and eight hairs of Gautama Siddhartha, the historical Buddha.

And design of the pagoda is, there are four entrances to the Paya that lead up the steps to the platform on Singuttara Hill. Eastern and southern approaches have vendors that sell books, good luck charms, Buddha statues, candles, gold leaf, incense, prayer flags, streamers, miniature umbrellas and flowers. A pair of giant leogryphs called chinthe guards the entrance and the image in the temple at the top of the stairs from the south is that the second Buddha, Konagamana. Base or pedestal stupas made ​​of brick covered with gold plates. Above the base is a terrace that only monks and men can access. Next is part of the bell-shaped stupa. Above it is the turban, then almsbowl reversed, inverted and upright lotus petals, banana shoots and then the crown. Crown or umbrella that ends with 5448 diamonds and 2317 rubies.