Abhishek's PostCrossing Journey

Friday, January 30, 2009

The Tower of Buddhist Incense, China

China-6, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

The Tower of Buddhist Incense is the symbol of the Summer Palace and an elaborate work of classical architecture. The three-storied tower, situated on a hill, is about 40 meters (131 feet) high and has a complicated structure. It has eight facades and quadruple-layered eaves, and the whole is supported by eight pillars of lignum vitae wood. It is the center of Summer Palace, with buildings distributed symmetrically around its base. The Precious Cloud Pavilion (Baoyunge) to the west of the tower, made out of 207 tons (456,357 pounds) of bronze, is exquisite and noteworthy.

Museum Island, Germany

Germany-6, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

Museum Island in Berlin, Germany is the name of the northern half of the Spreeinsel, an island in the Spree river in the centre of the city.
The island received its name for several internationally renowned museums that now occupy all of the island's northern half.

Villa Tugendhat, Czech Republic

Czech_Republic-3, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

The Villa Tugendhat is considered a masterpiece of the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Built in 1930 in Brno, in today's Czech Republic, for Fritz Tugendhat and his wife Greta, the villa soon became an icon of modern architecture. A modern minimalist home a humble father of the modern minimalist fabs.

The Great Wall of China

China-4, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

"The Great Wall of China" is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from Xiongnu attacks during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty.

Mayon Volcano, Philippines

Philippines-2, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, in the Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.

Renowned as the "Perfect Cone" because of its almost perfectly conical shape, Mayon is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Legazpi City.

Old Town of Lijiang, China

China-9, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

The Old Town of Lijiang is a famous UNESCO Heritage Site located in Lijiang City, Yunnan, China.
The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents

Map card of the State Michigan,USA

USA-14, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

Also known as the Great Lake State because its surrounded by four great lakes.
* State bird: American Robin
* State animal: Wolverine
* State game animal: White-tailed deer
* State fish: Brook trout
* State reptile: Painted Turtle
* State fossil: Mastodon
* State flower: Apple blossom
* State wildflower: Dwarf Lake Iris
* State tree: White pine
* State stone: Petoskey stone
* State gem: Isle Royale greenstone
* State soil: Kalkaska Sand

Torii of Itsukushima, Japan

Japan-1, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

The Torii, or Gateway, at Miyajima Island is a classic and beloved icon of Japan, as well as a condensed essence of traditional Japanese architectural expression. This grand wooden gateway, both sturdy and graceful, sits in the tidal flats before the historic Buddist temple complex of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima island, in the same region as the city of Hiroshima in Japan.

Built on axis with the sea-facing shrine, the gate serves to welcome spirits of the departed as they come in across the water of Japan's Inland Sea. At low tide, visitors walk around the great columns of the structure, measuring its great size against the human body. At high tide, the rugged vermillion gateway seems to float in the waves around it, a gateway for boats, or for spirits indeed.

Batalha Monastery, Portugal

Portugal-4, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Postcard World.

Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro Santa Maria da Vitória), is a Dominican monastery in the Portuguese town of Batalha, in the District of Leiria, Portugal. It is one of the best and original examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style. It amazes the onlooker with its profusion of gables, spires, pinnacles and buttresses. It has become a symbol of national pride.