The 2008 Olympic Games kick on in the Chinese capital Beijing on the 8th of August and the world is going to be amazed at not only some incredible sporting moments but some of the most cutting edge and daring architecture the world has ever seen. The main stadium which looks like a huge steel bird’s nest and the National Aquatic Centre which is dubbed the Water Cube are two of the spectacular highlights. The Watercube has been designed by Australian and Chinese engineers and architects and will seat over 17000 spectators who will watch nearly 50 gold medals be awarded during the Olympic Games. Read the rest of this entry »

Why go to all the expense of dozens of family and friends and churches and reception for your wedding when you can get married in Las Vegas style in a couple of minutes in a drive thru with a Elvis impersonator or something even more tacky. The Little White Chapel on the Las Vegas strip is the perfect place for wedding, If it was good enough for Britney Spears, well its good enough for you!. She is one of the dozen’s of clebs who have tied the knot at the chapel, even Michael Jordan, Joan Collins, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bruce Willis have been married here and Mickey Rooney loved the place so much he got married there twice. There are a few different style weddings available, you can use the chapel or if you are in a real hurry to start the honeymoon why not use the drive thru, and you don’t need a reservation although you do need to have a wedding license. If you need a dress, some flowers or even a few bridesmaids you can hire them on the spot. Prices are pretty cheap but if you don’t have cash on you they have a handy ATM in the foyer where you can pay for your needs. Read the rest of this entry »

The Melbourne Museum is the one of the newest and largest museums in the Southern Hemisphere housing a permanent collection in eight galleries, including one just for children and areas for huge traveling exhibitions. The most love treasure of the museum is Pharlap which is renowned as Australia’s greatest racehorse, thousands visit the museum just to view this magnificent animal. The museum features an IMAX theatre and the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre which is one of Australia’s finest collection of Australian indigenous culture. The museum isn’t all glass cabinet displays it is a multi media learning centre for young and old and even features an amazing living rain forest complete with animals and plant life in it’s heart. Children love the dinosaur galleries with huge skeleton of a diprotodon, Tarbosaurus, Tsintaosaurus and other huge prehistoric beasts. Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s You Tube video features a fascinating bus ride through Egypt to the amazing pyramids. Here amongst the vast sand plains is one of man’s most intriguing and amazing structures. The pyramid’s have so many unlocked stories which fascinate many of us. How did and why were these huge stone monoliths built thousands of years ago without the technology we have today, an incredible feat. Read the rest of this entry »

Tokyo has a few borrowed land marks, there’s the replica of the Eifel Tower, although in a bright orange paint job, Disneyland and the Statue of Liberty. Sitting proudly overlooking Tokyo Bay and the Golden Gate inspired Rainbow Bridge is a 1/4 scale of New York’s magnificent lady. It was originally only a temporary structure, the French gave it to Tokyo in 1998 to celebrate the French Year in Japan but the Japanese loved it so much a replica of the one the French gave them was commissioned and built on the same site. It is now one of Tokyo’s most photographed monuments. Just like the New York monument the statue is made of iron and green copper bronze, it even has gold leafing encircling the beautiful torch of freedom. There are quiet a few more Statues of Liberty in Japan most are on tacky ‘Love Hotels’ and there is another one in the American Themed city of Amerika-MuraOsaka in the heart of Osaka.

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The Brixton Market in Brixton, South London is home to Europe’s biggest African and Caribbean market. Open from 10 am to sunset six days a week, being closed on Sunday the market is a multicultural celebration of food, music, art, clothing and bargains everywhere. The market is made up of several smaller markets and a few arcades, including the Electric Avenue, which was the first street market to be lit with electricity, you might remember the Eddie Grant reggae song in the 80’s called Electric Avenue, this is about the market. The market has some of London’s freshest and best produce with plenty of ethnic specialties including Halal meats, tropical vegetables and fruits and even Caribbean bakeries. The markets date back to the 1870’s but the Afro influences have developed after the second world war when thousands of immigrants came to London with the labor shortages. Make sure to bring plenty of change for bargains and plenty of time to browse you won’t be going home empty handed. Read the rest of this entry »

Hong Kong’s Happy Valley is one of the world’s busiest racecourses. Originally swamp land’s the course is now the largest stretch of flat land on the Hong Kong island. Wednesday evening races are the best for atmosphere, they are held evey second week and the fun kicks off at 7:30, with thosands attending. It pays to get there early as quiet offten the 55,000 capacity track sells out. For something really special make a booking at the Moon Koon Restaurant which is on the second floor of the main stand, food is good and price not too bad and the view is amazing, a great way to watch the action. Billions are bet at the track every year, Hong Kong runs on money, and if there’s a chance to win some just about everyone will give it a go. Just remember not everyone wins! Read the rest of this entry »

You can get just about anything in LA, and when it comes to weird and macabe, LA specilises. Necromance on Melrose Avenue is one of the strangest shops you will ever come across, if you are game enough to go inside. Their store inventory looks like a shopping list on the Adams Family. They sells heaps of creepy and somtimes horrible things, catering for people who are a little different. If you are looking for a racoons penis bone or a bat in a jar or even a goat foot letter opener Necromance is the place. For only $120 you can get a freeze dried chipmunk, and hows this for $100 you could buy a few North American Porcupine Quills, A sheeps heart in a jar, a few x-rays of human broken bones, a collection of badgers toes and even a vial of vintage cat gut. Amazing value, might be a good place to do your Christmas shopping.

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Chairman Mao was the founder of the People’s Republic of China and he is one of the essential characters in the modern history of this huge country. The Chairman died in 1976 and a huge mausoleum was built at the south end of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square as a place where over 10 million people have paid their respect to Mao’s body in his crystal coffin, dressed in his usual grey suit draped in the red Communist Party flag. The memorial hall is a striking building measuring 260 metres by 220 metres with marble and yellow granite. Mao wouldn’t have been too happy being put on display like this, he actually wanted to be cremated, but the Communist Party of China had other ideas and embalmed him. As you would expect at such an important place, security is very high and there is restrictions on bags, cameras and other items. You must wear respectful clothing and keep walking through the complex, which takes only about 5 -10 minutes, you can wait for several hours to get into the building. One strange thing you will notice with your visit, like all attractions, its ends at the gift shop- where else! Read the rest of this entry »

The Distillery District in Toronto is the hippest and most happening place in the city. Jam packed with boutique shopping, galleries, artist studios, some of the city’s best dining and plenty of entertainment this place is really going off. The pedestrian only village is a huge collection of preserved Victorian era industrial buildings including the Gooderham & Worts Distillery which was founded way back in 1832 by James Worts and William Gooderham. The distillery ceased producing alcohol in 1990 development of the 15 acre area began in 2003. When visiting make sure you go on an empty stomach, there are some amazing dining experiences to try including Pure Spirits Oyster and the best pastries you have ever tried from Grand Piano Pastries, they are mouth watering. Read the rest of this entry »