Kuta Beach, Bali

Once a lonely little village on the road from Denpasar to Bukit Peninsula, Kuta is now the tourist Mecca of Bali, popular mainly among the young and adventurous. Kuta beach is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. Coconut trees line the sand beach as far as the eyes can see towards the north stopped by the runway of Denpasar's airport far in the west. The sunset in Kuta is most breathtaking. On the south, the beach is fenced by the airport's runway, which gives the visitors a breathtaking landing experience. Kuta Beach bustles with tourists' vendors and locals. It's the most popular beach in Bali and the island's number one party zone. The beach stretches as far north as the eyes can see. As short walk away north, the waves will invite to surfing. Rapid development and an influx of visitors haven't kept the surfers away and Kuta still remains one of Bali's best surfing beaches and a great place to enjoy a beach lifestyle.

While the surfers are still part of the Kuta scene, it's the shopping, nightlife and party vibes that attracts thousands of visitors. There's a huge choice of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment. The accommodation in Kuta range from a modest home stay for a few dollars a night to luxurious, five star, international hotels costing several hundred to several thousand dollars a night. Legian Street, situated directly behind the row of hotels that face the beach, is lined with shops of all varieties. We can find any Balinese handicrafts here, from the least expensive to the most exquisite; or unique stores such as the leather store staffed by two young Balinese men that will perfectly sculpt a leather jacket. (They are all extremely talented artists). _At night, Kuta is alive with night life. Western influences create discotheques, dance clubs, and pubs. Gastronomical demands inspire a multitude of restaurants, serving traditional Indonesian and Balinese food to various ethnic meals from Japan, Switzerland, etc. As if these were not enough, various Balinese dance performances are staged in Kuta every night. One of the best Kecak performances is found in Kuta.

 

Dreamland Beach, Bali

picture 1

Dreamland Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali than Kuta beach. This beach is located in the area Pecatu, a region in the south of Bali. The beach is located not far from the Uluwatu in Bali is very famous for its beauty. The beauty and cleanliness of the beach add to the attraction of visitors, not only from domestic but also foreign tourists.

Dreamland
Dreamland was in the village of Pecatu, Badung regency, located in the southern island of Bali. You can reach this beach is about 30 minutes from Kuta Beach at Jimbaran. The beach is still beautiful and natural is located at the southern tip of South Badung. You'll find this beach on the way to the famous temple in Bali, Pura Uluwatu.

You may be puzzled why this beach called Dreamland? Other Beaches in Bali using local names, while the beach this one uses the English language that is meaningful dreamland dream land.

Turns out its origins. Perhaps, this beach called Dreamland because the region had to be built Pecatu one of the regions largest and most unique tourist center in Southeast Asia. In addition, there also will be built superluks resort combined with a tourist area that highlight the beauty and authenticity of nature and environmental conservation. Previously this area was barren and arid regions.

At the time of monetary crisis in 1998, the mega project was abandoned. However, because the locals really hope that this project is completed, with the hope that they can switch from agriculture to tourism businesses, so they named this place as a land of dreams is in English called Dreamland. Since then, this area called Dreamland.

The Beauty of Dreamland Beach
As you enter Dreamland Beach tourist area, your eyes will be enchanted by the beauty of this beach. Hilly and rugged areas that make you look as if the lower beach area on the sea. Dreamland is a beach surrounded by cliffs towering and large rocks.

When you are down the rocks and the steps to the beach, you will be dazzled by views of rock cliffs on which there is a green pasture that is high enough. Many foreign and local tourists who like to enjoy in the meadow area.

Dreamland Beach area is also very alluring eyes. You will be captivated by a whitish brown sand, clean with a steep gully. You can enjoy the beautiful sunset or sunset on a narrow coastal area directly beneath the steep rock walls.

Dreamland Sea region also has high and big waves. Therefore, many surfers like to surf on this beach. Dreamland is also one surfing destination in Bali.

Facilities at Dreamland Beach
You can rent umbrellas are provided along the beach to avoid the hot sun. If you want to swim but do not bring a change of clothes, you can buy in the tourist area of Dreamland. Once down the stairs, a line of clothing merchant will offer you their wares. Also available are several shops that sell food and drinks.

In addition, here are also available toilet facilities if you want to change clothes and shower. But the pricing is quite expensive even for just urinate in this area.

If you want to stay, at the Dreamland area there are dozens of resorts and villas that stand as a supporter of tourism that continues to dive at Dreamland Beach. Some resorts and villas standing on the cliff so you can enjoy beautiful coastal scenery from the top of the cliff.

According to tour guide there, Dreamland is the only place in Bali that use of International Law. So the rules at this beach is more free. Visitors can consume alcohol or to bare-chested women on this beach without prosecution.

Dreamland Tours as land of dreams

Brown sand, clean bright white, high cliffs are beautiful, also the blue sea water, making a lot of tourists to come to the beach that once was sponsored by Tommy Suharto. Although not as famous Kuta Beach, Dreamland or "land of dreams" is expected to create more and more tourists come to this beach. Various tourism facilities became available in this region, from the villa, resort, shopping, mall, to golf courses. Yes, Dreamland Beach because of its uniqueness adds another charming coastal tourist areas on the island of Bali.

By Indonesian Tourism 

Milan's Duomo

Milan's magnificent Duomo is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Construction was commissioned by bishop Antonio da Saluzzo in 1385. Although it was consecrated in 1418, the Duomo was not finished until the 19th century, when Napoleon had the façade completed.

The roof of the Duomo is decorated with more than 2200 statues. Most famous is the 4 m high gilded statue of Madonna which dates back to 1774. It's possible to access the roof by stairs or elevator and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

The inside of Milan's Cathedral is rather dark. There are five large naves divided by 52 pillars that support the cross vaulted ceiling. The stained glass windows of the choir are said to be the largest in the world.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

taj mahal

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.
Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.
Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.
The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.
Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.
The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole.

Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq
(Copyright 1990, 1997, All Rights Reserved)
Text Source: Taj Mahal, Mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal

Balekambang Beach

balekambang beach

The beach possessing three islands with distance of about one hundred meters each, two of which have been connected with one meter-wide bridge to the shore, Balekambang offers a different atmosphere of beach resorts in the Southern part of Malang. One of the three islands called Ismoyo island has a Hindu temple, established by local Hinduists.
Annually, the ritual and traditional ceremonies Jalanidhipuja (Hindu ceremony) and Suran (Javanese New Year ceremony) are held here every year. The parking area, stalls, inns, souvenir shops, and the others tourism facilities has provided for the visitors. This beautiful beach is located at Srigonco village, Bantur district, about 57 km away to the south from Malang and accessible by public transportation.
Visit Balekambang Beach tourism and enjoy its wonderfull waves with softe sea wind. Watch the sunset and sunrise in this beach and do some of beach activities, such as; swimming, sun bathing, fishing, etc.

balekambang sunset

beautiful beach

Places of Interest In East Java

Surabaya

A booming city over 3 million people , Surabaya offers many good hotels, shopping centers and plentiful sources of entertainment. Its wellstocked zoological garden includes several species of Indonesian fauna : orang utans, komodo, dragons and a collection of nocturnal animals. Kalimas is an old traditional harbor for tha world famous Bugis schooners , which can be still be seen in all their former glory. Across the Madura Strait , half an hour by ferry from Surabaya is the island of Madura , famous for its unique bull races.



Trowulan, Pandaan, Tretes

Trowulan village and the surrounding area are believed to be the site of the ancient capital of Majapahit. Archaeological excavations in the area have recovered many terracotta ornaments , statues, pottery, and stone carvings which are displayed at the Trowulan museum. The map in the museum is a guide to nearby sites of historical interest. The Chandra Wilwatika open air theatre in Pandaan, 45 km south of Surabaya Presents classical East Java ballet performace on each full moon night from June to November. The performances are based either on the Ramayana stories or East Java’s legends and folklore. The backdrop of Mt. Pananggungan makes the performances and enchanting experience. 10 km from Chandra Wilwatikta is Tretes, one of the most beutiful mountain resort of East Java.

Malang

Ninety kilometers south Surabaya lays Malang, one of the most attractive hill towns on Java. A strong sense of civic pride is evident from the well maintened and elaborately painted pedicabs, the groomed main square , and clean buildings streets. The cool climate is a welcome flank of Mt. Arjuna , are Selecta and Songgoriti, popular hill resort with hot springs. Nearby Batu is famous for its apples and flowers. Sport facilities at Selecta include horse riding, swimming, and tennis.

Tugu kota Malang

Balai kota

Mount Bromo

The Bromo Beauty

Bromo, Tengger, Semeru

Many local and foreign travelers make the trek for the mystical exprerience of watching the sunrise from the crest of the Bromo volcano. A pony ride from the village of Ngadisari take you over a sea of sand to the foot of the volcano. Ascend the 50 steps to reach the rim. On the vast expanse of sand , formerly a caldera , there are two volcanes; the extinct Batok which is a perfect cone and Bromo. Volcanic sulfur fumes and smoke still emanate from the depths, and when the God of Bromo begins to rumble, the surounding population quickly brings their offerings. The annual offering ceremony of Kasada is held on the 14 th day of Kasada, the twelfth month in the Tenggerese calendar year. It is a dazzling event where villagers from the surrounding areas bring their humble offerings to the holy volcano.


The East Java Tourist Information (2002)

Cerulean Tower Hotel, Tokyo

The Cerulean Tower Hotel in Tokyo is located in the site from where the popular fashion destinations of the city are nearby. The districts like Harajuku, Shibuya and Aoyama. These places are known for the best garments and art works in Japan. While you reside at the hotel, a little stroll can make you reach thee places at ease. The name of the Cerulean Tower Hotel clearly defines the gigantic height of it, which is a 40 storey building in the heart of Tokyo. The entertainment amenities are a plenty in it as the hotel houses well-equipped theaters and jazz clubs for its guests. The best part of the hotel is the dramatic view of the city from all the rooms as all of the rooms, face the city and the enormous height gives you the panoramic view easily.

Rooms

Although the Cerulean Tower Hotel is too tall the rooms available in it are not that much plenty as you will get a total of 414 rooms in it. All the guestrooms are connected with high-speed internet access and the bedding within is nicely done with special cotton or feathers to offer the guests the pleasurable 40 winks. The basic amenities provides in the rooms are the following:

• Pay movies • Complimentary newspaper • Clock radio • Air conditioning • Iron/ironing board (on request) • Coffee/tea maker • Bathrobes • High-speed Internet access • Bathroom phone • Complimentary toiletries • Blackout drapes/curtains • Voice mail • Slippers • Daily housekeeping • Hypo-allergenic bedding available • Premium bedding • Climate control • Direct-dial phone • Internet access (surcharge) • Smoking permitted • In-room safe • Handheld showerhead • Desk • Hair dryer • Refrigerator • Cable/satellite television channels • Electronic/magnetic keys • Bidet • Wake-up calls • Minibar • Cribs (infant beds) available • Rollaway beds

Recreation

The Cerulean Tower Hotel Tokyo houses a highly decorated drama theater, night club and jazz clubs within its premises and the guests can while away their evening there easily.

Dining

The Cerulean Tower Hotel Tokyo is specialized in the dining bars and offers a variety of different restaurants and there are countless places to taste the Japanese, or any other foreign dish you prefer.

The restaurant Cou Cagno is a bar with circular counter and offers dinner and lunch as well. Bello Visto restaurant is on the 40 th floor and is decorated with wood panel and glasswork and you can dine while feel mesmerized with piano performances at the restaurant. There are total 9 different restaurants and dining bars in the Cerulean Tower Hotel Tokyo.

Verbal Communication : The Way People Speak

Culture influence comunication styles. Although this point may seem obvious, cultural styles can and do create misunderstandings in conversations among people from different cultures.
For example, consider the following conversation between an Italian and an American. The Italian made a strong political statement with which he knew this his American friend would disagree. The Italian wanted to involve The American in a lively discussion. The American rather than openly disagreeing, said, “ Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I accept that your opinion is different than mine.” The Italian responded . “ That’s all you have to say about it?” In general, the American did not enjoy verbal conflicts over politics or anything else. The Italian actually became angry when the American refused to get involved in the discussion. He later explained to the American, “ A conversation isn’t fun unless it become heated.”
What does this example say about culture and its influence on communication ? Surely, there are many Americans who do get involved in verbal conflicts over politics , just as there are some Italians who would not become involved. However , the above conversation represents types of communication pattern that are related to cultural differences.

Conversational Involvement
In her book: You Just Don’t Understand, the sociolinguistic research Deborah Tannea discusses the notion that people from some cultures value “high involvement “ conversation patterns , while ether value “ high considerateness” patterns . Many people from culture that prefer “ high involvement” styles tend to : 1). Talk more 2). Interupt more 3). Expect to be interrupted 4). Talk more loudly at time and 5). Talk more quickly than those from cultures favoring “ high considerateness” styles. Many “ high involvement “ speakers enjoy arguments and might even think that others are not interested if they are not ready to engags in a heated discussion.

On the other hand , people from cultures that favor “ high considerateness” styles tend to 1). Speak one at time. 2)use polite listening sounds ; 3) refrain from iterrupting; and 4) give plenty positive and respecful responses to their conversation partners. Most teachers of English as a Second Lenguage (ESL) in multi cultural classrooms have observed that some students become very involved in classroom conversation and discussion, whereas ethers tend to participate only in a hestical manner. The challenge for the teacher is not to allow the “ high involvement “ group to dominate discussions.
The cultures that Tannen characterizes as having “ high involvment” conversational styles include Russia ,Italian , Greek , Spanish, South American , Arab ,and African. In general , the various communication styles in Asian cultures (e.g. Chinese and Japanese) would be chracterized as “ high considerateness.” Mainstream American conversation style would also be characterized as “ high considerateness” , althought it differs significantly from the various Asian patterns. Thre are important regional and ethnic differences in conversation styles within the United States.

Incorrect Judgments of Characters
Americans can have problems when talking to each other because of differences. For example , New Yorkers tend to talk faster and respond more quickly ( high involvement) than Californians ( high considerateness). To some New Yorkers, Californians seem slower , less intelligent, and not responsive. To some Californian , New Yorkers seem pushy and domineering. The judgment that people make about regional differences within a country are similar to those they make about people from another culture. The reactions to such differencess are not usually expressed in the following reasonable fashion. “The way she speak s is different from my way of speaking. She must have had a different cultural upbringing. I won’t judge her according to my standards of what is an acceptable communication style”
Instead , people tend to make judgments such as , “ She’s loud, pushy , and domineering ,” or “ He doesn’t seem interested in talking. He’s very passive and uninvolved. “ The people interacting are forgetting that their respective cultural styles are responsible , in part , for their mannerisms and habits of communication. The important differences in communication create prblems of stereotyping and incorrect judgments among members of diverse groups.


Taken form :
Cross Cultural Understanding

By Kendra Nicole Staley, M.A

Chernobyl: A Tour of Ground Zero

The abandoned city of Pripyat in winter. Picture from SAM Travel Ukraine.

In the first part of this article, I briefly detailed the history of the Chernobyl disaster, the worst nuclear accident in history. Hundreds of thousands were affected, tens of thousands killed, and an entire city evacuated and abandoned. Today, the only life and economy that has returned the area, besides the workers involved in the ongoing cleanup, is a small, rugged tourist industry that takes the curious into what had been ground zero.  

I took a tour of Chernobyl through a company called SoloEast. Before booking, I had read it was a good idea to check around as prices can vary (at least partly depending on the size of the group). Besides SoloEast, I contacted New Logic, Sam and the Ukranian Hostel Association asking to join a group.

SoloEast was the first to respond – quoting me $185 for a group tour in which I would be joining ten other people. A few days later I got a response from New Logic, but they didn't give me a price quote because they were aware I had already received a quote from SoloEast, who are apparently connected with them. If you want to get several price quotes, I'd recommend that you contact different agencies using different email addresses and names.

There are several restrictions and many precautions set up on the tour. Those attending must be at least 18 years old, and you must bring your passport. You cannot wear shorts, open-toed shoes, or tank tops. Those that are not properly dressed are left behind.

Taking photos and video is allowed almost everywhere, except of checkpoints, security devices (including any fences) and certain areas specified by the guide.

Altogether the tour takes about nine hours (including travel time), and involves a lot less walking than I anticipated – we were in the bus most of the time. We met in Independence Square in downtown Kiev at 8:45 am. We were bussed to Chernobyl, about eighty miles away. The bus was equipped with televisions on which they showed a documentary film about the incident and its aftermath. The video is quite informative – so if you've skipped part one of this article, you can still be well-informed for the tour once you get there.

An abandoned classroom in Pripyat, near Chernobyl. While it looks ransacked, this is what happens to man-made things when man is not around to maintain them.

We reached the first checkpoint and piled out of the bus. One by one, they took our passports, checked their lists to make sure we were on it, and scrutinized our passport photos and faces as fat bees buzzed around our heads.

We got back in the bus and headed for ChernobylInterInform, a state-run agency founded to encourage the study of the area and incident and which also helps coordinate tours. At InterInform we were introduced to our guide, Vladimir. Vladimir, one of 130,000 nuclear refugees after the accident at Chernobyl, now works for the agency. He spoke in Russian and an interpreter translated. He told us about the accident, eagerly answered our questions, and showed us pictures that were taken of Chernobyl and the surrounding areas in the days and years following the disaster.

One picture that was particularly memorable showed an enormous junkyard with vehicles piled on top of each other. Some 1,500 vehicles, used as clean-up tools after the accident, were contaminated and hence dangerous, and most of them are still out in the open and not properly stored to this day. We were told we wouldn't be visiting any of the areas where service vehicles were located or buried. However, if you're interested in that, there's a special tour that focuses on the clean-up after the catastrophe.

Vladimir, our guide, told us that today workers who are participating in the clean-up work twenty minutes a day and earn a full-time salary. They are closely monitored to measure how much exposure they receive each time, and can only work until they reach a certain limit. Then, they must find new careers.

We signed a form that explained the rules (no wandering off from the tour guide, no picking stuff up or taking anything out of the area, no taking pictures in areas the guide specifies as a no-photo zone, etc.). There was also a release-from-liability section that stated that if this tour should in any way have any negative affect upon your health, you will in no way hold anyone other than yourself responsible. Everyone in the group signed and on that note, we set off for Reactor No. 4, where the explosion took place.

The guide, Vladimir, holds a detector over an exceptionally radioactive patch of ground.

Our guide had a radiation detector, and he held it up during the bus ride, so we knew when radioactivity was rising or falling. On the way to Reactor No. 4, we passed large fields and some forests. The fields intermittently had bright yellow signs sticking out of the ground, which showed where radioactive material had been buried so that future generations can eventually move the material to safer storage. We passed a wide, empty patch where there had once been trees, which had burned down not from fire, but from radiation.

We stopped along the road and got out of the minivan to look at a construction site. Reactors 5 and 6 had been begun but never finished and the bulldozers, material, and partially-constructed reactors had been left as they had been in 1986. We were told not to step off the road into the grass as this was an "unclean" (contaminated) area. Vladimir told us that the road we were on had been cleaned hundreds of times but becomes contaminated again because of the surroundings. The body of water ahead of us was highly contaminated. Thankfully, it's still water that does not flow to other areas. We were told that there was a water supply underneath Reactor No. 4, and if the concrete separating the radioactive material from the water broke, it would have contaminated Ukraine's entire water supply. Thankfully that didn't – and hasn't – happened.  Vladimir told us to stomp our feet – but not wipe them on the ground – for 15-30 seconds before getting back into the van.

We got out of the vehicle again, only 109 yards away from Reactor No. 4. We were given instructions not to photograph any part of the reactor that showed fence, entrance or exit points, – which was very difficult if not impossible. You had to decide whether to risk it – the Ukrainian police, known as "militsia" randomly check tourist' photos at checkpoints by clicking on the camera's review button. If they find any pictures breaking rules, they will confiscate them (often by taking the memory stick). The militsia reserves the right to confiscate any items from tourists taking the trip.

A botanical effect of the Chernobyl explosion. This tree is growing along the ground like a vine.

We all stared at Reactor No. 4 while Vladimir told us that nobody knows what is going on inside of it. The sarcophagus built around it to keep the radiation in has sealed it completely. Scientists can only theorize about what is going on inside: it's believed chemical reactions have given birth to new elements. We also learned that the hastily built sarcophagus is deteriorating. Several attempts had been made to begin a second protective layer around the first, but funding was – and still is – a major issue, and the project wasn't started until 2007. The new 1.7 billion dollar construction is estimated to be completed by 2012.

We got back in the minivan and headed for the ghost town of Pripyat, where there was another checkpoint where our passports were checked to make sure we were on the militsia's list. 

Pripyat was a city of 43,000 where the plant workers lived. Our guide told us that before the accident it had the highest birth rate in Ukraine. The city was prospering. Now, more than 20 years after the accident, the radiation level still makes the city uninhabitable. Most of the windows are broken. Trees and shrubbery are overgrown, slowly growing into the buildings. We were brought to an empty elementary school. The floors are covered with glass, papers, pieces of wood, books, notebooks, Soviet posters, and random items such as a shoe or a doll. You can still read the teachers' Russian writing on the chalkboards: one lesson was practice dictating telephone numbers. We also visited a commercial building with trees growing out of the floors, glass and other debris all over, walls missing – it looks like it had been through a war, but it's just the result of the elements' wear without human upkeep. We also walked through a recreation facility and amusement park – both built not long before the accident.

At the amusement park our guide, Vladimir, brought us over to a highly radioactive patch of grass about 6x4 feet in the middle of the concrete. "Don't step here," he said, as we all crouched around him snapping pictures of the radiation detector in his hand going berserk. He also showed us a deformed tree that was lying on its side with the branches growing straight up. After a few minutes at the amusement park, he said, "Let's go. We can't stay here. It's not clean."

Bumper cars left in the abandoned amusement park in Pripyat.

We got in the minivan again and Vladimir told us we were about to drive through a highly radioactive zone. Again he held up the radiation detector so we knew when radiation was rising or falling. By this time, the group mood was slightly depressed – no more questions for the guide, no dark banter tossed around. We all sat silently and either stared out the window or watched Vladimir's radiation detector. I think most of us were ready for the tour to be over.

We pulled up to a small building and were told to get out. It was the last control point, and it was time to measure our radiation. Vladimir showed us how to stand between two pieces of metal, looking forward with our hands placed on the sides while the machine took a few seconds to determine whether we were "clean." I had read in my guidebook that only one person on these tours had ever actually set it off – a Dutch photographer who had wandered off from the group.

We were brought back to InterInform and were stuffed full of borsh, bread, buns, carrot salad, fish, cabbage-stuffed pelmeni, and a turkey hotdish. They brought each dish out to us rapidly and if we hadn't finished the one prior they'd try to take it away. Our tables were piled with plates of food at various stages of consumption. Although there had been less walking than I thought there would have been, it had been an exhausting day both physically and emotionally and we found we were all starving. We got back in the bus, and most people slept on the way back to Kiev.

While a tour of a radioactive fallout-out zone is not likely to be something you would do twice or perhaps even want to do twice – it is something I'm glad I did once. 

By Lisa Horner
graduate of the Translate Abroad Program through The School of Russian and Asian Studies (SRAS)

The Sun

The sun

Now we continue the journey toward the sun. We already know the sun. Below are a few posts about the sun. what is the sun?

The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields. It has a diameter of about 1,392,000 km, about 109 times that of Earth, and its mass (about 2×1030 kilograms, 330,000 times that of Earth) accounts for about 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System. Chemically, about three quarters of the Sun's mass consists of hydrogen, while the rest is mostly helium. Less than 2% consists of heavier elements, including oxygen, carbon, neon, iron, and others.

The Sun is fueled by nuclear fusion reactions. The light from the Sun heats our planet and makes life possible. The Sun is also an active star that displays sunspots, solar flares, erupting prominences, and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena, which are all related to the Sun's magnetic field, impact our near-Earth space environment and determine our "space weather". In about five billion years, the Sun will evolve into a Red Giant, and eventually, a White Dwarf star. Many cultures have had interesting myths about the Sun, in recognition of its importance to life on Earth.

The parts of the Sun above the photosphere are referred to collectively as the solar atmosphere. The coolest layer of the Sun is a temperature minimum region about 500 km above the photosphere, with a temperature of about 4,100 K. This part of the Sun is cool enough to support simple molecules such as carbon monoxide and water, which can be detected by their absorption spectra.

sunboy

Above the temperature minimum layer is a layer about 2,000 km thick, dominated by a spectrum of emission and absorption lines. It is called the chromosphere from the Greek root chroma, meaning color.

Above the chromosphere, in a thin (about 200 km) transition region, the temperature rises rapidly from around 20,000 K in the upper chromosphere to coronal temperatures closer to 1,000,000 K.

The corona is the extended outer atmosphere of the Sun, which is much larger in volume than the Sun itself. The corona continuously expands into space forming the solar wind, which fills all the Solar System.[58] The low corona, which is very near the surface of the Sun, has a particle density around 1015–1016 m−3.

The heliosphere, which is the cavity around the Sun filled with the solar wind plasma, extends from approximately 20 solar radii (0.1 AU) to the outer fringes of the Solar System. Its inner boundary is defined as the layer in which the flow of the solar wind becomes superalfvénic—that is, where the flow becomes faster than the speed of Alfvén waves. Turbulence and dynamic forces outside this boundary cannot affect the shape of the solar corona within, because the information can only travel at the speed of Alfvén waves. The solar wind travels outward continuously through the heliosphere, forming the solar magnetic field into a spiral shape, until it impacts the heliopause more than 50 AU from the Sun. In December 2004, the Voyager 1 probe passed through a shock front that is thought to be part of the heliopause. Both of the Voyager probes have recorded higher levels of energetic particles as they approach the boundary.

Mars, "Red Planet"

Mars in 1980 as seen by the Viking 1 Orbiter

 After writing about the beauty of the place where on earth so now we see the planet mars.
Do you believe that one day humans could live on planet mars? Do you want to live in mars? So let's see how the situation on the planet mars. 

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.
Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the seasons. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the highest known mountain within the Solar System, and of Valles Marineris, the largest canyon. The smooth Borealis basin in the northern hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be a giant impact feature

Size comparison of Earth and Mars

Size comparison of Earth and Mars.

Mars has approximately half the radius of Earth. It is less dense than Earth, having about 15% of Earth's volume and 11% of the mass. Its surface area is only slightly less than the total area of Earth's dry land.
Mars has two permanent polar ice caps. During a pole's winter, it lies in continuous darkness, chilling the surface and causing 25–30% of the atmosphere to condense out into thick slabs of CO2 ice (dry ice). When the poles are again exposed to sunlight, the frozen CO2 sublimes, creating enormous winds that sweep off the poles as fast as 400 km/h. These seasonal actions transport large amounts of dust and water vapor, giving rise to Earth-like frost and large cirrus clouds. Clouds of water-ice were photographed by the Opportunity rover in 2004.

The tenuous atmosphere of Mars

The atmosphere on Mars consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and contains traces of oxygen and water. The atmosphere is quite dusty, containing particulates about 1.5 µm in diameter which give the Martian sky a tawny color when seen from the surface.
Martian surface temperatures vary from lows of about −87 °C (−125 °F) during the polar winters to highs of up to −5 °C (23.0 °F) in summers. The wide range in temperatures is due to the thin atmosphere which cannot store much solar heat, the low atmospheric pressure, and the low thermal inertia of Martian soil.
Mars’ average distance from the Sun is roughly 230 million km (1.5 AU) and its orbital period is 687 (Earth) days. The solar day (or sol) on Mars is only slightly longer than an Earth day: 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35.244 seconds. A Martian year is equal to 1.8809 Earth years, or 1 year, 320 days, and 18.2 hours.

Phobos (left) and Deimos (right)

Mars has two tiny natural moons, Phobos and Deimos, which orbit very close to the planet. Both satellites were discovered in 1877 by Asaph Hall, and are named after the characters Phobos (panic/fear) and Deimos (terror/dread) who, in Greek mythology, accompanied their father Ares, god of war, into battle. Ares was known as Mars to the Romans.

Photograph of a Martian sunset taken by Spirit at Gusev crater, May 19, 2005.

Do you still want to live in mars? I would rather prefer to live on earth, because earth is a planet that has been created by God for human life. So I think the earth is the best place for human beings.