Taiwan Travel


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Taiwan Vacations & Tourism, Taiwan Hotels, Taiwan Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase Taiwan: Search Travel Travel > Guides > Asia > Taiwan Email this page Print Taiwan Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of Taiwan Top Cities in Taiwan Taipei Kaohsiung Sun Moon Lake Taichung Nantou Taoyuan Taitung Hsinchu Peitou Pingtung Hualien Ilan Chiayi Keelung Chang Hua Yangmingshan See all cities in Taiwan View larger image Taiwan has always been a popular refuge from mainland China. Over the centuries, everyone from fortune hunters and farmers to persecuted minorities and exiled members of the royal court has found a haven there. And when the nationalists fled the Communist takeover of the mainland in 1949, taking with them the imperial collection of Chinese artifacts, … Read More Popular Taiwan Hotels Taipei The Landis Taipei Hotel Santos Hotel Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Les Suites Taipei-Da An Le Petit Sherwood, Taipei Kaohsiung Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung Grand Hi-Lai Hotel The Grand Hotel Splendor Hotel The Ambassador Hotel Kaohsiung Sun Moon Lake Yangs Wood International Resort Taichung The Landis Taichung Hotel The Splendor Taichung Evergreen Laurel Hotel Taichung Hotel National Taichung Howard Prince Hotel Taichung Nantou The Lalu, Sun Moon Lake Crystal Chinatrust Resort Sun Link Sea Hotel Han Kuang Hotel Sun Moon Lake Chinatrust Taoyuan Ta Shee Taiwan Hotel Kuva Chateau Taoyuan Chinatrust Landmark Hot Hotel Today Taoyuan Nanhwa Plaza Hotel Taitung Hotel Royal Chihpen Rainbow Hotel Jyh Been Hsinchu The Ambassador Hotel Royal Hsinchu Hotel Lakeshore Hotel Chinatrust Hotel Hsinchu A S E Suites Expert Advice on Taiwan Related Information Popular Attractions in Taiwan Shihlin Night Market Tamshui Ferry Terminal Taipei 101 Yangming Park Martyrs' Shrine Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Jao Ho Street Night Market Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Shin Kong Observatory Red Forest Eco-System Exhibition Gallery Popular Hotels in Taiwan The Landis Taipei Hotel The Landis Taichung Hotel Santos Hotel The Ambassador Hotel Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel The Splendor Taichung Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung Les Suites Taipei-Da An Royal Hsinchu Hotel Grand Hi-Lai Hotel Popular Cities in Taiwan Taipei Kaohsiung Sun Moon Lake Taichung Nantou Taoyuan Taitung Hsinchu Peitou Pingtung Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap airline tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .
Italy travel Florence -
Florence guide - Florence travel guide - Florence - guide to Florence - Italy travel Florence - airport Florence Florence guide - Florence travel guide - Florence - guide to Florence - Italy travel Florence - airport Florence - travel links Wednesday, 28 December 05 - 11:43 pm Top destinations Art Cities Beaches Lakes Mountains Spa Resorts Regions guides Abruzzo & Molise Alto Adige Apulia Basilicata & Calabria Campania Emilia Romagna Friuli Venezia Giulia Lazio Liguria Lombardy Marche Piedmont Sardinia Sicily Tuscany Trentino Umbria Valle d'Aosta Veneto Cities guides Aosta Asiago & 7 comuni Asolo Assisi Belluno & Dolomiti Venete Bologna Bolzano Brescia Bressanone Caorle & Bibione Capri Catania Cervia & Cesenatico's Beaches Chianti, Valdelsa, Valdarno Comacchio's Beaches Cortina d'Ampezzo Courmayeur M.Bianco Elba & Capraia Florence Garda Lake - Eastern Side Grosseto & Maremma Ischia Jesolo & Eraclea Como Lake & Lecco Lucca & Garfagnana Madonna di Campiglio Merano Milan Monte Cervino Montecatini Terme Naples Padua Palermo Pisa Portofino & Tigullio Gulf Ragusa Ravenna's Beaches Ravenna City Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica Riviera dei Fiori: Sanremo & Imperia Riviera del Brenta Rome Rovereto Rovigo e Delta del Po San Martino di Castrozza, Primiero, Val Venoi Siena Siracusa Sorrento & Amalfi Taormina Terme e Colli Euganei Turin Trento Treviso Val di Fassa Val di Fiemme Venice Verona Versilia & Viareggio Vicenza Florence Hotels Reserve Florence Hotels: save up 70% on rooms! Compare offers & book on line at hotel's web sites. About Tuscany Florence Guide Italy THINGS TO KNOW Getting there History and culture THINGS TO SEE Churches and Museums Places and charm THINGS TO TRY Eating and Drinking Shopping Hotels and lodgings THINGS TO EXPERIENCE Events La Dolce Vita ITINERARIES A special day Shopping in Florence Three places less than 40 km from Florence Directories of Web Sites Florence Italy Florence Hotels Downloads Florence Guide in PDF format Florence is an open-air exhibition of art and culture. It is famous worldwide, the heart of the Renaissance period and the home of the fine arts and literature. Florence has powerful symbols of Italian and European culture in every nook and cranny, to the extent that it is hard to identify this city with just one symbol. It may be the sculpture of David by Michelangelo , or perhaps the romantic Ponte Vecchio , or Giottos bell tower, but Florence could also be represented by famous people such as Leonardo Da Vinci , Michelangelo or Dante Alighieri , to name but a few . Getting there Getting to Florence is very easy from any Italian city since the city is an important railway and highway center... >>> History and culture In our tourists guide to Florence there had to be a section dedicated to the history of this wonderful city. Lets discover it together... >>> Churches and Museums We have chosen some of the most beautiful Churches and most interesting museums in Florence, for you to admire the masterpieces by Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi... >>> Places and charm Wandering around the city, discovering the hidden wonders and the most charming spots in Florence... >>> Eating and Drinking Florentine cooking is linked to a tradition of simple dishes prepared with genuine, tasty but plain ingredients, which has recently been reconsidered by the world of more sophisticated cuisine... >>> Shopping Florence has an antique tradition of craftwork: once upon a time, every area of the city was characterized by a particular kind of work: the sculptors studios, the leather goods makers, the blacksmiths and the goldsmiths... >>> Hotels and lodgings There are several types of accommodation available, depending on your budget: hostels to hotels: Florence has them all... >>> Events Florence is a lively city, full of local and international artistic and cultural events... >>> La Dolce Vita To get to know Florence, to become a part of the multi-faceted spirit of this city, you need to do more than just visit the museums, see the churches, palaces and monuments... >>> A special day For all those people in a rush due to their busy schedules, but who dont want to miss out on the pleasures of life, travelplan.it has dedicated a Florence itinerary with a morning-evening agenda... >>> Shopping in Florence For fashion addicts and fashion victims who are already familiar with the city and who are planning another stay in Florence, here is a made-to-measure itinerary... >>> Three places less than 40 km from Florence The area surrounding Florence is an excellent opportunity to relax, learn about things, enjoy oneself and make your taste buds happy... >>> More guides on: Region: Tuscany Tuscany Cities: Chianti, Valdelsa, Valdarno Elba & Capraia Grosseto & Maremma Lucca & Garfagnana Montecatini Terme Pisa Siena Versilia & Viareggio Click to view the map Servizi per le aziende Acquista la tua visibilità su Travel Plan Netplan Travel Network Travel Guides ItalyTravel Guides | VeniceTravel Guide | FlorenceTravel Guide | RomeTravel Guide | MilanTravel Guide | NaplesTravel Guide | Palermo Travel Guide | Taormina Travel Guide | SicilyTravel Guide | Cortina Travel Guide | VeronaTravel Guide | JesoloTravel Guide | Lucca & Garfagnana Travel Guide | Treviso Travel Guide | Ischia Travel Guide | Capri Travel Guide | Sorrento Travel Guide | Amalfi Travel Guide | More Italy Travel guides ... Hotels & Lodging Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Verona Hotels | Morehotels ... Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Capri Hotels | Ischia Hotels | More Italy Hotels ... Hotels | Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Verona Hotels | Mestre Hotels | Treviso Hotels | More Italy Hotels ... Venice Hotels | Cortina Hotels | Asolo Hotels | Hotel Golden Rome | Hotel San Niccolò - Chianti | Hotel Il Granduca Florence | Venice Travel Guide | Venice Booking Center | Venice Hotels Servizi per le aziende - Netplan Travel Network Links A1 A2 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 H2 I1 I2 J1 K1 L1 M1 N1 O1 P1 Q1 R1 S1 T1 U1 V1 W1 X1 Y1 Z1 AA1 AB1 AC1 AD1 AE1 AF1 AG1 AH1 AI1 AJ1 AK1 AL1 AM1 AN1 AN2 AO1 AP1 AQ1 AR1 AS1 AT1 AU1 AV1 AW1 AX1 AY1 AZ1 BA1 BB1 Italy Travel Guide © 2004 Fatto da: Netplan
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Japan Travel International Travel
Metropolis - Tokyo Japan Travel: God speed JAPAN TODAY | METROPOLIS | CLASSIFIEDS | PERSONALS | JOBS Issue Index Original Features Features Mini Features Cultural Features Life in Japan Big in Japan Rant & Rave Cars & Bikes Health & Beauty Interiors Practical Jobfinder Money Talks Tokyo Tech Web Watch Food & Drink Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Bar Reviews Word of Mouth Travel Travel Features Japan Travel International Travel Travelogue Style Art Artifacts Fashion Tokyo Talk In Store Buyline Music Japan Beat CD Reviews In Person Concerts Clubbing JAPAN TRAVEL Photos by Mary King The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine is the spiritual home of the Japanese nation. Mary King takes a pilgrimage. D own the ages various rumors and tales have circulated about the sacred mirror of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. It was once said that whoever laid eyes on the mirror would immediately be struck blind, a possible deterrent for would-be thieves. Others have claimed to have seen the mirror and reported that it is inscribed with ancient Hebrew lettering, reading “eheyeh asher eheyeh,” the name of the Judaic-Christian God written in Exodus 3:14 and meaning “I AM THAT I AM.” Heavenly abode Japan’s sacred mirror, one of three items of the Imperial Regalia, is kept in the Inner Shrine (Naiku) at Ise Grand Shrine, a sanctuary that many visitors to the Mie Prefecture city of Ise are astonished to discover they are not allowed to enter or even see. Ise Jingu, popularly known as “O-Ise-san,” or officially “Jingu,” holds the most honored position among the more than 100,000 Shinto shrines that are scattered throughout the breadth of Japan. The site of the nation’s most Holy of Holies, and boasting some of the world’s greatest architectural monuments, Jingu is also home to some of the simplest and most mysterious structures. Described as the “starting point for all journeys in Japan,” Ise is regarded as the spiritual home of the Japanese, a place to which most wish to make at least one pilgrimage to in their lives. In fact, more than six million pilgrims and worshipers come to Jingu each year, crossing the Uji Bridge spanning the sacred Isuzu River to symbolically leave behind the temporal world and enter a “pure world” of kami (gods and spirits) and the ancient mythology of the land. Odyssey Passing through the second huge torii at the end of Uji Bridge, a long gravel approach leads you through a natural cathedral of towering cryptomeria. Pilgrim and tourist alike are taken on a divine journey toward the Naiku and Geku, where Amaterasu and Toyouke (God of Abundant Food) are respectively worshipped. It is an unforgettable odyssey, one that spirits you back to the country’s earliest recorded “history” that tells of the “Age of Kami,” the creation of Japan and the origins of its people right through to the Imperial line and succeeding generations of emperors and empresses. The auxiliary shrines resemble ancient granaries The Geku (Outer Shrine) was dedicated to the grain deity Toyouke, possibly in a bid to bolster the new imperial cult that started, according to the myth, when Amaterasu sent her grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto, down to earth to rule. The Sun Goddess handed her grandson the mirror that had lured her out of her cave, along with Susano’s sword, and a curved jewel. The mirror (yata no kagami), along with the jewel and sword, remain the Three Imperial Regalia, symbols of divine authority, and to this day the emperor conducts rites to ensure a bountiful harvest as well as secret rituals in which he symbolically mates with the Sun Goddess. The high priestess of Ise, meanwhile, has traditionally been an Imperial princess, reflecting the nation’s early history of shamanesses, priestesses and ruling empresses. Having passed through large open grounds and crossed over a small bridge (hiyokebashi), you gradually move towards the more sacred area of the Naiku. To the right of the main pilgrimage path is located a font for the ablutions made by pilgrims prior to proceeding toward the main sanctuary grounds. Beyond the daiichi torii (first sacred gateway) are steps that lead to the Isuzu River, where since ancient times pilgrims have purified their body and mind by washing their hands in, and rinsing their mouths with, the waters of this sacred river. According to Shinto thought, one’s pure mind and body given by the kami must be ritually cleansed so as to return to a state of purity. Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined in the main sanctuary building, the Goshoden, of the inner sanctum of Naiku, in which the august mirror, her symbol or goshintai, is kept and worshipped. As they are considered most sacred, pilgrims or other visitors may see neither the mirror nor the main sanctuary. In fact, the only people allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, according to my guide, are members of the Imperial Family, although on one occasion, it is rumored, Queen Elizabeth was invited in. Restoration Except for the exalted mirror, all of Jingu’s other sacred shrines and objects must be reconstructed in synch with each 20-year Shikinen Sengyo cycle. The elaborate transference procession and ceremony involves the remaking of some 491 holy treasures, 1600 accessories and 125 kinds of sacred apparel that are then put in their proscribed places by the priests. Formerly used objects are kept in the nearby Jingu History Museum, which is open to the public. It is possible to find two absolutely identical Naiku and Geku standing side by side-one old, one new. In time the older one will be deconstructed and its wooden parts, now forever consecrated, recycled as repair pieces for other shrines around Japan. The newer one-once the transference of holy objects has been consummated-hence replaces the old as a locus of veneration. The shrines themselves are thought to resemble ancient granaries or storehouses and are built from Japanese cypress (hinoki) from the Kiso forestry preserves extending between the Gifu and Nagano Prefectures. Befitting the reverence accorded to these sanctified building blocks, death, loss of a limb, or imprisonment have, over the centuries, been the penalties for felling these jewels. A visit to the majestic Ise shrine allows one to understand why. Where to stay: Oaken, tel: 059-622-2589; Hinodekan, Tel: 059-628-2954; Saekikan, tel: 059-628-2017; Okubun, tel: 059-628-2231. Ise City Tourist Information, tel: 059-623-9655. TRAVELOGUE WORLD TRAVEL TRAVEL FEATURES JAPAN TRAVEL: SEPTEMBER 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine AUGUST 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet JULY 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes JUNE 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan MAY 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group APRIL 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain MARCH 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave FEBRUARY 356: Yamanashi Hakushu's hidden treasures 355: Waseda Tram Trip A streetcar named... 352/3: Aomori Jesus in Japan 351: Kumamoto Under the volcano in Kyushu 350: Sado Island Explore the forgotten charms of Shukunegi ISSUES 348- ISSUES 298- TOP