Mount Roland

This 1233m mountain composed of conglomerate rock provides a spectacular backdrop for the Kentish District in North West Tasmania. Mount Roland is an imposing monolith with a majestic presence at the north-western edge of Tasmania’s central plateau. It stands 10 km southeast of the small town of Sheffield.

RR: Vacation RR
Date: March 13

Şanlıurfa

Among the dozens of historical sites in Şanlıurfa, one of the most popular encompasses the 250-year-old conical dome houses nestled in the Harran district. Known as beehive houses, this building type is not seen elsewhere in Turkey and is rare in the rest of the world. Each dome on a house represents a room and the number of domes reveals the financial status of the household. When you first enter the building, especially during hot summer days, you feel satisfyingly cool: thanks to their unique architectural design, the homes provide a cooler climate during the summer and are warmer during the winter.

Tag: Favourites tag
Date: March 31

Port Arthur Historic Site

World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site is the best preserved convict site in Australia, and among the most significant convict era sites worldwide.  Between 1830 and 1877, about 12,500 convicts served sentences at what is now the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site. More than 30 buildings and ruins dot the Tasman Peninsula site, ranging from a large penitentiary, which was originally constructed as a flour mill, to a roofless church built by convicts. Sombre scenes such as the much-feared isolation cells of the Separate Prison are contrasted by the neat homes and gardens of the settlement of soldiers and free settlers that arose around the prison.

Unesco: Australian Convict Sites
RR: Australia & New Zealand x World RR
Date: March 9

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is an arch monument built during the 20th century in Mumbai. The monument was erected to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder on their visit to India in 1911.

Tag: Favourites tag
Date: March 23

Azulejos

The glazed ceramic tilework, known as azulejo, is prominent across the interiors and exteriors of Portugal. The term azulejo comes from the Arabic word azzelij, meaning 'little polished stone'. The tilework dates back to the 13th century, in the period just after the Moors invaded Portugal and brought parts of their culture to their invaded lands. But it wasn’t until the 16th century that azulejos became a more popular fixture in Portugal.

Tag: Tag me if you can - Albums
Date: April 2

Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake is a crystal-clear freshwater lake in Coron, the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan. It features underwater rock formations, caves and islets. It’s a popular spot for photographers, for fairly obvious reasons, and is said to be the cleanest lake in all of the Philippines. The water is so clear that you can often see down to a depth of 10 metres, enabling even non-swimmers to see the untouched rock formations from viewpoints around the lake.

RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: March 26

Shuzheng Lakes

Shuzheng Lakes are at 2,215 m the lowest series of lakes in Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park. Jiuzhaigou is a nature reserve and national park located in the north of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. A long valley running north to south, Jiuzhaigou was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992. It  is renowned for its scenic and aesthetic majesty. Its fairyland landscape of numerous lakes, waterfalls, and limestone terraces, with their attractive, clear, mineral-rich waters, set in the spectacular alpine mountains with a highly diverse forest ecosystem, demonstrates remarkable natural beauty.

Unesco: Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
RR: Unesco RR
Date: March 23

University of Virginia

University of Virginia was founded by Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson. It is known for its historic foundations, student-run honor code and ground breaking research. The Academical Village still forms the heart of the University of Virginia, and exhibits a unique U-shaped plan dominated by the Rotunda with pavilions, hotels, student rooms, and gardens arrayed in rows to its south. The buildings are excellent and highly personalized examples of Neoclassicism, shown in their relationship to the natural setting and their blending of functionalism and symbolism.

Unesco: Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville
RR: Unesco RR
Date: April 2

Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania

The south-eastern Transylvania region in Romania currently has one of the highest numbers of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries. These Transylvanian villages with their fortified churches provide a vivid picture of the cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. The seven villages inscribed, founded by the Transylvanian Saxons, are characterized by a specific land-use system, settlement pattern and organization of the family farmstead that have been preserved since the late Middle Ages. They are dominated by their fortified churches, which illustrate building styles from the 13th to the 16th century.

Unesco: Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania
RR: Unesco RR
Date: April 4

Nangiloc

Nangiloc, a small rural community in North Western Victoria on the south bank of the Murray River, about 50 km south east of Mildura. The area has become increasingly well known for its gourmet wines and fresh fruit industries. Also many niche agricultural goods are produced in this area. Crops like avocado, pistachio and almonds are well established. The area is also well known as a camping destination. There are many bush reserves along the banks of the Murray river that showcase the Mallee bush and its subtle beauty.

Many thanks Marnie!
Date: March 7