Place Reviews (Thursday)

Category Archives for Place Reviews (Thursday).

Appraising Brasília -How does this planned city rate?

I had been long been fascinated by the architecture, the structure, the layout and its impact on the people who call Brasilia home. Some people say its a success and others warn of its  failures. Brasilia is the 160th city over 100 000  people I have visited. And I have rated every city and update the ratings regularly!!! (ESFJ personality). These ratings are based on my perceptions and experiences. Overall Rating out of 100 I gave Brasília an overall score of 81.4 per cent. This gives it  74th place out of the 160th cities I have visited. Bizarrely…

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Beautiful Brazil- My 50th Country visited

Brazil, the first country I have been to in South America is the 50th country I have visited.  It also popped into my top ten favourite countries in the world. I loved Brazil! Geography To misquote Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: “Brazil is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it’s a long walk down the road to the chemist, but that’s just peanuts to Brazil“. As the fifth largest country in the world, total area is 8,514,877 km2 (3,287,597 sq mi ). For US people that’s almost…

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Boggling Brasília- Overview of a planned metropolis

In the TV Sitcom Big Bang theory, the main character, Sheldon, is asked by Rajesh to imagine himself in the one place he feels most at home: He replies: Simcity -or more specifically the Simcity I designed Sheldonopolis.Rajesh: OK you are in SheldonopolisSheldon: Where exactly? Sheldon square, Sheldon Towers, Sheldon Stadium, home of the fighting Sheldons….” I wonder what would happen if we indeed stepped into a Simcity creation? Here you go: For me visiting Brasília, the capital of Brazil a city planned and built in the late 1950s, is akin to visiting a Simcity creation…

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Being in Beirut

Bombed building from civil war Whats the first thing you think of when you think Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon? Chances are: “war zone”, “Destroyed”, “unsafe”, “terrorist”. A website called Lebanon News: Under the Rug Swept features the Looks Like Beirut Certificate which notes  the times “people compare Beirut to destruction”. For the world forgets that the Lebanese Civil War ended. It was a horrific war which claimed too many lives and did indeed destroy swathes of Beirut. But the war stopped over 20 years ago. Today, Beirut is becoming the place to visit. Lonely Planet…

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What is your country’s “Brand” worth – basically what does the world think of your country?

There are two rankings of countries by the world based on how that country is perceived by others. 1. The 2010 Country Brand Index- was developed by FutureBrand in partnership with BBC World News and appears to focus more on the country’s tourist brand 2. The 2010  Nation Brands Index  was developed by Anholt-GMI The Rankings for 2010: Country Brand Nation Brands Index 01 Canada 1. United States 02 Australia 2. Germany 03 New Zealand 3. France 04 United States 4. United Kingdom 05 Switzerland 5. Japan 06 Japan 6. Canada 07 France 7. Italy 08 Finland…

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Images of Beirut March 2011

Some pictures of Beirut.   Building shelled in the civil war   towards the Mediterranean   I assume new tower because of war damage       Display in shop made out of soap   glassware             I have no idea why these boys were dancing on the Corniche In downtown Beirut     fountain where i was told not to take more pics   Woman feeding cats on the Corniche     costumed waiter Roman ruins near Martyr Square

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MyTop Cities of the World 2010

My Top Ten Cities Paris remains my Number One in the world. What I like overall about Paris is that it works. The infrastructure is a dream with world’s best public transport , water, sewerage, and electricity systems. Add to that amazing culture, fantastic streetscapes and mind bogglingly wonderful food. I was shocked to find I can buy an apartment there for less than I can in my own city Melbourne, Australia. Tourists: buy breakfast at a bakery not your hotel and get lunch supplies at the local marches (markets) for amazing quality and a sense of authenticity.…

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I viist my 46th US State

  The USA has 50 States, one District and five Territories.  With my recent West Virginia visit, I have now been to 46 of those US States…four to go: Iowa Nebraska North Dakota Alaska I have also been to three of the US territories (Guam/Puerto Rico/US Virgin Islands)…two to go:  American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Questions: Does anyone know how many states the average American has been to?  The average number a non-American tourist has been to?  How many Americans know how many territories they have? Which states have you visited and which have you missed?…

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