Waterfalls - Outstanding Natural Beauty

The basics behind a waterfall are the river comes to a point at the end of the high elevation of land and there is no where else for the water to go other than over the edge of the high point. At the base of the waterfall is layer of very hard rock and beneath that layer is a softer rock, with the pressure of the water coming down over the fall onto the rock it pushes the hard layer down and creates the pool where the water flows into. Over time the waterfall will recede back on itself and this creates what is known as a canyon or a gorge and as time goes by this canyon will get deeper into the underside of the waterfall. There are 10 different classes of waterfall which range from the Class 10 with waterfalls such as Niagara Falls and Khone Falls, Class 9 such as Victoria Falls and down, this classification of the waterfalls is done by the volume of water present on the falls and is a grading system to size the falls.

For many people they assume that the Niagara Falls is the largest of all the waterfalls, however this is not the case, the tallest of all the waterfalls is Angel Falls and this is a whopping 979 metres in height and the Niagara Falls is the worlds most powerful waterfall. Waterfalls have fascinated man for centuries and there has been a great deal of study and research gone into finding out more about them and how they came about. For many people though it is enough to marvel at their beauty and a visit to Niagara Falls is the only way you can truly appreciate exactly how powerful and awe inspiring these waterfalls are.

A fine example of this is the Victoria Falls which has a width of over 1.7km in length and is at a height of 108 metres and this forms the longest single stretch of waterfall anywhere in the world. The Victoria Falls also can be seen from over 25 miles away and is a huge spectacle within this region. The waterfalls are always so different and no one is the same as the other and this is what makes them so special. When the falls are accompanied by some of the most spectacular natural forest as well you will find they are a haven for wildlife and inspire peace, quiet and tranquility.

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London streets tell the city's history

Bleeding Heart Yard. Houndsditch. Spitalfields. Elephant and Castle.

London is filled with oddball place names, from pokey alleyways to grand thoroughfares - and a tourism organization has launched a monthlong campaign to tell the city's history through its streets.

Visit London's "Street Stories" initiative includes an event at Buckingham Palace where tourists participate in a game of "paille maille" - a 17th Century precursor to croquet that is believed to have given its name to the stately London avenue known as Pall Mall.

The origin of many of the unusual names is fairly straightforward: Houndsditch derives from the ditch where people dumped dead dogs in the Middle Ages, Bleeding Heart Yard from a legend that a noblewoman's still-pumping heart was found there after she was murdered in the 1620s.

In other cases, the names offer insights into how language - especially English - is an endlessly evolving thing that takes fascinating twists and turns through popular use.

Elephant and Castle, a south London neighborhood, purportedly comes from "La Infanta de Castilla," which in Spanish refers to Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish princess who was Henry VIII's first wife.

The corruption of the name was likely just an accident of time - reflecting Londoners' inability to pronounce foreign words rather than any malicious jab at Henry's legendary girth.

"Language changes and names don't make sense after a while. Elephant and Castle makes more sense than la Infanta de Castilla," said Ed Glinert, author of "The London Compendium: A Street-by-street Exploration of the Hidden Metropolis."

Spitalfields, the site of a famous market in east London, is a contraction of "Hospital Fields" - where the early 12th century New Hospital of St. Mary without Bishopsgate was located. Pall Mall, which cuts through the capital's center, probably got its name because British nobility was fond of playing "paille maille" on long, straight streets.

And Chalk Farm, in north London, is a corruption of "Chalcot Farm" - a place that no longer exists, but was chosen as the name for the nearby Underground stop simply because it was memorable.

Mary Tucker, who leads tours of historical neighborhoods for the company, London Walks, said her clients are eager to see the city in a different way.

"Street names are often a clue to what went on in an area in the past. We point out nooks and crannies, the little details you can only see by walking," she said.

Many of London's streets help narrate British history.

Portobello, the location of a famous antique market, was renamed for the capture of Puerto Bello in modern-day Panama during the 18th Century's War of Austrian Succession, which was fought mainly in central Europe.

The tony Knightsbridge neighborhood derived its name from the alleged duel two knights fought over a bridge.

One of the world's most famous streets gets its name from a stiff collar called a "picadil." A tailor who specialized in them built himself a grand mansion, which locals called Piccadilly Hall. Today, the nearby roundabout and Tube station is called Piccadilly Circus.

Cheapside, near the famous St. Paul's Cathedral, has nothing to do with being inexpensive: `cheap' comes from an Old English word meaning market and 'side' from the street running alongside the stalls.

Nearby streets like Milk Street, Bread Street and Poultry, one of the shortest streets in the world, indicate what was sold there, Glinert said.

"We're trying to get people off the beaten path," said Visit London spokeswoman Jacqueline French.


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A view from the top in the ‘land down under’

One of the best ways to enjoy a new travel destination is watching the place’s scenery unfold from a vantage point.

Australia’s natural as well as its metropolis’ viewpoints can literally lift visitors above and beyond. The Jakarta Post checks out some of the country’s breathtaking views in every way possible.

A view for the thrill seekers: There is no better place to enjoy Sydney’s Harbor than at the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, attached to a rail by a rope some 134 meters above sea level. And visitors can only peer at the view by climbing the bridge. The climb of our choice, the late twilight Discovery Climb, takes you and a few others to the heart of the bridge to gape at Sydney in the sunset, with the city lights gradually illuminating the harbor.

The journey up the bridge is simply magical. With a safety rope around your waist at all times, you walk from one steel pillar to another, up some rather steep stairs until you gradually reach the top of the bridge’s arch. It’s no secret the most-viewed landmark from the summit is Sydney’s Opera House. It’s grand and standing tall, though no one is actually taller than you are at that very moment.

A view of the best of both worlds: Imagine an elevator that can bring you to the 77th floor in less than 43 seconds. The Gold Coast’s renowned observation deck, QDeck, has one such elevator that takes its visitors 230 meters above sea level in unique surroundings.

As Australia’s only observation deck located along the beach and in the world’s tallest residential tower, QDeck has a view to die for. Well, make it two views. It has a view of the gorgeous white sand beach on one side and of the Gold Coast’s expanse of skyscrapers on another. The combination of both is a treat for both city and nature lovers. People say you cannot have it all, but QDeck proves it wrong.

A view with a twist: Okay, you might be able to guess what to expect from an observation deck, but Eureka Skydeck 88 in Melbourne city center has something others viewpoints don’t. With magnificent vistas of Melbourne’s skyscrapers from 88 storeys high, step in to The Edge for an extra A$12 and get ready to find out.

You’ll enter a glass cube with a translucent floor that will slowly move out of the building and take you three meters out from the edge of the main tower at 300 meters above the ground. Adding to the twist, gripping music plays in the background (obviously played on purpose) before the floor suddenly becomes see-through.

There you are, feeling like you’re in the middle of the sky and that any minute you can fall all the way down to that speck of a street below you. The guide actually told us if we fell, it would take less than 30 seconds for us to hit the ground, which was not a very reassuring thought. During these few minutes, you can hear your heart beat faster and faster. This pure adrenaline kick is not to be missed.

A romantic view for two: When driving along the 243-kilometers Great Ocean Road, stop at Apollo’s Bay Chris’ Beacon Point restaurant. The open view from the restaurant overlooking the Bass Strait is stunning. Make sure you reserve a seat close to the window and arrive just before dawn.

Anyone can easily linger there for hours, enjoying the impeccable Mediterranean cuisine and extensive list of French wines. And if a two-hour lunch or dinner break doesn’t satisfy your hunger for sceneries, book a night at Chris’ chic villa or studio for a gorgeous evening (and morning) to remember. Oh, and don’t tell anybody we tipped you about this “Will you marry me?” spot.

A 360-degree view: If you are dreaming of a priceless moment, try hiring a helicopter to take you over the Great Ocean Road. With the choice between a 10 to 50 minutes ride, the 12 Apostles Helicopter ride brings its passengers spectacular views of natural lime stones and sandstones dotting the ocean.

Travelers will have unobstructed views of the famous (not to mention gorgeous) 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge for a reasonable A$95 per person. And for a few dollars more, the helicopter can bring you to London Bridge and even to West Victoria’s most southern point, Cape Otway Lighthouse.

While up there, the pilot will also be your guide and tell you short stories about the natural wonder spread out below you. Relish some picture-postcard moments as the helicopter maneuvers its way to give you this rocking view of the rocks. Unforgettable.

A view before a good night sleep: Located in the corner of George Street, the Four Seasons Sydney hotel has the advantage of having a view of the Sydney Opera House as well as serving you the final dessert of the day. The 53-square-meters Premier Full Harbour-View room is the perfect place to be when saying good night to the iconic city landmark. We also recommend the Gold Coast’s Q1 Resort & Spa accommodation located just below QDeck and The Langham Melbourne for its Yarra River view.

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