Those who have seen Rome, either live or on media might be wondering how the historic city looked when it was in its peak of its power. Well, you no more have to imagine things; experts have revived the Roman city, virtually at least and have unveiled the largest and the most completed simulation of a historic city.

The concept is similar to that on online virtual world complete with avatars that explore the monuments and even the villa of Livia, wife of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. Visitors can wander through these rebuilt monuments and interact with the characters virtually to get the feel of the historic place. The avatars can even fast forward to the 21st century and show you the monuments as they look today.

How did they come up with it? Experts made use of satellite imagery and satellite images, and studied ancient texts to digitalize over 1.8 million hectares of the terrain and reconstruct the roads and monuments as they looked in first century A.D. The virtual reconstruction hosted in downtown Rome at the Museum of the Diocletian Baths cost more than US$1.1 million.

What can you expect? You enter the darkened room of the museum wearing 3D glasses and four visitors pick their avatars and control them with the joysticks and computer screens while the rest of the audience follow them on the movie screen. As you visit the monuments, you get to interact with the characters like the empress and the emperor, as well as a gardener of those times explaining the monuments and the history of the city.

Sadly, you need to know Italian language to understand what they have to say but it sure won’t stop you from enjoying the virtual tour.

via:USAtoday

Indeed, Edmund Hillary was a rare embodiment where adventure converged with humility, and determination with philanthropy. No doubt, physically he is not with us, but in hearts, he will ever remain!

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Until now, foreign tourists had the option of paying the entrance fee to the Taj in either dollar or the Indian rupee. The ruling that will become effective from next week will require foreign tourists to pay either Rs 250 or Rs 100. This will be applicable not only in the Taj Mahal but also in the other 120 sites run by the Archaeological Survey of India, of which 27 are World Heritage sites.

International tourists have often complained of the hefty entrance fees extracted from them while the Indian tourists require paying only Rs 20 or Rs 10. The Indian government claims that there is nothing wrong with the apparent discrimination as an average foreigner earns more than an Indian common person. However, the government has decided that the nationals from the SAARC countries and the people with People of Indian Origin card will not be required to pay the high fee.

Source:bbc
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I’ll give you 500 Francs to get rid of him.

Now that’s not really being friendly, is it?

Source: Dailymail

Image credit: Magicswitzerland

The increasing popularity of low fare airlines have made railway authorities sit up and take action. In the jet-setting age, where time is money, it’s hard to find people opting for rail travel. If not for the price factor, most tracks would have been redundant by now. However, French railway authorities are on their way to make rail travel interesting and enticing by offering on board personalized services. If you are traveling in France on the new IDTGV trains, you might as well have a blast while you travel. Whether you are traveling alone or with your gang of friends and family, these new trains have something to offer for every passenger.

Want to watch a movie to kill time? No problems, you can order your favorite movie on the on-board DVD rentals. Forgot to bring a magazine? You can buy the magazines of your choice too. How about renting games console and enjoy some action? That’s not all; they even plan to have talent competitions on board and events like wine tasting, beauty treatments, and cabarets. The barista is at your service offering a gourmet menu to satisfy your taste buds.

The whole idea is to attract young travelers who don’t mind traveling all night as long as they ‘passer un bon moment’ (have fun) and the tickets are of course relatively cheaper than other trains. But if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy loud music and the chatter of fellow travelers, you can check in at the iDZen zone where mobile phones are switched off and no noisy equipment around to ensure your sleep time is peaceful.

It’s party time on the train folks!

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Tourmag

Source:News.com.au

Religious places like temples have been tourist attractions for ages. The fabulous architecture that they display is simply breathtaking to see. Tikal located in the northern Guatemala is one such city where the temple architecture is the main tourist attraction. Temples are categorized here from I to IV for the ease of identification. The ever-creeping vegetation and wildlife that surrounds Tikal creates a unique ambiance for the visitors. The temples here are the last remains of the Mayan civilization . Popularly known as Tikal ruins, this part of the world is like a tourist magnet. The downside of this trip is that the visitor will have to spend a night in the very humid Tikal National Park along with the mosquitoes that dwell in the area.

The pyramids, the Colosseum as well as the Great Tikal Plaza, add to the grandeur of the environment. The plaza is about the size of a baseball diamond. During the Mayan days, the plaza was probably the most happening place in Tikal. This historical tourist spot was open to public back in the year 1955. Besides the pyramidal temples, there are limestone structures in the area that also attract plenty of attention.

Besides the fact that Temple I is the first in the category, the unique architecture attracts the eye of tourists to this building. The pyramid reaches about 150 feet, which I think is a pretty big structure. However, Temple IV is the tallest with a height of 200 feet or so. If you are visiting this ancient tourist spot, the closest town to the area is El Remate. La Casa de Don David would be a great place to stay. The hotel will make all the necessary travel arrangements for you. Just make sure you buy plenty of water for your Tikal trip. Vegetarian food is easily available in the area. So, if you are still wondering where to go for your next vacation, think Tikal.

Egypt holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest civilization and it’s natural that the place offers a glimpse into the past; takes you through the life in ancient times and enrich you with the history of civilization.

If you thought that Egypt was all about pyramids, deserts and ancient temples, you must check out the priceless rock-art in the mountains of Gilf Kabir and Jebel Ouenat. You can see 6,000 year old pictures carved on rocks and these images of people, animals, and hunting scenes tell you interesting stories of those times.

The tragedy however is that there has been no effort from the government to preserve its rich cultural heritage. The place that could have been tapped as an excellent tourist destination is marred with filth, portraits of nude women etched over the art and damaging the rocks by pouring water and oil over them.

Tourists pay up to $10,000 for a two-week expedition and are disappointed to see the marred landscape. Efforts are on to get this place recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site and should this happen, tourists may savor the rock-art in cleaner environment.

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Unique structures designed to perfection are a visual pleasure;the Regatta Hotel in Jakarta is one such architectural marvel. The aerodynamically shaped 5-star hotel follows a nautical theme representing a ‘lighthouse’ and ten apartment towers representing tall ships dot its surroundings overlooking the Java Sea. The aw-inspiring property is built on an area totaling 16,991 square meter featuring 320 units, luxury boutique, Health and fitness spa, Ball room and Business center. The hotel assures world class hospitality and ultimate comfort of seaside living to its clients. The Regatta is all set to be an iconic building giving a new face to the urban development in the Indonesian capital.

Source: Architecturelist

International tourism is on a new high with people increasingly preferring exotic locations as their travel destinations. The industry is going all the way to pamper its international clients and travelers are willing to spend for the luxury and service they get. The tourism sector accounts for five percent of the global carbon emissions.

Taking a flight is the only option for the traveler to reach his destination quickly. But the aviation sector spews an incredible 600 mega-tons of carbon each year and it is only expected to increase with the tourism boom. Added to this is increasing power consumption in providing air-conditioned rooms, fresh linen every day, pristine bleached swimming pools and exotic menu for which the ingredients travel thousands of miles.

The world's least developed countries get their major revenue from the foreign exchange they earn from tourism and it's vital for these countries to adopt eco-tourism and take steps to see that they do not contribute to global warming. Travelers are aware of they fact they leave carbon footprints and are willing to make an effort on reducing the impact on the environment.

Sixty tourism ministers pledged to make an effort to adopt green tourism in their countries in Davos this year, a sign showing that the governments are equally concerned about the climate changes and its effects.