World's Best RuinsProvided by:   Machu Picchu, Peru Photo: Thinkstock/iStockphoto More from SmarterTravel.com More from Yahoo! Travel Ruins reach across centuries to fire the imagination and fuel travel plans. The very best make you feel young, small, and utterly amazed by the architectural chops of the ancients. Among the many amazing ruins that still exist today, a few stand out as the trip of a lifetime. No matter which ruins you visit, a few rules hold true: Time your trip for the less crowded times of day, often early or late. Give yourself plenty of time, as some ruins require days of exploration. Hire a knowledgeable guide, since the history is rich but the signage is often cursory. And get beyond the most popular parts of the ruin; you'll need a bit of quiet space to appreciate this kind of ancient majesty. Machu Picchu, PeruThe journey to Machu Picchu is epic even with relatively newfangled transportation like trains. But each year, about 25,000 people forgo the more direct routes and walk for days along the 27-mile Inca Trail to reach the ruin. Since its rediscovery a century ago, this treasure of the Inca set high in a cloud forest of the Peruvian Andes has captured imaginations worldwide. The massive stone blocks tell the story of both a sprawling agricultural zone with terracing and ancient food storehouses and an urban zone replete with temples, squares, tombs, and living quarters. If you're considering a trek to Machu Picchu, plan ahead: You can only make the hike with a licensed company, and spots book up quickly, especially in high season.  Acropolis, Greece Photo: Thinkstock/iStockphoto Acropolis, GreeceWaiting for the traffic to speed past at a crowded intersection in Athens, you're likely to forget that history keeps constant watch over the city. Glance up, however, and you'll catch the view Athenians and visitors alike have been admiring for the last 2,500 years. Time has battered the once-pristine temples and gates that crown the hill of the Acropolis, leaving stone ruins that retain a familiar splendor even after thousands of years of wear and destruction. The elegant proportions of the fifth-century B.C. Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike—both dedicated to the city's patron deity—are a reminder of how much we still rely on ancient Greece for our concepts of beauty.  Mesa Verde, United States Photo: Thinkstock/iStockphoto Mesa Verde, United StatesGreat ruins aren't always an ocean away: Some of the best preserved Native American cliff dwellings in North America reside in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Home to the Ancestral Puebloans—whose descendants became 20 different Southwestern tribes, including the Hopi and Zuni—Mesa Verde traces 700 years of history across 4,000 archeological sites. Visit mesa-top pueblos and the dwellings built beneath massive overhanging cliffs. Ascend steep trails and ladders, or crawl through tunnels to explore ancient architecture such as the 150-room Cliff Palace or the hard-to-reach Balcony House. The park's hours vary by season, and not all sites are open year-round.  Angkor, Cambodia Photo: Thinkstock/iStockphoto Angkor, CambodiaWar or natural disaster might have weakened the Khmer Empire's ancient capital, but ultimately, it was the jungle that conquered this ninth- to fifteenth-century urban center. Today, the densely forested 150-square-mile Angkor Archaeological Park protects part of a vast cluster of ancient capitals, many of which remain buried. The park's most famous temple, Angkor Wat, is the world's largest religious building. But the park's dozens of other ruins, including Bayon temple with its wall of 11,000 carved figures, offer quieter glimpses into the art and architecture of this culturally rich 600-year period.  Great Pyramids And Memphis, Egypt Photo: Thinkstock/iStockphoto Great Pyramids And Memphis, EgyptPolitical unrest or no, a roundup of the world's best ruins can't exclude Egypt. The last existing ancient wonder of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza stands as a lone window into the far past. With more than 4,000 years to ponder the question, experts still can't agree on how the builders placed more than 2 million stone blocks so perfectly. The rest of the Giza Necropolis holds more wonders: two more Great Pyramids, built during 80 years by 20,000 to 30,000 workers, plus the Great Sphinx, cemeteries, and the ruins of a village. The pyramids are part of a larger UNESCO World Heritage site that includes Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. A trip can even include some up-close-and-personal time: Visitors can explore the interiors of some of the pyramids. And the recent drop in tourism offers intrepid travelers the rare chance to experience the pyramids without the usual crowds.  Tikal, Guatemala Photo: Thinkstock/iStockphoto Tikal, GuatemalaStay overnight in the national park for the ultimate experience at Tikal, an ancient Maya city in northernGuatemala that was home to 90,000 people before being abandoned in the tenth century. Early the next morning, before the park opens to the general public, join a small group making the trek through a jungle awash in the pre-dawn symphony of birds and insects. Climb to the top of Temple IV, the Temple of the Two-Headed Serpent, to witness a sunrise that reveals ancient temples and pyramids rising from the verdant forest blanket. You've still got hours to explore this vast complex of pyramids, temples, and plazas before the big crowds roll in. Along the way, catch glimpses of brown coatis, toucans, howler monkeys, and some of the hundreds of other species to call Tikal home.  Petra, Jordan Photo: Thinkstock/Photos.com Petra, JordanHailed as a "rose-red city half as old as time" in a 19th-century poem, the ancient city of Petra was half built and half carved into red sandstone cliffs. Nabataean Arabs established the city in the sixth century B.C., and for hundreds of years it thrived as a trade center for frankincense, myrrh, and spices. Now, as then, enter the ruins of the city through a narrow, half-mile-long gorge squeezed between cliffs nearly 300 feet high. Inside, explore architecturally elaborate tombs and temples, sacrificial altars, and even a Roman-style amphitheater. Most people explore on foot, but visitors can also ride camels and donkeys. The sun lights up the red cliffs of Petra most dramatically in mid-morning and late afternoon, so be sure to time your visit accordingly.  Colosseum, Italy Photo: Thinkstock/Hemera Colosseum, ItalyDigitally reimagined in Hollywood blockbusters such as Gladiator, the camera really shaves millennia off Rome's Colosseum. But the 2,000-year-old ruins are so evocative up close that special effects seem superfluous. With a bloody history of fights to the death between gladiators, slaves, prisoners, and wild animals, the Colosseum held 50,000 spectators or more in its heyday. Later, Romans used the abandoned arena as a quarry: Stones from the Colosseum are part of the cathedrals of St. Peter and St. John Lateran. Last summer, entirely new sections of the ruin—including the basement— were opened for tours.  Great Wall Of China, China Photo: Thinkstock/Hemera Great Wall Of China, ChinaLike a dragon, the Great Wall of China slithers its way across the landscape for about 4,500 miles, and, like a dragon, the wall protects something treasured. Constructed to shelter China's people and culture from the outside world, the "Long Wall of 10 Thousand Li" was built during 2,000 years by many imperial dynasties. While some parts of the wall are in ruins or have disappeared entirely, other sections have been restored or preserved. The most popular section today is the Badaling Great Wall, close to Beijing. Slightly farther from the capital city and offering a more rugged (and less crowded) experience is the Great Wall at Mutianyu. In Qinhuangdao City, the Laolongtou Great Wall actually stretches into the sea, and is said to resemble a dragon drinking water.  Palmyra, Syria Photo: Thinkstock/Photos.com Palmyra, SyriaTwice a day, at sunrise and sunset, the Bride of the Desert blushes, even 18 centuries after her birth.Palmyra, also known as Tadmor, is in the desert northeast of Damascus, Syria, and was once a wealthy caravan oasis along the Silk Road, linking Persia, India, and China with the Roman Empire. At a crossroads of cultures, the ruins of grand colonnaded streets, temples, funerary towers, and aqueducts demonstrate a mingling of influences that made this an awfully cosmopolitan place for the second century. Palmyra was also home to the warrior queen and conqueror Zenobia, and tour guides tell exciting tales that give this seemingly isolated place a starring role in world history. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40006586 |
Minggu, 15 Mei 2011
World's Best Ruins
Inilah Manfaat Facebook Bagi Siswa Sekolah
VIVAnews – Situs jejaring sosial seperti Facebook bisa membantu pelajar dalam berinteraksi secara sosial dan akademik, yang akhirnya meningkatkan hasil belajar. Kesimpulan ini diambil dari studi yang dilakukan peneliti asal China dan Hong Kong.
Sekelompok peneliti asal University of Science and Technology of China dan City University of Hong Kong menyebutkan, temuan mereka berkontradiksi dengan pemahaman selama ini bahwa situs jejaring sosial merupakan pengganggu yang mengalihkan konsentrasi belajar.
Temuan mereka, yang dipublikasikan diInternational Journal of Networking and Visual Organizations, justru mengungkapkan bahwa jejaring sosial online secara langsung mempengaruhi social learning dan bisa mempengaruhi secara positif pembelajaran akademik.
“Pola jaringan sosial di Facebook umumnya adalah dalam bentuk modus inti dan pinggiran. Tiap individu memiliki hubungan dekat dengan teman-teman inti dan hubungan yang jauh dengan banyak teman lain,” sebut salah satu peneliti, seperti dikutip dari media UPI, 14 Mei 2011.
Untuk itu, aplikasi jejaring sosial seperti Facebook menawarkan platform yang efisien bagi kegiatan bersosial siswa dengan memperluas jaringan pertemanan mereka dan menjaga hubungan akrab.
Dalam survey yang dilakukan, diketahui bahwa Facebook memungkinkan siswa berhubungan akrab dengan para pengajar dan siswa lain. Mereka menyediakan platform untuk berinteraksi dan berbagi pengetahuan. Facebook juga menyediakan fasilitas group untuk para siswa bergabung dan membahas berbagai topik, berkolaborasi dan menggunakan aplikasi pendidikan untuk mengelola aktivitas belajar.
“Ke depannya, institusi pendidikan mungkin perlu mengadopsi metode aktif (namun tetap terkendali) seperti ini untuk memanfaatkan aplikasi jejaring sosial seperti Facebook untuk proses belajar-mengajar,” sebut peneliti.
Ngomik.com Tambahkan Fitur Baru
Ngomik.com Tambahkan Fitur Baru dan Undang Penerbit Untuk Bekerja Sama
Kalau melihat tampilan situs mereka, Ngomik juga telah memperbaharui (lagi) tampilan situs mereka, terakhir DailySocial membahas tampilan Ngomik sekitar bulan Oktober tahun lalu, kini tampilan mereka menggunakan latar belakang hitam, layout yang berubah, dengan menampilkan menu pilihan kategori komik di bagian atas (lengkap dengan ikon komik) dan daftar berbagai komik yang tersedia pada bagian bawahnya. Selain itu logo mereka juga berubah, kini ikon ‘balon’ percakapan dengan elemen wayang melengkapi typography di logo mereka.
Seperti yang dikirimkan lewat email, beberapa fitur baru yang dirilis mereka antara lain fasilitas mural dari Ngomik, yang berguna untuk mempublikasikan komentar, kini mirip dengan fasilitas komentar di Facebook, pengguna bisa saling memberikan komentar langsung dari postingan yang ada.
Fasilitas lain yang ditambahkan Ngomik adalah fasilitas embed. Kini komikus bisa ‘menempelkan’ komik mereka di blog pribadi mereka untuk mempermudah dalam mempromosikan atau menyebarkan informasi tentang komik yang mereka buat, dari keterangan blog Ngomik, fasilitas ini belum bisa diterapkan untuk WordPress. Fasilitas ini juga hanya tersedia secara langsung untuk komik gratis yang ada di Ngomik.
Layanan lain yang kini dipersiapkan oleh Ngomik adalah fasilitas bagi penerbit yang ingin melakukanpreview atas berbagai komik yang mereka terbitkan, Ngomik kini mengumumkan bahwa mereka terbuka untuk bekerja sama dengan penerbit dan mengundang mereka untuk memberikan cuplikan atas komik yang sedang atau akan mereka terbitkan. Tentunya fasilitas ini berguna untuk mendapatkan masukan atas sebagai sarana tes pasar dengan sasaran para pecinta komik.
Beberapa fitur tambahan lain yang ada di Ngomik antara lain, fasilitas bantuan bagi pengguna baru yang ingin mengungah komik, lengkap dengan tata cara perlangkahnya untuk mempermudah pengguna dalam mengunggah komik, kemudian Sticky Comment, fasilitas bagi komikus yang ingin memilih komentar yang mereka sukai agar selalu tampil ketika ada pembaca yang melihat komik mereka serta Kurator, yang bertugas untuk melakukan kurasi atas kualitas komik yang ada di Ngomik.com
Ngomik.com, yang menjadi pemenang Indigo Felowship 2010 ini, juga ternyata melakukan beberapa perubahan lain selama bulan Januari kemarin, antara lain menonaktifkan fasilitas akun premium serta redeem koin dengan uang, perubahan tampilan atau Ngomik versi 2 juga menyerdehanakan pilihan kategori (hanya satu kategori untuk setiap komik) yang bisa dipilih oleh komikus dalam mengunggah komik mereka.
Wisnu, founder dari Ngomik.com menjelaskan pada DailySocial, perubahan tampilan dan berbagai tambahan fitur baru ini adalah proses iteration kedua dari Ngomik.com dengan target yang ingin dicapai adalah menjadikan Ngomik lebih sosial. Wisnu juga mengatakan bahwa proses iteration selanjutnya akan memiliki target untuk menemukan cara bagaimana Ngomik.com bisa menghasilkan revenue bagi komikus dan penerbit serta akan menambah fitur untuk versi mobile application.
Menjadi lebih sosial dengan menambahkan beberapa fitur dan tampilan yang menambah ciri sosial adalah salah satu langkah yang harus ditempuh Ngomik, karena berhubungan dengan konsumen (pembaca) serta komunitas. Semoga perubahan tampilan dan penambahan fasilitas ini juga mendapatkan umpan balik yang positif, bagi saya sendiri fitur tambahan dan tampilan mereka kini lebih mencirikan bahwa layanan mereka telah siap digunakan, setidaknya jika dibandingkan dengan tampilan mereka terdahulu.
Kita lihat bagaimana tanggapan pengguna atas berbagai fasilitas baru ini, menjadi menarik juga untuk memperhatikan strategi Ngomik dalam mempersiapkan fasilitas yang akan memberikan revenue bagi komikus, karena jika ini telah dapat dipenuhi, tentunya bisa memberikan daya tarik yang lebih bagi komikus untuk mengunggah komik mereka dan bisa menjadi salah satu strategi monetisasi bagi layanan Ngomik.
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