Łódź is my home city. I born there and spend almost all my life.
Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 744,541 in June 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately 135 kilometres (84 mi) south-west of Warsaw. The city's coat of arms is an example of canting: depicting a boat, it alludes to the city's name which translates literally as "boat".


Łódź in literature and cinema
Three major novels depict the development of industrial Łódź. Władysław Reymont's Ziemia Obiecana (The Promised Land) (1898), Joseph Roth's Hotel Savoy (1924) and Israel Joshua Singer's Di Brider Ashkenazi (The Brothers Ashkenazi) (1937). Roth's novel depicts the city on the eve of a workers' riot in 1919. Reymont's novel was made into a film by Andrzej Wajda in 1975: see The Promised Land. In the 1990 film Europa Europa, Solomon Perel's family flees pre-WWII Berlin and settles in Łódź. Scenes of David Lynch's 2006 film Inland Empire were shot in Łódź.

• Flag of Canada with maple leaf and is also known as Maple Leaf.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police - the national police of Canada with characteristic red uniforms.
• Ice Hockey - this sport born in Canada and is national sport of this country (Go Canada! ;)).

• Niagara Falls on the Niagara River - one of the most spectacular and famous waterfalls in the world.
• The Thousand Islands - archipelago of island on Saint Lawrence River.
• Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and other interesting places. ;)

Nowadays probably everyone know the trilogy Lord of the Rings. Why do I mention it here? Because it was the film based on this masterpiece, that has had a massive impact on showing the world just how beautiful New Zealand's landscapes really are.
Until now, New Zealand is just in my dreams, but who know, maybe I will be able to make the "hobbits' journey" in the future;)


Where is New Zealand?
New Zealand is located in the south-western Pacific Ocean, on the south of Australia. Comprises two main islands, the North and South Islands, Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu (in Māori), and a number of smaller islands all around. The early Polynesian settlers called the country Aotearoa, meaning Land of the Long White Cloud. It is a name by which New Zealand is quite often known nowadays.

Are both islands the same?
This is what is also special and worth to know. The two islands have surprisingly different characters!! The North Island consists of volcanic landscapes and highly active thermal areas, long stretches of beautiful beaches and excellent sailing, ancient forests and a strong Maori cultural
influence. The South Island has a slower pace of life dominated by a magnificent spine of mountains, the snow-covered Southern Alps and the spectacular scenery of the southern waterways of the fjord lands, with glaciers, deep lakes and verdant forests.
Isn't it amazing? So many magnificents views and landscapes in one country!


Why is it so magnifcent?
Those who read the previous paragraph probably alredy know why, but it's just a part.
Maybe the size of New Zealand isn't really large, but it doesn't mean that the bigger country, the more magnificent is. New Zeland with its magnificent natural beauty has an incredible amount to offer. So travelers usually complain only that they didn't have enough time in the country.
Fresh air, breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities are the main attractions of New Zealand, with a tremendously friendly, honest and helpful population. Oh, I shouldn't forget also about flightless kiwi bird, one of the symbols of New Zealand - it's the only place we can meet it;)


What does it offer?
All that I mentioned above and much more.
New Zealand offers a huge variety of activities:
- bungee jumping
- skiing
- swimming with dolphins
- scenic flights
- boat cruises on the fjords
- world famous walking trails with unrivalled scenery.
Alternatively visitors can of course get to know a bit about culture at the museums and galleries of the country's main cities - Auckland, the capital Wellington in the North, and Christ Church in the south.

Now, after all these facts, the only thing that left is to go there!! Right now I know that it would be the unforgettable journey. See you there:)



Some of the inf about NZ taken from: http://www.iexplore.com/world_travel/

What is the highest mountain in the world? Mount Everest? No, the highest is Mauna Kea with 9100 m absolute hight on island of Hawaii. :D So today I will write about Hawaiian Islands.

• Hawaii ("The Big Island") - is the largest island in Hawaiian islands chain.
  
• Maui ("The Valley Isle")
• Kahoʻolawe ("The Target Isle")
• Lānaʻi ("The Pineapple Isle")
• Molokaʻi ("The Friendly Isle")
• Oʻahu ("The Gathering Place") - the most populous of the Hawaiian islands chain (approximately 75% of the resident population)
• Kauaʻi ("The Garden Isle")
• Niʻihau ("The Forbidden Isle")

• The Great Crack (island of Hawaiʻi) - an 13 km long, 18 m wide and 18 m deep fissure
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (island of Hawaiʻi) - with active volcanoes.
  
• Hāna Highway (Maui) - runs along the east coast of island, curving around many mountains and passing by black sand beaches and waterfalls.
• Pearl Harbor (Oahu) - attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7, 1941, brought the United States into World War II
• and Oahu beaches (e.g. Waikiki)

Everything started in May 2002...construction is believed to be finished in the next 10-15 years, but even now is the self-declared 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.

And I totally agree with that, THEY are amazing. They, I mean the islands - three largest man-made islands in the world, which are being built on the coast of the emirate of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The are called The Palm Islands, but also referred to as The Palm Dubai and simply The Palms. How they are situated is presented on the picture below.


The islands are the Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Jebel Ali and the Palm Deira. They were commissioned by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to boost the country’s tourism industry, adding 520 km of beaches to the city of Dubai.

As a curio I can say that the first two islands will comprise approximately 100 million cubic meters of rock and sand. Palm Deira will be composed of approximately 1 billion cubic meters of rock and sand!!

What is so amazing?
Their shape - each of the islands are being built in the shape of a date palm tree and consist of a trunk, a crown with fronds, and are surrounded by a crescent island that acts as a breakwater. There are some differences between them, but each one make a big impression.
The Jumeirah Palm island is primarily a retreat and residential area for living, relaxation, and leisure.
The Jebel Ali Palm is more of an entertainment destination for both adults and children, which caters to both residents and tourists.
The Deira Palm will consist of residential property, marinas, shopping malls, sports facilities, and clubs.

What we can find there?
The islands will support:
- luxury hotels
- freehold residential villas
- unique water homes
- shoreline apartments
- marinas
- water theme parks
- restaurants
- shopping malls
- sports facilities
- health spas
- cinemas
- various diving sites...

...so everything that a real tourist need:D