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Nov 6, 2006

Wondering about the Wonders

Recently I came across, another Wonder Vote in http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/7Wonders

Taj : I dont find the Taj romantic. If I die, I wouldn't want my husband to build me something, however beautiful. For me, its more romantic, if he helps with the dishes. Personally I think there are many more wonderful things in India, than the Taj. But, sigh, Taj is the only Indian wonder in this list.
(The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in the world. Located in Agra, India, it was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who reigned from 1628 to 1658) to immortalize a favorite wife who died in childbirth. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most famous part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. )

Now to my personal favourite, the Great Wall of China. (Famed for its magnitude, the wall mirrors the hills and valleys of the diverse landscape as it winds across 4,160 miles of Northern China's countryside. Some sections of the wall date back 2,000 years to when Emperor Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, connected existing sections of the fortification as a defense against invasions and as a means to unify the country.) A wonder that can be seen from the space. As a kid I used to dream about a wall around Mumbai. And even though there would be many Chinese voting for it, my heart says, go for the concept you dreamt about.

Victoria Falls : (Victoria Falls is a spectacular waterfall located on the Zambezi River, at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Falls are twice as wide as Niagara Falls, spanning over one mile. The river plunges over a steep drop and creates a spectacular show of crashing water and rising mist. It is this ethereal display that gave this natural wonder its local name: Mosi-Oa-Tunya-- "the smoke that thunders.") . Waterfalls are fun, so perhaps the Victoria Falls, and I do have a soft corner for the African continent.

Machu Picchu in Peru : (Hidden among the Andes Mountains of Peru, the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu sits at an elevation of 7,710 feet. Built in the 15th century and not discovered again until 1911, Macchu Picchu is now Peru's most popular tourist attraction.) Hmmm perhaps I could consider it too..

Venice : (Venice, an island city amid the Adriatic Sea, was once a flourishing maritime center and the cultural heart of Europe. Today it is an endangered wonder as the African plate on which it sits, slips beneath the European plate, causing the Adriatic Sea to rise. Since it was settled in 452, the city has been sinking at a rate of more than a centimeter a century.) I wouldnt generally vote for it, but sometimes one can't help feeling sorry for a sinking city.

Panama Canal : (Spanning nearly 50 miles, the Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the narrow isthmus of Panama. The construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. The canal took 10 years to build and an estimated 25,000 people lost their lives in the construction of this mammoth project.)
Normally I wouldnt have considered it, but when you read 25000 people died, you cant just ignore it.

Saturn V : (The Saturn V held the attention of the world as it became the first liquid propellant rocket to take man to the moon. The Saturn V was a three-stage vehicle developed by NASA. The Saturn V and its Apollo capsule were 36 stories tall and weighed 6.2 million pounds. The astronauts traveled a distance of 240,000 miles, and when they took that first step on the moon's surface on July 16,1969, 600 million people watched in amazement.) Hmmm I wont, yet when I look at the moon and think, hey someone landed on it..

Grand Canyon : (Stretching for about 277 miles on the Colorado Plateau in Northwestern Arizona, the jagged cliffs of the Grand Canyon are one of the most studied landscapes in the world. At its deepest, the canyon dips more than a mile below the rim.You can visit this beautiful vista at Mojave Point at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.) Aah atleast one option I will definitely not vote for.

Its just a list, and probably, another one will come along soon. As for my vote, well I am still wondering about the wonders..
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/graphics/new_wonders/flash.htm?theTab=Vote
And its the last day today..

The description in italics are from the description in the website.

2 comments:

  1. yeah there are more beautiful sites in india than the taj. taj is just an exaggerated monument - exaggerated for obvious reasons. there is a banned book by prof. oak which proves that it was actually 'Tejo Mahalay' meaning temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i know about the theory. well its not possible to hype it internationally, without atleast some substance..

    but i think its just too over rated.

    ReplyDelete

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