Fiji!

Just to the north of New Zealand and to the northwest of Australia, there is an archipelago consisting of three hundred islands called Fiji. Fiji covers nearly 1.3 million square miles of the South Pacific Ocean and is absolutely gorgeous. The islands are rimmed with white sandy beaches and have mountainous centers. The islands were formed due to numerous volcanic eruptions over 150 million years ago. Fiji is known for its beautiful wildlife, sandy beaches, and crystal clear water.

The two main islands of Fiji are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Of the over three hundred islands only about a third of them are inhabited and these two major islands contain 87% of the population. English is predominantly spoken, however Hindi and Fijian are also taught in school curriculum. Fiji has a very stable economy due to its abundance of natural resources.
Tourism also is a large part of what Fiji has to offer. Being one of the most beautiful places in the world there are many resorts throughout the islands, especially some in very remote places. Visitors love to take advantage of Fiji's stunning beaches and thriving coral reefs.

One of the more talked about resorts in Fiji is a resort that is under water. The Poseidon Undersea Resort is a luxury five star hotel which has rooms underwater. This resort is the first ever resort which rests on the sea floor, forty feet under water. Each room is like a little pod that had been sunk to the sea floor. Each room has a gigantic window through which they can look into a beautiful Fiji lagoon.

Fiji is a place of true beauty and the epitome of tropical relaxation. Any trip would be a treat, especially if your bed is a mere window away from a coral reef.

By: Lexi Kierstead


Sources:

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/hotel09.jpg
http://www.poseidonresorts.com/poseidon_main.html
http://www.beachvacationsholiday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Fiji-beach.jpg
http://www.soleilorganique.com/sun-protection/lau-islands-in-fiji/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/

The Lost City of Petra

Very close to the border between Jordan and Israel, there is a place in the Great Rift Valley called Arabah. Hundreds of tourist are now flocking to Arabah to see the great wonder that is the "lost city" of Petra. Petra is essentially an ancient architectural feat where all sorts of tunnels and chambers were built and carved into the red-rose rock of the mountains of Jordan. 

The city is said to be "lost" because it was totally unknown to the western world until 1812 when the German explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt had to disguise himself as a  Bedoiun in order to find it. The lost city was said to be built in the second or third century BCE , although it is unclear exactly when. The Nabataeans built the rock-cut city as their capital and  is filled with numerous  temples and tombs. At the time it was built, the area was a crossroads of Arabians, Egyptians and Syrians which is reflected in the stunning architecture of the city.

The city is cut into the sandstone cliffs of the mountains of Jordan. Poet John William Burgon famously, and perfectly, described it as "a rose-red city as old as time". The sandstone has a rosy tint and the city looks as ancient as it is. In the picture below, the enormity of the monument is also made clear. Its difficult to make out, but there is a person standing in the archway.

Petra is truly a treasure, and is, in fact, one of the new seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO site. It was memorably featured in the movie, "Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade" as the home of the Holy Grail. Petra's incredible beauty and unbelievable history make it one of the most interesting places in the world to go, and most of Petra still lies underground, undisturbed and undiscovered. 

By: Lexi Kierstead

Bibliography:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/326

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/lost-city-petra/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAXu4ODpqmk

http://famouswonders.com/petra-in-the-arabah/

http://www.calvin.edu/petra/about/

http://travelphotos.picturetheplanet.com/Jordan/Petra-by-Day/i-DpWv89m/0/XL/Petra-ruins-jordan-day-5-XL.jpg