Ghost towns cover the United States, and they make for a fun detour. Old mines, abandoned buildings, and the occasional curse:

Goldfield, Arizona

This gold rush town thrived in the 1890s, then died and was reborn a number of times. In the 1960s, it was reconstructed as a tourist stop with traps like reenacted gunfights in the streets.  It was reconstructed as a tourist stop. Goldfield offers perhaps more kitschy fun than historical preservation: you can visit the Superstition Museum, ride a narrow gauge railroad, or see folks in period costumes stir up a reenacted gunfight in the street.

Closest Civilization: Apache Junction, AZ.

(James Van Housen)

Calico, California

When the price of silver dropped in the 1890s, it was the beginning of the end for this silver-mining town in Southern California. It was a ghost town by 1907.  Today, Calico is a San Bernardino County Park, but you can still see one-third of Calico’s original buildings, as well as Knott’s kitschier additions such as the gold-panning attraction and a “mystery shack.” To get a glimpse of the old days you can tour one mine, or wander the old post office and schoolhouse.

Closest Civilization: Barstow, CA.

Santa Claus, Arizona

Launched in the 1930s to draw tourists and sell real estate, Santa Claus featured inns and restaurants with a Christmas theme, and tourists could meet the man in red pants year-round.  The four-acre site has been for sale since 1983. But even if you’re not on the market for your own town, it makes a good detour on the way to Kingman or the Hoover Dam. You can see some vandalized buildings, an old wishing well, and the remnants of “Old 1225”—a derailed, pink children’s train.

Closest Civilization: Kingman, AZ.

(Allen Sandquist)

 

 Thurmond, West Virginia

This coal town was booming in the late 1800s, but by the year 2000 was down to seven residents. Once a big stop on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, its depot has been turned into a museum. Once a big stop on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, its depot has been turned into a museum, and the town is now part of the New River Gorge National River. In 2005, 6 of its 7 residents reportedly ran for public office. You can check out the restored train depot and museum, but most folks come here for river rafting.

Closest Civilization: New River Gorge National River.

(D. W. Davidson)

Bodie, California

This former gold rush town had nearly 10,000 residents in the late 1870s. Its slow decline lasted well into the 20th Century, with the post office finally closing in 1942. Bodie still has some stocked stores, and visitors remark on seeing products their parents or grandparents used to have. “People yearn for simpler times,” says Langner. “And sometimes they’re just blown away that they’re somewhere that doesn’t get cell service.”

Closest Civilization: Lake Tahoe, about 75 miles away.

(Courtesy California State Parks Copyright, 2010)

 

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The Seven Mile Bridge, Florida, USA

Total length :  10 km

Construction completion : 1982

The Seven Mile bridge connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Strait. The length and spectacular view of the bridge have attracted many film makers. True Lies, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The James Bond thriller License to Kill are few movies that were filmed along the Seven Mile bridge.

Oliveira Bridge, Brazil

Total length : 1.6 kms

Construction completion : 2008

The Brazilian cable-stayed bridge, which is 453 ft tall and 1.6km long, is one of the most wonderful bridges that you come across in South America. It is built over the Pinheiros River. The bridge deck has the shape of the alphabet “X” and it is the only bridge that have two curved tracks. It was opened in May, 2008 and since then it has become a popular shooting spot for automobile advertisements.

Magdeburg Water Bridge, Germany

Total length : 918 m

Water depth: 4.25 m

The most noticeable thing about the bridge is that it is not cars and buses that run through it, instead the vehicles are boats and ships! Canal engineers in Germany started the plans for building the Magdeburg Water in the year 1919. But the project was put on hold by the East German Government because of the World War and Cold War that took place later. The project was reopened in 1997 and the bridge got built in 6 years.

Hangzhou Bay Bridge, China

Total length : 35.673 kms

Hangzhou Bay Bridge is the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world, connecting the municipalities Jiaxing and Ningbo in China. The entire bridge is 35.673 km in length and has 6 lanes of express ways. The bridge was built in 4 years but it was opened to the public only in 1^st May, 2008, 1 year after testing and evaluating the work.

 Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia

Total length : 1.149 kms

Construction completion : 1932

The Coat Hanger or the Sydney Harbour Bridge is not only the world’s widest span bridge but also the tallest steel arch bridge. The construction of the bridge began in 1923 and it was completed after 9 long years on 19^th January 1932. The dramatic view of the Sydney harbour, bridge and the Opera house have attracted millions of tourists and film makers and they have become an iconic symbol.

Tower Bridge, England

Total length : 244 m

Construction completion : 1894

The most important fact to be pointed out about Tower bridge is that it is not “London Bridge” as many people seem to believe. The bridge is 244 m long and was opened to the public on 30^th June, 1894. About 40000 passengers passes through the bridge and it is regarded as one of the busiest bridges in the world.

Alcántara Bridge, Spain

Total length : 194 m

Construction completion : 106 CE

The Roman stone arch bridge, built over the Tagus river in 106 CE, is also known as Puente Trajan. The 194 m long bridge was first damaged in 1214 when the Moors destroyed the smallest arch. In 1543, it was rebuilt but the second arch was destroyed by the Spanish to stop the Portuguese. Again in 1809, it was blown up to stop the French. That’s one historic bridge!

Si-o-se Pol, Iran

Total length : 976 ft

Construction completion : 1602

Si-o-se Pol, the Bridge of 33 arches, is also called the Allah-Verdi Khan Bridge. This  bridge, built in 1602, is 976 ft long and was built in just 3 years. The bridge is famous because of its wonderful structure and also  because it is the finest example of Safavid dynasty bridge design.

Cooper River Bridge, South Carolina, USA

Total length :  10 km

Construction completion : 2005

The structure of Cooper River Bridge, also known as Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, is so strong that it can withstand any hurricanes (even in excess of 300 mph) or earthquakes (about 7.3 or 7.4 on the Richter scale). With a main span of 1,546 ft, it is one of the longest cable-stayed bridge. Total cost: $531 million.

Donghai Bridge,China

Total length :  32.5 km

Construction completion : 2005

The bridge connecting Shanghai and Yangshan, was longest sea cross bridge before Hangzhou Bay bridge opened. It also contains cable stayed sections for the passage of large ships.

Vasco Da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal

Total length :  10.7 miles

Construction completion : 1998

Vasco da Gama bridge, the 9^th longest bridge in the world, is the longest bridge in Europe. The speed limit for vehicles is 120 kmph (100 kmph in one section). During windy, rainy and foggy conditions, the speed limit is reduced to 90 kmph. The bridge has also proven that it can withstand hurricanes, even with speeds of 250 kmph!

Chengyang Bridge,Sanjiang, China

Total length :  64.4 m

Construction completion : 1916

This bridge, also known as the Wind-Rain bridge, contains wooden handrails on both sides and is a perfect combination of painting, bridge, corridor, veranda and Chinese pavilion. It consists of 2 platforms (at the two ends of the bridge), 3 piers, and 4 spans, 5 pavilions, 19 verandas, and 3 floors. The piers are made of stone, the upper structures are mainly wooden and the roofs are covered with tiles.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

 

Construction completion : 996

Ponte Vecchio (means Old Bridge) is a medieval bridge, built across the Arno river in Italy. The bridge is noted for the shops that are built along it, which were occupied by butchers at first. Later, jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers occupied the place.

Golden Gate Bridge, California, USA

Total length :  2.7 km

Construction completion : May, 1937

The Golden Gate connects San Francisco and Marin County and is reported as the seventh-largest suspension bridge in the world. The overall cost for the construction of the bridge was $26 million!

Hoover Dam Bridge, Nevada & Arizona, USA

Total length :  580 m

Also known as Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The bridge is being built over Colorado river linking Nevada and Arizona in the US. The bridge is expected to open in November, 2010, and the estimated cost of the bridge is around $240 million!

King Fahd Causeway, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

Total length :  28 km

Construction completion : 1986

Location : Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

The causeway was built to better the relationships and bonds between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The construction officially began in 1968 and it took 18 years to complete, costing a whopping $1.2 billion! Census reports in 2001 reported that over 10 million passengers traveled through the causeway in a single year.

Penang Bridge, Malay Peninsula, Malaysia

Total length :  13.5 km

Construction completion : 1985

Location : Malay Peninsula, Malaysia

The bridge connects Gelugor to Seberang Prai in Malaysia. Currently the bridge is expanding from 4 lanes to 6 lanes to accommodate the increase in traffic.

Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy

Width :  22.9 m

Construction completion : 1591

Location : Venice, Italy

Rialto bridge is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand canal in Venice. It is the oldest among them.

Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, China

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Length :  79.7 km

Construction completion : 2008

The bridge is a part of the Zhengzhou – Xi’an High Speed Railway Line, connecting Zhengzhou and Xi’an. Even though the bridge was completed in 2008, it was open to the public only on 6^th February, 2010.

Mahtma Gandhi Setu,  Bihar, India

Length :  5.57 km

Construction completion : 1982

The bridge is built over the holy river Ganges connecting Patna to Hajipur in Bihar. Before the bridge was built, it was a tedious process for the passengers to travel from Hajipur to Patna and vice versa. Either they had to take ships or they had to take a longer rail route. The bridge became a solution to all these problems.

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1. KOH PHI PHI ISLAND, THAILAND

If you’ve seen The Beach, then you’ll know what limestone cliffs, turquoise waters and pristine white sand can do for romance. While the beach itself here has become something of a tourist trap since the film, it is still the ideal backdrop for some Summer loving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2. COLOMBIER BEACH, ST. BARTH’S

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why Colombier Beach is a sexy beach; accessible only by boat or a 25-minute hike along rocky terrain, the cove is all about blue skies, shimmering green water and flamingo-hued sand. While private yachts moor up at the cove’s entrance, you’ll be left largely to your own devices. We recommend bringing a picnic and cracking open a bottle of bubbly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 3. PINK BEACH, ANTIGUA, CARIBBEAN

While movies such as Into The Blue and After The Sunset will have you thinking that Paradise Island in the Bahamas is the best place to get romantic on the sand, it’s not (unless you’re an exhibitionist, of course). Antigua’s Pink Beach offers a little privacy away from the madding crowds. Stretching eight miles and bordered by crystal-clear waters on one side and a handful of beautiful boutique hotels on the other, this is one picture-postcard sandbar. What’s more, the beach is only ever used by a few of the nearby hotels’ guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 4. WILDCAT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, USA

Secluded Wildcat Beach is located a full 30 minutes from San Francisco and requires a five-minute walk, but it’s worth it. What’s more, you can build a bonfire (with the necessary license, of course) and admire huge tide-fall cascades down from the cliffs and onto the sand behind you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. MAJAHUITAS COVE, MEXICO

Accessible only by boat, swaying palms, pristine white sand and turquoise waters await you at Majahuitas Cove. Named after a yellow hibiscus-like flower, it’s brimming with enough plant and wildlife to create a stunning natural backdrop. Day-trippers tread the sands during the day, but we recommend checking in to the eight-room hotel beside the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. MONDELLO BEACH, PALMERO, ITALY

Lovers of seafood, tree-lined boulevards and luxury hotel resorts will love what Mondello Beach has to offer; in fact, lovers will love it full-stop. Classy Mondello Beach has all the makings of a passionate Italian love story with sun-drenched sand and the fresh waters of the Mediterranean, and is super clean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 7. STORE BEACH, SYDNEY

While it may seem impossible within the locale of a big, bustling city, Store Beach is actually pretty isolated. Hidden by a rock formation, it can only be reached by boat. And because it’s part of Sydney Harbour National Park, it’s kept spotless too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 8. SUNSET BEACH, OAHU, HAWAII

It doesn’t get much sexier than Hawaii’s beaches, what with grass-skirt-wearing ladies and muscled surfer boys. However, few venture farther than Waikiki, which is where the crowds sip cocktails and get up to little else. Slip away to the North Shore’s Sunset Beach, where you’re certain to find a secluded spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 9. WHITE BAY BEACH, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Stretching eight miles long and half-a-mile wide, there’s not much else to do on this gorgeous, picture-postcard island other than make out. It is a U-shaped piece of paradise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 10. POLES BAY, KEA, GREECE

Forget about Greece’s more popular islands and head out to the island of Kea, a beautiful beach just a ferry ride away from Athens. Because it is not included on the main ferry routes and only a select few know about it, you’ll practically have the place to yourselves. Once there, make your way to Poles Bay – a three-hour walk – and indulge in the twin sand beaches, rocky landscape and ancient ruins. Unspoiled, isolated and evocative; what more could you want ?

 

 

 
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My Thai friend Seerung was telling me recently about her compatriots’ attitude towards food. “I think we are obsessed,” she admitted. “If we’re not eating food, we’re talking about food. We’re asking our friends what they have been eating. We plan lunch while we’re eating breakfast. We plan dinner while we’re eating lunch. It’s crazy.”

I know how she feels. I too spend an inordinate amount of time either eating food or talking about eating food. Particularly when I’m travelling.

I only realised this the other day, when I decided to tally up how I spend my time while I’m travelling.

Taking a trip is easy – you jump on the plane, mess around for a few weeks, and before you know it you’re back at work and it’s like the whole thing never happened. But it’s interesting to think about what you actually do during those couple of weeks away.

Going by the information most guide books give you, you’d think you’d spend about 10 per cent of your time on trains and planes, 20 per cent sleeping, 20 per cent eating, and 50 per cent wandering through churches, temples and museums.

But I reckon the reality is a bit different, so – using an average two-week block of travel – I decided to figure out exactly what I do on these overseas jaunts. Here goes …

Sleeping – 29 per cent
Holidays seem to be about the one time in my life when I don’t want to sleep a lot. The way I see it, it’s time wasted. It’s like when I was a kid playing Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiago – it’s frustrating when you have to sleep instead of getting out there and enjoying life (or catching loose-lipped, globe-trotting supervillains). So it’s a bit disappointing to realise that’s what I do the most of.

Eating and/or drinking – 25 per cent
That’s right, like Seerung and her Thai friends, I reckon I spend a solid quarter of my holidays either eating food, or planning where next to eat food, or talking about where we last ate food, or sitting in bars drinking. And probably talking about food. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Travelling – 22 per cent
This includes everything – planes, trains, buses, tuk-tuks, taxis, ferries, rickshaws, camels and elephants. It also includes waiting around in airports, train stations etc. It’s amazing to think that you shell out so much cash to visit these incredible places, but what you spend the bulk of your holiday doing is the actual act of travelling.

Wandering aimlessly – 8 per cent
I seem to dedicate at least an hour or so a day to just tramping around on foot with no particular destination in mind. Sometimes I come across amazing things I never thought I’d see. Other times, I just get lost. Which leads me to …

Finding my way home again – 3 per cent
Being a bloke, I’m morally obligated to attempt to do this by myself, without asking for anyone’s help. So I need to devote a bit more time to it than others might have to. (Hint: always carry a card with your hostel’s address on it.)

Looking at churches/temples/museums/art galleries – 4 per cent
Only 4 per cent? Am I some uncultured heathen? Maybe. But I maintain that there’s only so much you can learn about a country from inside four walls. Get in, look at the famous painting/archway/sculpture/pottery, and get out. Maybe grab something to eat?

Sitting in internet cafes – 2.5 per cent
Sorry people, but these comments don’t moderate themselves …

Shopping – 2 per cent
I don’t like shopping at home, so it stands to reason that I wouldn’t want to do it while I’m overseas. And I reckon a pretty solid chunk of this 2 per cent could be put down to “being dragged around shops by certain other people”.

Going to sporting events – 1.5 per cent
I’d devote a lot more time to this if I could, but it’s not the easiest thing to organise while you’re travelling. Still, if there’s a football/ice hockey/cricket/sumo wrestling match on, I’ll be there.

Standing in line – 1.5 per cent
For banks, for money exchanges, for visas, for art galleries, for toilets, for food, for buses, for taxis, for food again … Granted, some countries’ approach to queuing is a bit more physical than others’, but you still spend a fair amount of time waiting in line when you travel.

Lying in the sun – 1 per cent
What can I say, I have a pasty white complexion – devote any more time than this to lying around under than big yellow orb and I’d spend the rest of my holiday shedding skin like a snake.

Swearing I’ll never drink again – 0.5 per cent
That’s about 15 minutes every morning. Not sure what happens after that.

Everyone’s different – what do you devote your time to while you’re on the road ?

 

 

 

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