Whether your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet (24 meters) underwater, the Maldives are the sort of islands where either—or both—can come true. Straddling the equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the 1,102 islands that make up the Maldives form 26 atolls. The soft air enveloping the archipelago blends into a beautiful palm-fringed haze

The Maldives

A perfect destination whether  your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a  four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet  underwater.

  Seychelles

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The sands sparkle against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. The turquoise water is relatively shallow and protected from the ocean’s waves by a reef.

Bora Bora, Tahiti

This is one of the magical islands that make up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Just 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, this lush little slip of land lies in a protected lagoon edged by white sandy shores, the best being at Matira Point. Bora Bora boasts the nickname the “Romantic Island,” a moniker easy to appreciate with its isolated beaches, intimate hotels, and quiet atmosphere.

The Hamptons, New York

One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.

Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, lush tropical plants, and endless sunshine make Lanikai one of Hawaii’s most scenic beaches. The shore is protected by a nearby coral reef, which keeps the surf relatively calm. The water is always deep green and postcard-perfect.

Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

The most popular beaches on this island in the North Atlantic are Surfside and Children’s. The waters here are relatively calm, and there’s plenty of sand to use for sunbathing or castle-building. Madaket Beach is known for its rougher surf and not-to-be-missed sunsets. Quidnet Beach provides great views of Sankaty Head lighthouse.

Fraser Island, Australia

Perched on the sunny Queensland coast 161 miles (259 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and home to a wonderful beach. This World Heritage Site is an ecologist’s dream, with 640 square miles (1,664 square kilometers) of unspoiled natural paradise. Rain forests with 1,000-year-old trees sprout from the sand. Lodgings here accommodate a wide range of tourists, from the backpacking ecology lover to pampered resort fans.

St. Bart’s, Caribbean

One of many islands in the Caribbean Sea, St. Bart’s stands out with its blend of French chic and island relaxation. With beautiful secluded beaches, fine French cuisine, and gracious hotels, this tropical playground is popular with the Jet Set. The 8-mile-long (13-kilometer-long) island is edged by 20 beaches and small coves for swimmers and sunbathers, with sparkling water and white sand.

Langkawi, Malaysia

The name “Langkawi” translates into “the land of one’s wishes,” a welcoming concept that somewhat belies the island’s historic origins as a reputed refuge for pirates. Langkawi has since become a modern hideaway for the traveler seeking an escape. If your vacation wishes extend from uncrowded white sands and clear waters to lush green forests, you will find yourself content here. Datai Bay, located on Pulau Langkawi, is a heavenly retreat on the Andaman Sea.

Kauna’oa Bay, Hawaii

Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha State’s Big Island, Kauna’oa Bay is the quintessential Hawaiian spot. The 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometer-long), crescent-shaped beach has plenty of white sand, palm trees, and calm, clear, blue water. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards. (Be careful swimming, however, because there are no lifeguards on this public beach.) At night, nestle into the sands and peer out into the water to see if you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming.

 

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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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After graduating University with a degree in Business, like every other fresh faced, ambitious young professional I joined the ‘rat race of life’.

After 2 years of stress, meeting ‘sales targets’, being abused by disgruntled clients, getting up at stupid times in the dull British weather, I had decided this was enough and there must be more to life somewhere out there in the World.

Without much planning, money or resources I handed in my resignation and bought a one way ticket to Thailand and a few days later I was lying on the white pristine sands of Lamai beach Koh Samui (an island off the East coast of Thailand).

It did not take me long to get addicted to this easy relaxed way of life and subsequently over the last four years I have lived in some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Some countries I have lived in include Cambodia, Thailand, India, Australia, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Malaysia and Singapore.

I have trekked the jungles of India, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Sierra Leone, have had countless encounters with animals and wildlife you would never imagine seeing. The world is literally your oyster and you can do what ever you want from, trekking in luscious wildlife enriched jungles to lying on desolate beaches, living with local tribes high up in the mountains, and when you feel like it you can live a cosmopolitan life in the city.

The purpose of this article is to let you know that there is a big wide world out there ready for you to see and experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kingston_C_James

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Australia & New Zealand, International Travel Experiences 10 Comments