The New 7 Wonders of the World

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

MEXICO: Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BRAZIL: This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

ITALY: This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

INDIA: This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

CHINA: The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

JORDAN: On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

PERU: In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Source: Article

Read More........→January 23, 2025

Cadbury develop's non-melting chocolate

In a breakthrough that will be most welcome to chocoholics, British scientists have developed a new melt-proof recipe for the bitter-sweet cocoa bar, that would help it beat the summer heat in countries like Australia and India. The heat-friendly chocolate, developed by Cadbury at a plant near Birmingham, retains it solidity even under temperatures over 40C for more than three hours, according to the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday. The trick is it to tweak a step in the production called conching, when metal beads grind the ingredients together. Scientists have developed a way of breaking down sugar, which makes for the reduction of the amount of fat which attaches to the sweet particles. "We have found that it is possible to instil temperature-tolerant properties by refining the conched chocolate after the conching step," Cadbury wrote in its patent application for the new product. "Production of temperature-tolerant chocolate would allow production of chocolate-containing products more suitable for hot climates, particularly in less economically-developed countries where the supply chain is ill-equipped to handle temperature fluctuations." But the development has left not a few less than enthused. Critics claim the development would end up necessarily altering the flavour of chocolate. Tony Bilsborough, spokesman for Cadbury's owner Kraft Foods, said the melting point was what made the bar so attractive, as that was what released the flavour and if it melted at a higher temperature, it would take longer to melt in the mouth. British chocoholics would, however not be benefited by the discovery. The firm, taken over by American food group Kraft in 2010 in a bitterly-resisted £11.5-billion deal, insists the new recipe would be available only in countries with a hot climate, like India and Brazil. According to the firm, development of temperature-tolerant chocolate would allow production of chocolate-containing product more suitable for hot climates, particularly in less economically developed countries where the supply chain was ill-equipped to handle temperature fluctuations. The firm has been slammed for its decision not to sell the new bars in the UK as dealing another bitter blow for an iconic British brand. British MP Robert Halfon said Kraft promised British chocolate for British people when it took over Cadbury, but it seemed that while British people did all the innovating, the firm gave the best of British to people overseas. He added, it was incredibly disappointing. He said while the British invented the brand, now British workers were not being allowed to enjoy the chocolate of their labours. He said he would urge the company to reconsider this and allow British people to have same rights as chocolate-eaters in other countries. Felicity Loudon, a descendant of the founder of Cadbury, said Kraft being an American company, it was not surprising that it was leaving the British people out. Source: Domain-B, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→November 19, 2015