Celebrating the Marvelous Architectures Mankind Makes
This lens is all about Man Made Marvels - the marvelous architectures made by man.
This lens echos the structures shown on the similarly named hit series broadcasting on the Discovery Channel.
My 3d animation studio has been fortunate enough to participate in the creation of the computer animation work for many of the Man Made Marvels episodes shown on Discovery Channel.
This Squidoo lens was written by Aldric Chang (Follow Aldric on Twitter!) - a creative businessman who is active in music composition and production, internet marketing, casual games production, animation production, cartoon production and character licensing.
His 3d animation studio - Mediafreaks - is focused on producing high-end animation work for documentary producers, advertising houses and cartoon animated series - with projects ranging from the animation of dinosaurs to the visualization of natural disasters and something as chic as 3d jewelry animations. He runs a popular animation blog where he frequently posts informative articles on the animation industry and shares useful advice on the business of animation.
He is currently working on a series of free online virtual worlds for kids besides other creative endeavors.
This lens echos the structures shown on the similarly named hit series broadcasting on the Discovery Channel.
My 3d animation studio has been fortunate enough to participate in the creation of the computer animation work for many of the Man Made Marvels episodes shown on Discovery Channel.
This Squidoo lens was written by Aldric Chang (Follow Aldric on Twitter!) - a creative businessman who is active in music composition and production, internet marketing, casual games production, animation production, cartoon production and character licensing.
His 3d animation studio - Mediafreaks - is focused on producing high-end animation work for documentary producers, advertising houses and cartoon animated series - with projects ranging from the animation of dinosaurs to the visualization of natural disasters and something as chic as 3d jewelry animations. He runs a popular animation blog where he frequently posts informative articles on the animation industry and shares useful advice on the business of animation.
He is currently working on a series of free online virtual worlds for kids besides other creative endeavors.
The Wiglington and Wenks Virtual World
WWW.INVEST-MONEY-STOCKS.COM
Contents
- The Wiglington and Wenks Virtual World
- WWW.INVEST-MONEY-STOCKS.COM
- SINGAPORE
- Pictures of Singapore
- A Snapshot of Singapore by 2015
- Man Made Marvel - Singapore Flyer
- Man Made Marvel - The Singapore Esplanade
- Visit Singapore!
- AUSTRALIA
- Pictures of Australia
- Man Made Marvel - The Sidney Opera House
- Visit Australia!
- CHINA
- Man Made Marvel - The Water Cube (National Swimming Center)
- Pictures of the Mystical Water Cube in China, Beijing
- Man Made Marvel - The Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium)
- Pictures of the Weirdly Pretty China Bird's Nest in Beijing
- Man Made Marvel - The Egg (National Center for the Performing Arts)
- Pictures of the Magnificent China's National Grand Theatre in Beijing
- Visit Beijing!
- JAPAN
- Snapshots of Japan
- Man Made Marvel - Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
- Pictures of the Amazing Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan
- Visit Japan!
- SOUTH KOREA
- Pictures of Korea
- Man Made Marvel - The Songdo City
- Pictures of the New Songdo City in Korea
- Man Made Marvel - Korean Train Express
- Pictures of the Lightning Fast Korean Train Express
- Visit Korea!
- MALAYSIA
- Man Made Marvel - The Petronas Towers
- Visit Malaysia!
- TAIWAN
- Pictures of Taiwan
- Man Made Marvel - The Taipei 101
- Man Made Marvel - The Hsueshan Tunnel
- Visit Taiwan!
- My Guestbook
- Follow Aldric on Twitter!
- My Other Sites
- WWW.INVEST-MONEY-STOCKS.COM
- The Wiglington and Wenks Virtual World
SINGAPORE
A small dot on the world map, but a hardworking and resilient nation
THE HISTORY OF SINGAPORE
On 29 January 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed on the main island. Spotting its potential as a strategic geographical trading post in Southeast Asia, Raffles signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on behalf of the British East India Company on 6 February 1819 to develop the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post and settlement.
Until August 1824, Singapore was still a territory controlled by a Malay Ruler. Singapore only officially became a British colony in August 1824 when the British extended control over the whole island. John Crawford, the second resident of Singapore, was the one who made Singapore a British possession.
He signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on 2 August 1824 in which the Sultan and the Temmenggong handed over the whole island to the British East India Company thus marking the start of the island's modern era.
Raffles's deputy, William Farquhar, oversaw a period of growth and ethnic migration, which was largely spurred by a no-restriction immigration policy. The British India office governed the island from 1858, but Singapore was made a British crown colony in 1867, answerable directly to the Crown. By 1869, 100,000 people lived on the island.
The early onset of town planning in colonial Singapore came largely through a "divide and rule" framework where the different ethnic groups were settled in different parts of the South of the island.
The Singapore River was largely a commercial area that was dominated by traders and bankers of various ethnic groups with mostly Chinese and Indian coolies working to load and unload goods from barge boats known locally as "bumboats". The Malays, consisting of the local "Orang Lauts" who worked mostly as fishermen and sea-farers, and Arab traders and scholars were mostly found in the South-east part of the river mouth, where Kampong Glam stands today. The European settlers, who were few then, settled around Fort Canning Hill and further upstream from the Singapore River. Like the Europeans, the early Indian migrants also settled more inland of the Singapore River, where Little India stands today. Very little is known about the rural private settlements in those times (known as kampongs), other than the major move by the post-independent Singapore government to re-settle these residents in the late 1960s.
Pictures of Singapore
marina bay view, singapore
Looking across to Singapore's hub for convention, exhibition, shopping and enter...
Saint Andrew's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Singapore. It is located ne...
An update shot of the grand Singapore icon at the river mouth.
Singapore was a fishing village sparsely populated by indigeneous Malays and Ora...
'Animal Addiction! Photo of the Week'
This is the heart of the Central Business District. When night falls, this place...
its amazing these old shophouses in chinatown are still around after all singapo...
Chinatown, Singapore
Hustle-bustle of Chinatown before Chinese New Year.
Chinatown - Singapore
this is actually a street.........
Anazarbus is not directly what came to mind when my eye caught a little flash of...
The back alley behind some of the colourful "shophouses" in S...
City Centre South. The end of Singapore River opens into the sea below the bridg...
The unicameral Parliament of Singapore is the legislature of ...
jurong, singapore
Singapore River runs across the downtown of Singapore, and is one of the most po...
Pearl Bank Apartment, Singapore. Singapore's Architectural heritage goes en blo...
Riverside Point is a food & entertainment centre opposite Clarke Quay, S...
The sunlight, from clear early morning sky's, falls upon the Singapore's Sultan ...
the national museum of singapore was established in 1849. it is the oldest muse...
singapore
One of the latest addition to the tourist attraction. Located in the heart of C...
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School (CHIJMES) is a historic...
Esplanade %u2013 Theatres on the Bay is one of the world's busiest arts centres, of...
On my way to take dawn shots at the Lower Pierce Reservoir, I walked through Bis...
singapore
This is for "24 hours of Flickr", and represents my day on the...
"First Generation": Statue of boys jumping into the harbour at...
A Snapshot of Singapore by 2015
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Man Made Marvel - Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer, a giant observation wheel that features brilliant engineering breakthroughs a world apart from the traditional ferris wheel, is set to be Asia's most visible iconic visitor attraction. It provides breathtaking, panoramic views of Singapore and beyond.
Click on the link or picture above to visit a lens on the Singapore Flyer!
Man Made Marvel - The Singapore Esplanade
The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River, purpose-built to be the centre for performing arts for the island nation of Singapore. Taking its name from the nearby Esplanade, it contains a 1,600 seat concert hall and a 2,000 seat theatre for the performing arts.
Click on the link or picture above to visit a lens on the Singapore Esplanade!
Visit Singapore!
AUSTRALIA
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.N4 Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east. Australia is the only country to occupy an entire continent.
Before European settlement in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Australian mainland was inhabited by around 250 individual nations of indigenous Australians who lived sustainably on the land for around 40,000 years. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north and then European discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, the eastern half of Australia was later claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, commencing on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established during the 19th century.
On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth realm. The capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The population is just over 21.3 million, with approximately 60% of the population concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
Pictures of Australia
Sydney
Sydney Nutters
Sydney Icons
Monkey dad original
Monkey dad
Monkey dad2
Embrace nuclear weap...
Sydney Opera House d...
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Opera House i Harbou...
Opera House sobre Ha...
La Sydney Opera Hous...
L'Òpera i gratacels
L'Opera House de pro...
Imatge perfecte de S...
L'Opera House de llu...
Imatge perfecte de S...
L'Òpera i entorns
Circular Quay
Man Made Marvel - The Sidney Opera House
There is a place, a sculpture, that is a building yet also a work of art. It contains one hundred and fifty tons of concrete, and takes a height of about 221 feet, a width of 597 feet, with 66,420 feet of glass surrounding it. This is the Sydney Opera House, located in Sydney, Australia; considered a great architectural wonder.
Click on the link or picture above to visit a lens on the Sidney Opera House!
Visit Australia!
CHINA
China is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia.
China has one of the world's oldest people and continuous civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. It has the world's longest continuously used written language system, and is the source of many major inventions, such as what the British scholar and biochemist Joseph Needham called the "four great inventions of Ancient China": paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing. Historically, China's cultural sphere has extended across East Asia as a whole, with Chinese religion, customs, and writing systems being adopted to varying degrees by neighbors such as Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
The last Chinese Civil War has resulted in two political entities using the name China:
* the People's Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as China, has control over mainland China, and the largely self-governing territories of Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau (since 1999).
* the Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as Taiwan, has control over the islands of Taiwan, Pescadores, Kinmen, and Matsu.
Man Made Marvel - The Water Cube (National Swimming Center)
It looks blue, but it's green, and it's here. As big, eye-catching Olympics architecture goes, nothing may be as sustainable as the Beijing National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube, the latest cutting-edge building to open on the enormous construction site that is China. Taking the structure of soap bubbles as inspiration (and mimicking nature's way of filling 3-d space most efficiently), PTW Architects and Arup gave the $200 million Cube an elegant, light-weight design: a rectangular box covered in iridescent bubble wrap.
But it does more than look cool. The 100,000 square meters of the Teflon-like translucent plastic ETFE that make up the building's bubble cladding allow in more solar heat than glass, making it easier to heat the building, and resulting in a 30 percent reduction in energy costs. That's especially important for a swimming pool, which requires an enormous amount of heating. (Though the building's ETFE was manufactured abroad, meaning more pollution in construction than would there have been with locally available materials, designers emphasize that the energy savings are substantial, equivalent to covering the roof in solar panels.)
But it does more than look cool. The 100,000 square meters of the Teflon-like translucent plastic ETFE that make up the building's bubble cladding allow in more solar heat than glass, making it easier to heat the building, and resulting in a 30 percent reduction in energy costs. That's especially important for a swimming pool, which requires an enormous amount of heating. (Though the building's ETFE was manufactured abroad, meaning more pollution in construction than would there have been with locally available materials, designers emphasize that the energy savings are substantial, equivalent to covering the roof in solar panels.)
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Pictures of the Mystical Water Cube in China, Beijing
Water Cube
Water Cube at Dusk
Man Made Marvel - The Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium)
Beijing National Stadium, also known as the National Stadium, or colloquially as the "Bird's Nest", is a stadium in Beijing, China. The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
Located in the Olympic Green, the US$423 million stadium is the world's largest steel structure.[5] The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003, after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. The design, which originated from the study of Chinese ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of a "Bird's nest". Ironically, the retractable roof was later removed from the design after inspiring the stadium's most recognizable aspect.[6] Ground was broken in December 2003 and the stadium officially opened in June 2008. A shopping mall and a hotel are planned to be constructed to increase use of the stadium, which will host football events after the Olympics.
The nature inspired birds nest design won the hearts of Beijing's population of 14 million, who voted it their favourite from a collection of 13 designs. This revolutionary design perfectly combines ecology and cutting edge technology to create a new icon for China and the city of Beijing.
Building this pioneering stadium also poses a number of challenges. Earthquakes and steel shortages, combined with an ever-looming deadline are just some of the challenges for the engineers building it. Yet when finished it will be the most advanced sports stadium the world.
Located in the Olympic Green, the US$423 million stadium is the world's largest steel structure.[5] The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003, after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. The design, which originated from the study of Chinese ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of a "Bird's nest". Ironically, the retractable roof was later removed from the design after inspiring the stadium's most recognizable aspect.[6] Ground was broken in December 2003 and the stadium officially opened in June 2008. A shopping mall and a hotel are planned to be constructed to increase use of the stadium, which will host football events after the Olympics.
The nature inspired birds nest design won the hearts of Beijing's population of 14 million, who voted it their favourite from a collection of 13 designs. This revolutionary design perfectly combines ecology and cutting edge technology to create a new icon for China and the city of Beijing.
Building this pioneering stadium also poses a number of challenges. Earthquakes and steel shortages, combined with an ever-looming deadline are just some of the challenges for the engineers building it. Yet when finished it will be the most advanced sports stadium the world.
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Pictures of the Weirdly Pretty China Bird's Nest in Beijing
the flock gathers inside the birds nest
Taken at 2008 China Athletics Open at National Stadium, one of this last Good L...
The Aquatic Centre and Olympic Stadium - Beijing, China
the construction is not yet finshed, so there is not much places for shooting, t...
Structure close up of Beijing Olympic Stadium with red flags.
Stadium to the right. Blue building in the middle (rectangular with bubble-like ...
The smog was unbelieveable in Beijing. The grey here is not rain or cloud, but t...
Man Made Marvel - The Egg (National Center for the Performing Arts)
The Egg is an opera house in Beijing, China. The Centre, an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake, seats 6,500 people in three halls and is 200,000 m%uFFFD in size. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction started in December 2001 and the inaugural concert was held in December 2007.
The exterior of the theater is a titanium accented glass dome that is completely surrounded by a man-made lake. It is said to look like an egg floating on water. It was designed as an iconic feature, something that would be immediately recognizable, like the Sydney Opera House.
The dome measures 212 meters in east-west direction, 144 meters in north-south direction, and is 46 meters high. The main entrance is at the north side. Guests arrive in the building after walking through a hallway that goes underneath the lake. The titanium shell is broken by a glass curtain in north-south direction that gradually widens from top to bottom.
The location, immediately to the west of Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People, and near the Forbidden City, combined with the theatre's futuristic design, created considerable controversy. Paul Andreu countered that although there is indeed value in ancient traditional Chinese architecture, Beijing must also include modern architecture, as the capital of the country and an international city of great importance.
His design, with large open space, water, trees, was specially designed to complement the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People, in order to melt into the surroundings as opposed to standing out against them. Still, many locals believe that the contrast between the building and its immediate environment is too large.
The exterior of the theater is a titanium accented glass dome that is completely surrounded by a man-made lake. It is said to look like an egg floating on water. It was designed as an iconic feature, something that would be immediately recognizable, like the Sydney Opera House.
The dome measures 212 meters in east-west direction, 144 meters in north-south direction, and is 46 meters high. The main entrance is at the north side. Guests arrive in the building after walking through a hallway that goes underneath the lake. The titanium shell is broken by a glass curtain in north-south direction that gradually widens from top to bottom.
The location, immediately to the west of Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People, and near the Forbidden City, combined with the theatre's futuristic design, created considerable controversy. Paul Andreu countered that although there is indeed value in ancient traditional Chinese architecture, Beijing must also include modern architecture, as the capital of the country and an international city of great importance.
His design, with large open space, water, trees, was specially designed to complement the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People, in order to melt into the surroundings as opposed to standing out against them. Still, many locals believe that the contrast between the building and its immediate environment is too large.
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Pictures of the Magnificent China's National Grand Theatre in Beijing
The Entrance to the China's National Grand Theater
The Interior of the China's National Grand Theater
The Interior of the China's National Grand Theater
The Interior of the China's National Grand Theater
Some daytime shots of the National Grand Theatre in Beijing. Unfortunately weath...
Beijing Dome, National Grand Theatre, China
Beijing Dome, National Grand Theatre, China
The newly opened National Grand Theater in Beijing. It is truly spectacular.
Beijing has finally a contemporary architectural landmark befitting its new foun...
A night view shows the National Grand Theater in Beijing September 24, 2007. Chi...
Visit Beijing!
JAPAN
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters which make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin country", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun".
Japan comprises over 3,000 islands making it an archipelago. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan's highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the world's tenth largest population, with about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
Archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan begins with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century A.D.
Influence from the outside world followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Japan's history. Since adopting its constitution in 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament, the Diet.
A major economic power, Japan has the world's second largest economy by nominal GDP and the third largest in purchasing power parity. It is a member of the United Nations, G8, OECD and APEC, with the world's fifth largest defense budget. It is also the world's fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer. It is a developed country with high living standards (8th highest HDI) and a world leader in technology, machinery, and robotics.
Snapshots of Japan
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Man Made Marvel - Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
This is the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan. It's home to one of the most impressive collections of marine life in the world. The Churaumi Aquarium is located at 'Ocean Expo Park' in Motobu-cho, on Okinawa's north-western coastline. This national park was created in August 1976, on the site of the previous year's 'World Ocean Expo'. While enjoying its many attractions, visitors are also treated to a beautiful outlook over the East China Sea. What lives within that beautiful ocean is the very inspiration for the magnificent Churaumi aquarium.
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Visit Japan!
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea, is a presidential republic in East Asia, occupying the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Also known as the "Land of the Morning Calm", it is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east and borders North Korea to the north. South Korea's capital is Seoul, a major financial and cultural hub in Asia and the second largest metropolitan city in the world.
Korea is one of the oldest civilizations in the world,first inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic.Following the unification of the Three Korean Kingdoms under Silla in 668 AD, Korea went through the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty as one nation until the end of the Korean Empire in 1910. After division, South Korea was established in 1948 and has since developed one of the most successful democracies in Asia. Following the Korean War, the South Korean economy grew tremendously, transforming the country into an industrial powerhouse and an influential military power in the world. South Korea has an international outlook with memberships in the United Nations, WTO, OECD and G20 major economies. It is also a founding member of APEC and the East Asia Summit, being a visa waiver and major non-NATO ally of the United States. South Korea is now working towards a peaceful reunification with North Korea.
South Korea is a major economic power and one of the wealthiest countries in Asia. It is a developed country with a high standard of living, having a trillion dollar economy that is the third largest in Asia and 13th largest in the world. South Korea is one of the world's top ten exporters and is a highly industrialized country that is classified as a High-income economy by the World Bank and an Advanced economy by the IMF and CIA. The Asian Tiger is leading the Next Eleven nations and is one of the world's fastest growing developed economies. South Korea has a very high-tech and modern infrastructure, and is a world leader in technologically advanced goods such as electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery, petrochemicals and robotics, headed by Samsung, Hyundai and LG. It has the world's highest scientific literacy and second highest mathematical literacy. South Korea is rapidly becoming a multicultural society and its mainstream culture has recently become highly popular in Asia and beyond in a phenomenon known as the Korean wave.
Man Made Marvel - The Songdo City
New Songdo City is a planned international business center to be developed on 1,500 acres of reclaimed land along Incheon's waterfront, 40 miles (65 km) south of Seoul and connected to Incheon International Airport by a 7.4 mile (12.3 km) highway bridge, called Incheon Bridge.
Along with Yeongjong and Cheongna, it is part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone. The Songdo International Business District (IBD) will include a convention center, international school, museum, ecotarium, cultural center, Jack Nicklaus Golf Course, Northeast Asia Trade Tower (NEATT), First World Towers, Central Park, and Incheon Tower.
This 10-year development project is estimated to cost in excess of $40 billion, making it the largest private development project ever undertaken anywhere in the history of the world. The project aspires to make the city and South Korea the preeminent business hub of Asia.
When completed in 2015, the city's infrastructure will be a test bed for new technologies, and the city itself will exemplify a digital way of life. "It will be one of the world's first cities in which all information systems - residential, medical, business - are linked.
Along with Yeongjong and Cheongna, it is part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone. The Songdo International Business District (IBD) will include a convention center, international school, museum, ecotarium, cultural center, Jack Nicklaus Golf Course, Northeast Asia Trade Tower (NEATT), First World Towers, Central Park, and Incheon Tower.
This 10-year development project is estimated to cost in excess of $40 billion, making it the largest private development project ever undertaken anywhere in the history of the world. The project aspires to make the city and South Korea the preeminent business hub of Asia.
When completed in 2015, the city's infrastructure will be a test bed for new technologies, and the city itself will exemplify a digital way of life. "It will be one of the world's first cities in which all information systems - residential, medical, business - are linked.
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Pictures of the New Songdo City in Korea
Unfortunately the city is not yet constructed so it's mostly pictures of concept artwork and construction-in-progress.
Man Made Marvel - Korean Train Express
South Korea needed a network - to bridge these huge geographic boundaries, and physically bring the nation together. The challenge was laying 412 kilometres of railway, constructing 51 new tunnels through 190 kilometres of undulating mountainside, and raising 104 bridges over South Korea's numerous rivers. There was only one solution - more ambitious, more demanding and more risky than any engineering project ever undertaken in Korea - the Korea Train Express (KTX).
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Pictures of the Lightning Fast Korean Train Express
KTX can run at over 300 km per hour
Visit Korea!
MALAYSIA
Malaysia is a country that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,355 sq mi). The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 25 million. The country is separated into two regions-Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo-by the South China Sea. Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. The country is located near the equator and experiences a tropical climate. Malaysia's head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (conventionally referred to as 'the King' or 'the Agong') and the government is headed by a Prime Minister. The government is closely modeled after the Westminster parliamentary system.
Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until 1963. Previously, a set of colonies were established by the United Kingdom from the late-18th century, and the western half of modern Malaysia was composed of several separate kingdoms. This group of colonies was known as British Malaya until its dissolution in 1946, when it was reorganised as the Malayan Union. Due to widespread opposition, it was reorganised again as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and later gained independence on 31 August 1957. Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya joined to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. The early years of the new union were marred by an armed conflict with Indonesia and the expulsion of Singapore. The Southeast Asian nation experienced an economic boom and underwent rapid development during the late-20th century. With a GDP per capita standing at USD14,400, it has, from time to time, been considered a newly industrialised country. Because Malaysia is one of three countries that control the Strait of Malacca, international trade plays a large role in its economy. At one time, it was the largest producer of tin, rubber and palm oil in the world. Manufacturing has a large influence in the country's economy.
The Malays form the majority of the population. Some Malays are of Arab descent and there are sizable Chinese and Indian communities. Islam is the largest as well as the official religion of the federation. The Malay language is the official language. The Malay language was originally written in Pallava from India, the earliest known inscriptions in Malay were found in southern Sumatra and on the island of Bangka and date from 683-6 AD. They were written in an Indian script during the time of the kingdom of Srivijaya, but nowadays, the Roman alphabet (Rumi) is more often used.
Malaysia is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and participates in many international organisations such as the United Nations. As a former British colony, it is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is also a member of the Developing 8 Countries.
Man Made Marvel - The Petronas Towers
The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were the world's tallest towers from 1998 to 2004, if measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural top. The story follows the building of Petronas Towers, from its early inception in 1998 to completion in 2004 and the route to become the tallest buildings in the world on the date of completion. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion.
Click on the link or picture above to visit a lens on the Petronas Towers!
Visit Malaysia!
TAIWAN
Taiwan (traditional Chinese is an island in East Asia. "Taiwan" is also commonly used to refer to the territories governed by the Republic of China (ROC) and to ROC itself, which governs the island of Taiwan, Orchid Island and Green Island in the Pacific off the Taiwan coast, the Pescadores in the Taiwan Strait, and Kinmen and the Matsu Islands off the coast of mainland Fujian. The island groups of Taiwan and Penghu (except the municipalities of Taipei and Kaohsiung) are officially administered as Taiwan Province of the ROC. However, in practice, almost all government power is exercised at the national and local (city/county) levels.
Taiwan is also currently claimed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) although the PRC has never controlled Taiwan or any of the current ROC territory commonly referred to as "Taiwan". The PRC justifies its claim by arguing that the PRC succeeded the ROC in 1949, and pointing out that the ROC had ruled Taiwan for four years from 1945 to 1949.
The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa (from Portuguese (Ilha) Formosa, meaning "beautiful (island)"), is located in East Asia off the coast of mainland China, southwest of the main islands of Japan but directly west of the end of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, and north-northwest of the Philippines. It is bound to the east by the Pacific Ocean, to the south by the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait, to the west by the Taiwan Strait and to the north by the East China Sea. The island is 394 kilometers (245 miles) long and 144 kilometers (89 miles) wide and consists of steep mountains covered by tropical and subtropical vegetation.
Pictures of Taiwan
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Man Made Marvel - The Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is a 101-floor landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building, designed by C.Y. Lee & partners and constructed primarily by KTRT Joint Venture and Samsung Engineering & Construction, is the world's tallest completed skyscraper according to the CTBUH - the arbiter of tall building height. Taipei 101 received the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2004. It has been hailed as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World (Newsweek magazine, 2006) and Seven Wonders of Engineering (Discovery Channel, 2005).
Click on the link or picture above to visit a lens on the Taipei 101!
Man Made Marvel - The Hsueshan Tunnel
This is the story of the Beiyi Freeway; the road they said cannot be built. To build it they'll have to make seven major river crossings and bore through five gigantic mountains including the biggest of them the gigantic Hsueshan mountain that rises several thousand metres into the crisp mountain air. It will mean building the longest road tunnel in Asia through some of the most challenging geology ever encountered by tunnellers and that's where the challenge in building this highway really lies.
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Please leave your comments and feedback here, good or bad, nice or nasty! All appreciated!
Cassandrology wrote...
I always watching discovery channel and national geographic channel especially those episodes of the mega structures but some that I see here in your lens are not yet featured, cool for having information of almost all great structures in the world.
Posted May 25, 2009
EverythingMouse wrote...
What an excellent lens.
You have been Blessed by a Squid Angel
Posted November 23, 2008
Aldric_Chang wrote...
Thank you for your kind words on my lens Dr Momm :)
You might like to check out a series of other spin-offs from the Man Made Marvels main lens on places like the Singapore Esplanade, Singapore Flyer, Taipei 101 and Petronas Towers. I hope you will find them informative and interesting too :)
I am checking out your other lenses BTW :)
Kind regards,
Aldric
Posted November 22, 2008
Dr_Momm wrote...
What a gorgeous lens! Thanks for directing me here. Your lens is much better than mine and deserves LOTD! I could spend hours...
Posted November 22, 2008
dc64 wrote...
I'm frequently watching The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, and The National Geographic Channel, and you have some stuff on here I've never heard of. That's fantastic! This lens is crazy awesome!
Posted November 15, 2008
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Aldric Chang is a creative businessman who is active in music composing and production, internet marketing, casual games production, animation product... (more)
