An amazing hotel in a fascinating part of the world.
The Empire Hotel & Country Club, originally built as a palace for the royal family of Brunei, is a 5 star hotel by any reviewer's standards. From its 5-story atrium, private lagoon, luxury onsite movie theatres and Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course, through to its fine Asian cuisine restaurants and oppulently appointed rooms and suites, this hotel is certainly the best kept secret in South East Asia.
It's easy to escape the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, and still remain within close reach of all that this exciting city has to offer.
The Palace of the Golden Horses is an indulgent, well-appointed and luxurious piece of paradise. With Kuala Lumpur's dazzling skyline on one side, and the relaxing Mines Resort on the other, your options are endless.
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Welcome to my homepage!
Where have I been?
I've visited 475 Cities in 20 Countries
This is my little corner of the web, and you are most welcome to have a browse around and see what I am or have been up to.
Next Stop - Shanghai World Expo 2010
My next trip is to Bangkok (to see what all the fuss is about) and then on to Shanghai for the 2010 World Expo.
The theme of this world expo is "Better City, Better Life."
In 1800, only 2 percent of the global population lived in cities, but by 1950, the figure had risen to 29 percent, and by 2000, almost half the world population had moved into cities. The United Nations estimates the urban population will account for 55 percent of the total human population by 2010. Despite all its glories, there is no denying that the city today, because of high-density living patterns, faces a series of challenges, such as spatial conflicts, cultural collisions, resource shortages and environment degeneration. Without effective controls, the unchecked expansion of cities will aggravate these problems and consequently erode the quality of urban life. As the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, issued at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) reaffirms "Our cities must be places where human beings lead fulfilling lives in dignity, good health, safety, happiness and hope." All the problems facing the city, including congestion, pollution, crime and conflict, are believed to have originated from the discords between man and nature, between man and man, and between spiritual and material aspects of life. It is also maintained that such discord, if left unattended, will inevitably lead to the decline of the quality of life in cities and even the degeneration of human civilization.
It is in the face of such discord that Expo 2010 Shanghai China proposes the concept of a "City of Harmony" responding to the appeal for "Better City, Better Life." The "City of Harmony" features harmonious co-existence of diverse cultures, harmonious economic development, harmonious living in the age of science and technology, harmonious functioning of communities, the cells of the city, and harmonious interactions between urban and rural areas.
The 2010 World Expo will be the biggest World Expo held so far, with over 230 countries and international organizations have already signed up, and the 5sq kilometre site will be the largest used for a World Expo to date.
Attendance is expected to be over 70 million, including an estimated 5 million from outside China. Including me!
Every one of the European Common Market Countries are participating.
Attending the World Expo will give me the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies and appreciate the cultural diversity of over 230 countries around the world.
Euro06During 2006 I embarked on a 7 month tour of the UK, Western and Central Europe. It was an amazing trip, through the gorgeous Irish countryside, to the rugged mountains of Portugal, across to the beautiful old city of Prague and finally to the excitement of the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day in Paris.
I am back on firm ground now, and settled down in to full time study at the University of Tasmania where I am doing a Bachelor of Tourism.
I have recently added my collection of poetry, and hope to start adding more soon.
Member - Golden Key International Honour Society
