Oral Communications 814 - Narva College Autumn 2018
Hotspot Cities
Research one of these “hotspot” cities: Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hanoi, Seoul, Tokyo, Riyadh, Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Sao Paulo, Lima, Toronto, New York City, Houston, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Learn about 1) major tourist attractions and 2) problems facing the city.
Share at least three of the city’s tourist attractions and a problem facing the city.
Post (enter your comment) your research on the blog by 22:00 on Tuesday, October 30th.
State your name in your blog, as in "This is Rhonda."
Read and respond to at least two classmates’ postings by 11:45 on Thursday, October 25th.
Post (enter your comment) your research on the blog by 22:00 on Tuesday, October 30th.
State your name in your blog, as in "This is Rhonda."
1.
ReplyDeleteMajor tourists attractions in Seoul are Gyeongbokgung Palace, Myeongdong, Seoul Tower, and Bukchon Hanok Village.
The Gyeongbokgung Palace is known for its magnitude and also for that the palace’s 7,700 rooms were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong. The palace literally looks like very new and modern place to see.
Myeongdong is known for variety of different Korean and European cosmetic brands where a person can find anything he/she wants.
Seoul Tower offers wonderful view of the city from the tower that has been opened in 1980.
The last tourists attraction is Bukchon Hanok Village which is a cluster of many private wooden houses, and is known for the style of the houses.
2.
As far as Seoul is one of the most populated city in the world, it faces serious urban challenges. I’ve found some interesting facts about urban problems in Seoul like:
• The air pollution in Seoul’s is 18 time more per square kilometre then the air pollution in South Korea;
• No space for new development and growth
• Poverty
• Too busy traffic
• Polluted water that cause serious illnesses
Kate
Dear Kate
DeleteI checked out the places you have brought out and I must say they are absolutely gorgeous! My favourite from your list is The Gyeongbokgung Palace. It reminds me of all the buildings I have seen in movies that have something to with Asia. The Palace seems quite modern, and you also have mentioned that in your review.
There was no new information for me concerning the problems of Seoul. I had expected a large city like Seoul to encounter issues like you have described. Although, I did not quite understand the point about “No space for new development and growth”. Who is that about? Companies? Individuals? Technologies?
Indra
Kate
DeleteI like the places you have described. They look very beautiful. If I was a tourist in Seoul I would definitely visit all of them. You have described various problems in Seoul, and in my opinion, the biggest of them, and Asia in general, is air pollution.
Alina
Dear Kate,
DeleteGood work! For me very amazing in the photos is Seoul Tower and Bukchon Hanok Village is so cute and accurate so it could be one more wish to my collection to take a walk there. After that I read issues my wish to attend Seul disappeared. Polluted water that cause serious illnesses repeal me and even good tourist attraction are nothing by comparison.
Kate,
DeleteIt is nice to read about Seoul. I have had many, many students from Seoul, so this made me think about them. It seems to be such a cultural-center. Many of my colleagues have visited South Korea because my home university has a lot of partnerships with universities there. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda
Dear Kate,
DeleteBusy traffic, poverty, air and water pollution are common problems of such highly populated cities as Seoul. It's a shame that such a magnificent city has to suffer from all of this issues. It would be interesting to know how their government is coping with them.
Jelena D.
This is Indra
ReplyDeleteDear all
I chose to read about the sights of Riyadh. Three of the city’s tourist attractions that I found most fascinating are: Hidden Valley, Edge of the World and The Secret Lake. All these sights are pretty popular among tourists; however, they are located about an hour drive away from the city of Riyadh. I was particularly interested in these tourist attractions, because they are all in nature, thus there is a lot to explore.
Hidden Valley is all about cliffs, rocks and sand. Tourists are offered to take safari trips, to climb or to hike. The nature there is very similar to what we have seen in western movies. It is a perfect spot for those tourists that are used to spend their time outside and to move a lot.
Edge of the World looks more like savannah that has a spectacular cliff line reaching the horizon from both of the sides. But once you are on top these cliffs, the view really looks and feels as if you are standing at the edge of the world. There is basically nothing around but miles of desert, which makes it seem like post-apocalyptic scenery. Cool thing also is that there are lots of eagles flying around. Tourists who love wild birds are definitely going to like this place.
The Secret Lake is a temporary winter-months-lake. It can be visited when the winter rains have brought it back for people to not only see the lake but an amazing flora around it. There are various species of plants, flowers and grain all growing together into a spectacular colourful view, especially during the sunsets. Tourists who love picnics would surely enjoy having one by the lake with such vivid surroundings.
A problem that city of Riyadh has been facing is traffic jams. The jams have gotten so serious, that they are “causing many serious problems such as difficulties in carrying patients to hospitals and reaching schools, offices and airports on time”. The causes of traffic jams are reported to be absence of public transport systems and low fuel price that encourages people to buy and use vehicles on a daily basis.
(http://www.arabnews.com/traffic-problems-riyadh)
Dear Indra
DeleteI checked the places that you have written about. I felt intrigued by your description of these landmarks and decided to see the pictures. My favourite is The Secret Lake, because this place looks perfect for leisure activities of all kinds. Also, I agree that this lake`s shore is just perfect for having a picnic and spending time with friends.
Alina
Dear Indra,
DeleteThank you for this information,
I would like to say, that it is not really conveniently, that all these attractions are located about an hour drive away from the city of Riyadh. Despite on that, I think, that they are deserve to spend the time on driving, but to see them, because they are astonishing.
Alina Štšukina.
Indra,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your description about Riyadh. I am now thinking of former students who live in Riyadh. They also talked about the traffic jam problems in the city. My students from Sao Paulo also talk about the congested roads. Big city problems! You don't experience these issues in Toila, which I am sure makes you happy! It's good to be able to breathe freely!
-Rhonda
This is Alina K
ReplyDeleteI did a research about Kuala Lumpur. Three major tourist attractions that I felt really interested in are Petronas Towers, Cameron Highlands and Menara KL Tower.
Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world. Their architecture is charming in terms of being modern and looking fabulous. Since I really love modern architecuture, glass skyscrapers and innovative design I would surely visit this landmark.
Cameron Highlands is a district in Pahang, Malaysia not far from Kuala Lumpur. This is a landmark that nature lovers would enjoy to see. It is a huge green valley with little hills and a forest area. It looks very extraordinary due to its fresh green land that reaches as far as it is possible to see.
Menara KL Tower is a communications tower, which also contains a revolving restaurant, providing diners with a panoramic view of the city. The tower also acts as the Islamic falak observatory to observe the crescent moon which marks the beginning of Muslim month of Ramadhan. If you feel like getting awesome panoramic pics of Kuala Lumpur, then Menara KL Tower is a must-see.
An issue in Kuala Lumpur is water pollution. The main contributors to the water pollution in Kuala Lumpur are from agriculture, agro-based industries, electronic hardware factories, food and beverage processing plants and textile and leather canneries. These are significant contributors to this issue as many of these facilities and factories discharge effluents directly into the rivers, resulting in water pollution. (https://geourbangrowthanddecline.weebly.com/kuala-lumpur.html#)
Dear Alina K
DeleteI read about the places you described in your review and found Cameron Highlands to appear the most fascinating landmark of Malaysia for me. I liked it, because I checked out the pictures and it really looks amazing just as you have described in your review. Also, as I am a fan of nature, I would definitely enjoy hiking there. No doubt that there must be a lot of tourists visiting Cameron Highlands all the time.
An issue that you have brought out is terrific in terms of influencing the lives of locals in Kuala Lumpur. I assumed there might be such problems like water pollution in large cities, and KL can surely be called one. I wonder whether they are trying to solve it, though.
Indra
Dear Alina
DeleteIt was very interesting to read your research about Kuala Lumpur. No doubts that there are many places to visit, and you had mentioned the most popular and beautiful places in your brief research. However there are many places with fantastic views in the world. Therefore the urban problem that is connected to water pollution touches me most. I feel very sad for those countries that suffer from water pollution and all those thing that desctruct our habitats.
Kate
Dear Alina,
DeleteI read your research and the description of Cameron Highlands sounds really impressive. It is both nice and hard to have such a place and to save it, because conservations usually need special attention. It's preservation may be strongly connected with water, so Kuala Lumpur really need to solve the problem of water pollution to help people and to save that beautiful nature they have. It will be a huge loss, if nothing is going to be done with that problem.
Nadezda Makarova
Alina,
DeleteThanks for sharing this information. I wasn't aware of the Petronas Towers in KL. It sounds like an interesting architectural hub! The Cameron Highlands area sounds amazing. I have never been to Malaysia, but have been to Singapore, and I absolutely loved it. I remember this warm, fragrant smell. It was really lovely.
-Rhonda
Paris is truly magnificent and a dream place for travelers. Paris is today one of the world’s leading centers for business, fashion, entertainment, art and culture. Here are three tourist attractions which are most popular in Paris:
ReplyDelete- Eifel tower is the iconic symbol of Paris. One of the world’s most photographed tourist attractions, the Eiffel Tower presents an excellent photography opportunity for both day and night times. Visitors can ride the elevator to see incredible views of the city or dine in one of the two fine restaurants that are situated within the tower.
- Louvre is the most visited museum in the World. Housing a collection of more than 1 million objects, the Louvre boasts some of the world’s most famous art works such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” Michelangelo’s “Dying Slave” and the Greek statue, “Venus of Milo.”
- Arc de Triomphe was constructed in 1806 to memorialize the triumphal battles of Napoleon Bonaparte. The arch features intricate reliefs depicting victorious battles and engraved names of many who died fighting for the emperor.
Pigeons are the first propblem facing the city. This birds are an integral part of the city. Paris is sometimes called as "Pigeons capital". Wall decoration reminds them cliffs and mountain slopes there is comfortable to nest.
In Paris there are a lot of garbage, too. This is problem for all big cities.
The third problem is frequent strikes. People defend their professional and civil rights. It would be ok if didn't suffer ordinary citizens who are missing an important meeting because of strikes of public transport.
Dear Nadezda,
DeleteIf those three sightseeings you chose are quite familiar to everyone, the "pigeon problem" is a new fact for me. In Narva there are also a lot of pigeons, but it is hard to imagine, how much of them should be in a city to make such a mess on squares. I know that in Paris people often feed them on streets and it may be on of the reasons, why there are so many of those birds. It would be interesting to know, how government and people in Paris are coping with such a problem.
Nadezda Makarova
Dear Nadezhda,
DeleteI am compleetely agry with the previous comment and I would like to add, that Paris is a city, that should visit everyone to see these nice places. Especially, I would like to visit Louvre, because there are these famous and great art works. Problems in Paris are very important to solve them, mainly about garbage, because in the most visited cities, tourists want to feel this beauty, but it is impossible, while having too much litter. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Alina Štšukina.
Nadezda,
DeleteThanks for writing about Paris. Whenever I see the Eiffel Tower and its surroundings I am always amazed at how incredibly large it is. I have stood at the base of the Tower and looked up at it and it is truly remarkable. It is interesting that you brought up the striking issue. That is definitely something I think about when I think of France. On a related note, last week when I was flying from Serbia to Estonia, my flight route was changed because the airline workers in Brussels were on strike.
Rhonda
Dear Nadezhda,
DeleteI enjoyed reading about the tourist destinations you chose. Also, it was really surprising and interesting to read about the pigeon problem. I imagine how many pigeons must be in such a large city like Paris. Besides the mess they make in the streets, they can also distribute dangerous viruses and illnesses so it is a serious problem indeed.
Jelena D.
First of all, Lima is the capital of Peru, so there is no doubts that it is full of churches and museums. One of the most interesting churches there is Sn Francisco church. which catacombs contain several thousands of bones. They are standing as walls of the narrow maze, looking like a peice of art. The library of the church has a collection of religious art, and one of the most interesting paintings there is the Last Supper with guinea pigs.
ReplyDeleteHuaca Pucllana is an interesting-looking temple, built of clay bricks. In 90's the temple was explored by archeologists and it was discovered that it was used for different purposes, as burial rituals, trade, ceremonies, and it was built slightly more that two thousands years ago. Now it is a tourist attraction with a small Lima culture museum near to it.
Plaza mayor is the historical center of Lima, with the bronze fountain in the middle. The dountain it the one of structures in the city, which survived the earhtquake in 18th century. Now the square is UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around it are standing different memorisible buildings, which played their part in Peru history, as, for example, the spot, where was declared the Independence of Peru, where later was the residence of the president.
Lima has problems with public transport and traffic. Due to Discovery research, for every 100 cars there happens around three deaths. In a traffic jams cars are moving with 6 miles (9,5 km) in an hour. The reason for that is enormous number of cars, in 2014 there was 230 000 taxis for 10 mls people and the majority of those cars is illegal. For comparison, In New Yore there are only 13 000 taxis for 8 mls of people. Now the government of Lima tries to create comfortable and affordable system of public transport, which can use all social layers.
In addition to traffic problems, Lima has an unempleyment issue. People there need more higher education institutes. The city also suffers from lack of living places and high crime rate.
Nadezda Makarova
Dear Nadezda,
Deleteyou found for me interesting locations which I never heard. For me most attractive are Huaca Pucllana and Heritage Site. Huaca Pucllana is so old and with such amazing history. Heritage Site is one of the most buitiful buildings I have ever seen. Issues of the city show me that it has plenty of work to become more comfortable in transportation and safe for paople living there and tourists.
Dear Nadezhda
DeleteThanks for your research. Frankly, I've long known that Peru is known for the churches but it was interesting to get know some new information about Peru's capital.
It makes me sad that there are a hight unemployment rate because it causes such problems as drugs selling and murdering people just to survive.
Dear Nadezhda
DeleteThanks for your job! The most fascination place for me is Sn Francisco church. Although several thousands of bones sounds like horror movie, but I believe that such places are filled with magic.As far as problems concerned, Lima has the same problems as other cities, lack of educational institution and workplaces.
Best regards
Nadezhda G
Nadezhda,
DeleteThanks for sharing these interesting facts about Lima, Peru.Just recently both my mother and one of my closest friends visited Lima (on separate trips). It sounds like a really beautiful place to visit, although, I know the unemployment and crime rates are really high. It is so unfortunate
- Rhonda
Hello!
ReplyDeleteThis is Alina Štšukina,
I would like to introduce tourist attractions in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the capital on Netherlands and a very beautiful place to visit and travel.
1. One of Amsterdam's most popular attractions - art repository - the Rijksmuseum. The museum's impressive collection includes some seven million works of art, among them more than 5,000 important paintings, well-stocked library of more than 35,000 books and manuscripts, as well as numerous fascinating displays dealing with the development of art and culture in the Netherlands. Of special note are its collections of traditional handicrafts, medieval sculpture, and modern art styles.
2. For art fans and historians there is a spectacular Van Gogh Museum. This is a place for largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and artifacts. Boasting an impressive 200 paintings, 500 etchings and drawings, as well as 700 letters written to (and by) friends and family
3. Vondelpark is the largest and the most visited park in Amsterdam. the park is home to a rose garden featuring more than 70 types of the flower. It also has a variety of sculptures and statues, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities, including rollerblade rental and the Vondelpark Open Air Theater, cafes.
The problem in Amsterdam , as An expert said is, that in Amsterdam is Tourist numbers have risen stratospherically. Parts of Amsterdam are now so crowded – day in day out, in all seasons – that it is as if the city is constantly in the grip of an enormous festival. Pedestrians spill from narrow pavements and walk in the middle of the street.
Dear Alina!
DeleteThanks for your research. Amsterdam is the best place for creative people! I always know, that Paris is the capital of art, but Amsterdam can fight with Paris for this status. Van Gogh Museum with thousands of works, Rijksmuseum with more than 35 000 old books, and Vondelpark with various of flowers are definitely such places where artist always have a desire to visit.
Best wishes Nadezhda G
Alina,
DeleteI have been reading a lot about the overcrowding of Amsterdam with tourist. It sounds really hectic! I was there about 10 years ago, really briefly. I wanted to take my family into the city this past summer when we had a layover at the airport, but we didn't make it. We all would like to see the Anne Frank house. Thank you for sharing!
- Rhonda
Hello
ReplyDeleteIt is Nadezhda Gorin
I would like to read about Tokyo. Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, is also home to the Imperial Palace and the seat of Government and Parliament. Tokyo is one of the world's most modern cities in terms of its infrastructure and design.The cultural side of Tokyo is famous for its numerous things to do and top attractions, including museums, festivals, internationally noted cuisine, and professional sports clubs, including baseball, football, along with traditional Japanese pursuits like sumo wrestling. It's also a city rich in music and theater, with numerous venues featuring everything from Japanese to modern dramas, symphony orchestras, and pop and rock concerts.
Tokyo's most popular attractions - The Imperial Palace,Ginza District: Shop 'til you Drop, The Sensō-ji Temple, National Museum of Nature and Science, Ueno Park and Zoo, National Museum of Western Art.
The Miraikan and Edo-Tokyo Museums is one of Tokyo's newest museums, the impressive National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation offers a fascinating insight into Japan's leading role in the field of technology. This ultra-modern, purpose-built facility includes many hands-on interactive exhibits dealing with everything from earthquakes to weather, as well as renewable energy and robotics.
Ueno Park and Zoo is a paradise-like oasis of green in the heart of busy Tokyo, Ueno Park is the city's largest green space and one of its most popular tourist attractions. In addition to its lovely grounds, the park also boasts numerous temples and museums to explore. he Aqua-Zoo, one of the largest aquariums in Asia, is also worth a visit, especially if you're traveling with kids.
The Imperial Palace is the chief attraction of Tokyo's Marunouchi district. There is a beautiful 17th-century parks surrounded by walls and moats. Still in use by the Imperial family.
There are some problems due to constantly increasing numbers of tourist (Number of international visitors in 2016: 24.04 million)- First one is that Tokyo holds the title of the world's most expensive city in which to live. Additionally, In order to visit some sights you should book your tickets two months in advance. And the most but not least problem is disrespectful tourist, they dont respect for the local customs.
Nadezhda, Thank you for writing about Tokyo. Your description hits upon both the modern and the traditional features. I didn't realize that it has so many tourist. It is unfortunate that there is a disrespect issue stemming from the tourist. I have flown over Toyko a few times and have taken a bus from one airport to another one while in Toyko. It is a massive city. It goes on forever. That is my impression of Tokyo. Last year I spent a week in the south island visiting universities and staying with one of my student's family. The area around Kagoshima Japan is absolutely gorgeous - all natural beauty. It was really special. Thanks for sharing!
Delete- Rhonda
Dear all,
ReplyDeleteThis is Jelena D.
I decided to read about Sao Paulo. It is located in the Southeast Region of Brazil and it is the most populous city in Brazil and the largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world.
Its famous tourist attraction is called The São Paulo Museum of Art and is known locally as MASP. There you can see works by impressionists and modern masters such as Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Manet, Debret, Picasso, Miró etc. The building is built in modernism and has a plaza under its structure that can offer a Sunday antiques market and frequent concerts.
The second most popular destination is São Paulo's Municipal Theatre. It became a major city attraction immediately after its completion. The theatre has hosted performances by many internationally renowned singers, dancers, musicians and performing artists. The Theatre is also home to the city's Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Choir and the City Ballet of São Paulo.
The third most visited attraction would be the Parque do Ibirapuera (Ibirapuera Park). The beautiful green space with its monuments, museums, playgrounds, gardens, lakes, and performance spaces is a leisure paradise for the people of Sao Paulo, as well as a showcase of modern architecture and culture. It was laid out by the architect Roberto Burle Marx.
The largest problem in Sao Paulo is most definitely pollution: air pollution, degradation and pollution of water sources and the effects of uncontrolled solid-waste dumping.
Other problems are high rural unemployment, lack of clean water, electricity, sewerage and medical care, periodic droughts, lack of schools, shops, etc.
dear Jelena
DeleteI enjoy to read your description about Sao Paulo, especially about attractive The Sao Paulo Museum of Art. I wish I could visit it and see all these pictures of famous arts of world.
also, I am confused that such great city has the same problems like others- air pollution, pollution of water sources and uncontrolled solid-waste dumping.
this is Olga
ReplyDeleteI was interested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' holiday hot spot. This city of high-rises and shopping malls has transformed itself from a desert to a cultural centre, where tourists flock for sales bargains, sunshine, and family fun.
Dubai is famous for sightseeing attractions such as the Burj Khalifa ,the world's tallest building., which is at 829.8 meters and the most famous of the city's points of interest. For most visitors, a trip to the observation deck on the 124th floor here is a must-do while in the city.
Nighttime visits are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai's famous city-lights panoramas.
There are also plenty of water features including the Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, modeled on the famous Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.
One of the city's top tourist attractions, the Dubai Aquarium houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall. As well as free viewing from the mall, if you enter the Underwater Zoo, you can walk through the aquarium tunnels.
Different activities help you get a closer look at the sea life. Glass bottom boat tours (on top of the tank) are particularly popular. Cage snorkeling and shark diving activities are also on offer.
The main urban problems of Dubai are over population, pollution and traffic.
Dubai's total population is 2.1 million people, making urbanisation more difficult. Having to work around all of Dubai's people has created problems such as traffic congestion and pollution. Also having to house and import food for this large population can be a struggle.