The genesis of this garden was around 1957 by Mr. Nek Chand who came from Pakistan during the partition. Here in India he worked as a road inspector for the Public Works Department (PWD) in Chandigarh. That time Chandigarh was an aspiring project to be, massive work of development was going on to recreate this city  into a well planned and developed city just as the cities of the west, and this work was done by the French/Swiss architect Le Corbusier. This big project was executed and implemented by the PWD of Chandigarh. And Nek Chand being one of the employees here was in charge of junk store of this very department.
It was around this time that he actively starts working on a piece of land beside the PWD stores he was in charge of. The land was near the High Court building in Sector -1. The stores provided Nek Chand with loads of material, space and labour, which he utilized to develop this small patch of land. He collected rocks, gathering from the Shivalik hills, the seasonal Sukhna lake, Patiala Rao and Ghaggar rivers. The largest river Nek Chand quarried was the Ghaggar, located approximately eight miles from Chandigarh and all this collection of rocks and stones was done on his bicycle.

With the rocks, other waste materials were collected that came from those villages that were demolished to make space for the new city of Chandigarh. These fragments were the remains of the villages, and consisted largely of everyday mundane possessions such as broken pots and bottles. While you take a walk in this garden you can very well relate to it.
At some stage in 1965 a more conscious effort was made to transform and spruce up the found fragments and rocks into a pro forma display. This site being in a dense forest area was also needed to be cleared and concrete and mud flooring was prepared and initial structures made up of oil drums and iron shuttering, The PWD stores provided Nek Chand with an abundant and free supply of cement, bitumen, steel reinforcement bars and oil drums, free labour all of which he required to develop the site. The massive construction site that was Chandigarh provided a suitable decoy for Nek Chandís covert hobby. Provided everyone was ëworkingí or ëlooking busyí it seems that very few questions were asked.
His commitment to his work was so strong that he continued on his camouflaged project working evenings and carried it till four year, though being nervous that if discovered will lead to the termination of his employment. But still this worldly enlightenment did not put a pause in his cryptic work.

At this point sometime in 1969 Nek Chand decided to visit the cityís chief architect, M.N. Sharma, a disciple of Le Corbusier, to unravel his work. On seeing the magnificent, super innovative, and ultra dazzling and splendid work, he faced a dilemma sort, a conflict between his own duties (as the work was illegal) and the creative potential of Nek Chand. So M.N Sharma promised him all the support to get recognition for his work and later his work got all the applause and appreciation and the authorities took over, and the garden was inaugurated as a public space in 1976, presently taken care by the Rock Garden Society. But in 1990 it has face a threat from the administration as they sorted out the permission to demolish this artifact to make a bypass to connect a village. The machineries reached the site to demolish it but they were resisted by a mega human shield, enveloping the site. Later the government intervened and and an alternate way was made.

I am finding hard to portray this garden in words. Its too humongous sized, the walking around can be taxing but still it creates in you a unique excitement to move around further. The mega water fall is really breath taking, only by imagining the massive ordeal carried out to create it. You will find the broken earthen pots stacked, the olden days plug sockets engraved in the wall, broken bangles creating skirts of the ladies images there, iron rods make barriers, broken ceramic tiles arranges in a mosaic pattern beautifully glisten when the sunrays fall onto them, the beautiful work of art, the imagination knows no limitation and that can be gorgeously witnessed in here.

Top of it Chandigarh is the best planned city in India and visiting Sukhna Lake here which is another man made piece makes whole experience complete. Rock Garden is still under construction and is been now completed in phase. A theater is also being constructed to allow the cultural programs to be held here. Itís an exotic place and you can devote a complete day for this visit.

New York is exciting, passionate, straightforward and at the same time it’s friendly. When you come here you either love it or hate it. New York is a melting pot more then any other place in the USA. It’s a city where people come from all over the world to make their dreams come true. It’s really a universe in itself, with its own celebrities, numerous writers, fashion designers, upcoming new artists. All together these people create a unique social environment which makes New York so special.

Several things can characterise New York Lifestyle. Firstly, it’s about being New or trendy, therefore ‘the next big thing’ is always in high demand before it picks up.Secondly, rushy New Yorkers lacks time for daily tasks, but everything they have no time to do can be done by service providers. It is a very convenient place to live where you can get anything you want 24 hours a day delivered to your doorstep.

New York is the city which never sleeps, so the most
dynamic nightlife is here. Clubbing scene keeps changing as the public gets bored and new spots emerge. Dining and wining is another part of New York cult. Eating out in New York is a special event, a form of entertainment. You may relay on Zagat Survey to pick a restaurant for the next outing. Takeouts and door-to-door delivery are provided by nearly every place – form the cheapest fast food to a high-class restaurant.

New York is one of the cultural capitals of the world. Music is a vital part of the city’s culture. Great variety of venues provide live music options any night of the week. You can Rock New York, enjoy the

Visual Arts exhibited in the number of major art museums (25) and independent art galleries (about 600). The highlights can be seen in immensely popular Museum of Modern Art. City’s museum’s classics are presented in Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum and in the American Folk Art Museum. You can get familiar with movie making and productions in American Museum of the Moving Image and Museum of Television&Radio.

Traditionally  Finnish homesteads were scattered over large areas of forest. This has been instrumental in the conceptualization of Finnishness. Many city dwellers have access to a summer cottages in the middle of a forest or by a lake. At the very least, they dream of it.

After the humdrum of everyday working life, the forest soothes and rejuvenates the soul. For Finns it is essential to get away from it all’ at least for a while.

In the Spring the forest embodies rebirth.
In the Summer it enwraps you in a thousand greens.
In the Autumn it dazzles and exhales.
And in Winter it enraptures your soul.

The Finnish language. Though sparsely populated and modest on the world map, Finland still boasts its own language – suomi.Known in English as Finnish, it is distantly related to Hungarian. The language wasn’t officially recognized until the 19th century, and yet the oldest Finnish words date back 5,ooo years or more to the Finno-Ugric and Uralian periods. Perhaps one of the reason why foreigners consider Finnish so difficult is because of its versatility. Its syntax is extremely flexible, giving rise to endless nuances. Standard colloquial Finnish is freely mixed with a variety of dialects, slang and words from other languages. In fact, Finnish is so versatile that it is possible to construct new words for specific or new situations.

As in most countries, Finland enjoys many colourful, local dialects. Many families also employ their very own vocabulary or particular linguistic style. So, in Finland, a person may speak on family or individual dialects. The Finnish language is so extremely onomatopoetic. The actual resonance of the words enable the speaker to relate his message accurately and vividly.

Finns love their language. Millions of books are printed in Finnish every year. And books are still the most popular gifts for special occasions, including Christmas and birthdays.

Finns also believe in and exert the power of the spoken word. They are avid theater-goers and Finnish amateur dramatic enjoys nation-wide enthusiasm.

The Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, has been translated into several languages, as have   Mika Waltari’s “Sinuhe the Egyptian”, Tove Jansson’s “Moomin” books, etc.

The Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) The swan was voted Finland’s national bird in 1981. Karelians have long held it as a holy; symbolizing purity, light and beauty. It also has a pertinent role in the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) Wood anemones proclaim the Finnish spring with a prolific floral display. They are also often given to mums on the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day in Finland.

Sauna.

The sauna is a constant and beloved institution in Finland. It has helped shape Finland’s history and can even affect the economy of the country. Traditionally, the sauna has not only been a place for washing, but has been used as breweries, curehouses and laundries. Sauna dressing rooms have been used as living-quarters for farm hands and sons-in-law. In the wilds the sauna provided crucial hiding places. Many an elderly Finn was born in sauna. It has been the place to treat illness, give massages and go about that very Finnish tradition of cupping bad blood.

In all probability, there is not a single Finn in the world who has never had a sauna.  The sauna is not essentially erotic. It is at its best when you are there alone. The sauna can offer you a tour of your inner self. It’s a haven for feeling and listening to the basics of life. The dry wood gives off a strong smell and with each breath-in inner frustration expels. The fire in the sauna burns off any remaining anxieties. Hot stones, steam and hot air relieves stress. The aroma from the birch leaves brings with it an almost spiritual calmness. Water rinses away all that’s old. In the sauna Finns are born again.

Baking Bread in Finnish style.

Every country has its own traditions of making bread. Finland is not exception. Originally, the country was divided into two permanent areas of inhabitation: the East and the West. Both geographical areas developed their own regional kitchens. The eastern area was influenced by Slavic culture, the western by Germanic.

The traditional Finnish cottages in the east had an oven which was heated up on a daily basis during the winter. Food was prepared in clay pots in the oven, the meat was cured in a wooden trough and bread, pies and pasties were baked whenever the need arose. Soft rye bread was the daily bread of the east, an area where the preparation of food relied heavily on the oven.

In western regions the cottage was heated by a fireplace and the food cooked in a three-legged pot or a pan hanging over the fire. Outside, there was usually a separate little hut of baking bread, often huge quantities at a time. Baking days were in the autumn and the spring. The breads, which were usually circular with a hole in the middle, were dried and hung on poles that stretched across the ceiling. The bread of the west was dry rye bread, which was soaked before eating.

Rye bread still plays an important role in Finland’s impressive range of breads. It is also the bread that Finns most long for when they are abroad. Its strong taste is easy to get used to. It appearance and degree of sourness vary from region to region.

Many Finns also eat rye bread at breakfast . It definitely fills you up more then white bread. The best rye bread is still baked in a wood-fired baking oven. The rye grains are carefully ground is a stone mill. Only water, salt and sourdough root are then added into the flour. It the old days, when children were sent out from remote county houses into the big wide world, rye bread and sour milk, the staples of the Finnish diet, were always included in the rucksack.

Go fishing. Every Finn has probably been fishing at some time or other. Finland has nearly two hundred thousand lakes, an abundance of rivers and a long coastline. Summer cottages are located on the sea shore and lakes sides. Rowing boats are therefore a useful commodity. In summer evening Finns spread their nets and go out fishing. Winter’s frozen conditions present no problems for fishermen. Nets can be cast underneath the ice. Ice fishing is a very popular, even if a little peculiar, winter pursuit in Finland. Thousands of men and women dress up in extra-warm clothing and go fishing on the ice. A small hole is drilled through the ice by means of an ice drill and the intrepid ice angler just sits there fishing, sometimes for hours. This is yet another opportunity for Finns to fulfill their yearning to be at one with nature. Being able to spend time in a true winter wonderland, alone with one’s thoughts, is probably more important than the catch itself.

Nearly one hundred different species of fish swim in Finnish water. Only about twenty of them, however, end up on the dinner table.
Salmon (Salmo salar) and sea-bred rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) are the most popular fish for Finns. For the most part, salmon is still eaten in the traditional way; slightly salted. Fresh rainbow trout is on offer practically every day of the year. it is inexpensive and easy to prepare. Salmon is caught in the Baltic Sea with fyke nets. Sport fishermen go fly fishing for large and handsome migratory salmon in the rivers of Lapland.
The most prestigious fish for most Finns, however, is perch (Perca fluviatilis). It is also the most endemic, and can be found in most waters except for the petite mountain lakes of Lapland. The largest perch are caught in nets from the sea.
Pikeperch, related to perch, is also widely appreciated. Its bones are easily removed and it’s frequently favoured by restaurants.
There are many varieties of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) in Finland. It is popular too and can always be found alongside salmon and pikeperch in restaurants. Whitefish is particularly good broiled or smoked. It gives a superbly fresh taste to fish stock. Whitefish roe is a real delicacy – caviar at its best – served on top of blinis, as a filling for baked potatoes or as an ingredient for sauces.

source: Finland – Nature’s table

Kauri tree is a famous New Zealand sight. One of the largest tree in the world, it may grow up to 50 meters tall and live for 2000 years. Kauri tree is a New Zealand national treasure (Toanga) and is a protected species. The largest representative of this species Tane Mahuta “Lord of the Forest” and Te Matua Ngahere “Father of the Forest” are situated in the Waipoua Forest North Island New Zealand.

Related subjects:

Tane Mahuta “Lord of the Forest” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tāne_Mahuta

Te Matua Ngahere “Father of the Forest” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Matua_Ngahere

The Kauri Museum New Zealand http://www.kauri-museum.com/

The name Ninety Mile Beach is a misnomer because it is actually 88 km (55 miles) long. The reason for its name is unknown. Several theories have been put forward, the most common stemming from the days when missionaries travelled on horse back. On average a horse could travel 30 miles in a day before needing to be rested. The beach took three days to travel therefore earning it the title Ninety Mile Beach, but the missionaries did not take into account the slower pace of the horses walking in the sand, thus thinking they had travelled 90 miles when in fact they had only travelled 60.

By the way Cape Reinga has an important cultural aspect, the word Reinga is borrowed from Maori language and means the ‘Underworld’. The place itself according to Mā

ori belief simbolised the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld to continue their journey to their traditional homeland of Hawaiiki.

The old Pohutukawa tree lipping the rocks behind the lighthouse simbolised a maori spirit on its path the Te Ara Wairua to the final destination Hawaiiki.
Cape Reinga is one of the most visited sites of New Zealand, attracting thousands of tourists around the year. Lately government introduced a construction plan improving infrastructure and increase facilities around the area for the comfort of the visitors. In 2007 Cape Reinga was added to the tentative list of UNESCO in order to receive World Heritage Site status.

Comprised of numerous islands it gives a visitor variety of sea adventure options, including swimming with dolphins, parasailing, sailing, fishing, different boat cruises. Moreover you have a possibility to do a skydiving and enjoy the scenery in a free fall. 

For a group of people a trip to the nearby wild island can be organised, where you can enjoy a sun sea and privacy during the whole day. Charter boats can be also arranged for sailing, deep sea fishing and diving trips. 

The Bay of islands is not only a unique natural place but also a historical.

In 18th century The Bay of islands became a first european settlement in New Zealand.    

The bay has many interesting historic towns including Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri. Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand.

Checkout the following site for more information http://www.northlandnz.com/events.php