World Travel Guide Online

Most often bridges make us wonder how technology made possible their construction. They are a means of getting from one point to another but although we walk or drive on them (almost) daily, we don’t always stop to admire them.

Many bridges made history because of their uses, locations and popularity. Some of the most famous bridges in the world can be either walked across or climbed and some are open for the pedestrians for special occasions only.

1. Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia

The most recognizable landmark in Sydney is, without a doubt, the vista of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. The bridge connects the central business district with the North Shore and offers dramatic views of the harbor. It is the place where crowds gather to watch the New Year’s Fireworks and climbing the bridge is one of the most appealing attractions for those visiting Sydney. The bridge opened in 1932.

Pedestrian access is possible on both sides and the bridge can be access from several places on either side. The southeast pylon has always served as a looked out point. Guided tours are available for those who want to climb the southern half of the bridge. Both daylight and night climbs are available. It is also possible to climb the upper arches of the bridge and it is possible to view the bridge’s internal structure.

2. Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, USA

It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Finished in 1883, the bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn and is a landmark featured in many movies. Miranda and Steve (Sex and the City: The Movie) chose to meet on the bridge to reunite and continue their marriage. Romantic, yet with a possible tragic end and one if them wouldn’t show up.

The bridge has a wide pedestrian walkway available for walkers and cyclists, located in the center of the bridge. Its role of allowing pedestrians to cross gained significant importance during times of trouble when the usual means of crossing the river weren’t available (after the 911 attacks is one of the most recent moments).

3. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA

The Golden Gate Bridge spans over the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean connecting San Francisco to Marin County. The construction began in 1933 and the bridge was completed in April 1937.

The bridge is open for pedestrians during the daylight hours. However, pedestrians are allowed only on the east sidewalk (city side). It takes about an hour to walk on it and you can also visit one of the vista points. If possible, plan to walk on the bridge on a clear day. Guided tours also include the bridge (and of course, you’ll also learn about the bridge during the tour).

4. Kintai Bridge, Iwakuni, Japan

It is a historical wooden arch bridge, located in Iwakuni. Built in 1673, it spans Nishiki River, in a scenic location (at the foot of Mt. Yokoyama, offering great views of the castle above). Destroyed by a flood the next year, it was reconstructed and periodical maintenance included reconstruction of the bridge. It was destroyed again by floods in 1950 and the bridge which stands today was reconstructed in 1953.

The bridge is a very popular tourist destination in Japan, especially during the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring.

5. Galata Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey

Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul. The first plans to construct a bridge at the location where Galata Bridge stands now were laid in 1502, but Leonardo da Vinci’s ambitious plans were not put into practice. Michelangelo was asked to design a bridge as well but he refused, so the idea of building a bridge in the located was postponed. It was only in 1845 that Galata Bridge was built. In 1863, the first bridge was replaced by a wooden one. A third bridge was completed in 1875 and by 1912 the forth bridge was completed in the same location. Unfortunately it was badly damaged in a fire and it was only in 1994 that a new bridge was reconstructed just few meters from the old one. All city tours in Istanbul include the bridge and the passageway to the Old City of Constantinople.

6. Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey

Bosphorus Bridge is one of the bridges in Istanbul which spans the Bosphorus straight, connecting two continents (Europe and Asia).

The bridge has a total of eight lanes. Each direction has three lanes, a sidewalk and an emergency lane. During the first four years of service pedestrians were allowed on the bridge. Today, the only possibility to cross it by foot is in October when anyone can sign up for a “fun run” (at the same time when the Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon takes place in the city).

7. Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Charles Bridge is a pedestrian bridge crossing the river Vltava in Prague. At the time it was built, the bridge provided the only link between the Old Town and the adjacent areas. It is protected by three towers. It is decorated with 30 statues (replicas of the original ones) and during the tourist season, it is filled with vendors, artists, musicians and tourists.

For the most spectacular views of the Old Town, make sure to walk on the bridge at sunset. The beautiful lit Prague Castle creates interesting views against the evening sky and the setting sun.

8. Tower Bridge, London, England

Often wrongly referred to as London Bridge, Tower bridge spans over the Themes and has become an iconic symbol of the British capital. The bridge’s two towers are connected by two horizontal walkways. Construction started in 1886 and two five years to be completed. The bridge was needed because of the rapid development of commercial ties between East End and London.

The high level walkways, once having a bad reputation of being a haunt for pickpockets and prostitutes, are now open as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. The views from above are absolutely magnificent and contribute to the tower’s high popularity among tourists.

9. Pont des Arts, Paris, France

It is a pedestrian bridge in Paris, which crosses the river Seine, connecting Institut de France and the central square of the Louvre. In 1804 a steel bridge was completed on the location where Ponts des Arts stands today. But in 1976 several deficiencies were reported on the bridge because of the damage sustained during the two world wars and because of the collisions caused by boats. By 1984, the present bridge was constructed.

Today it is a live studio for painters, photographers and artists who are drawn to the unique location and scenery. It is a popular (and romantic) location for picnics, during the summer, both among tourists and locals.

10. Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy

Rialto Bridge is one oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal (Venice). The first crossing over the Canal was a pontoon bridge built in 1181. Thanks to the development of the Rialto Market the traffic on the bridge increased and by 1255 it was replaced by a wooden bridge. During the early 15th century, shops were built along the sides of the bridge which insured the money for maintenance (because of the taxes paid by shop owners). It partially caught fire in 1310, while in 1444 it collapsed under the weight of the crowd watching a boat parade. It collapsed again in 1524. The present stone bridge was completed in 1591. On either side of the bridge there are rows of shops.

11. Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

It is a Medieval bridge which spans over the Arno River, in Florence. It is believed that a bridge was first built by Romans. It first appeared in a document in 996 and had quite a troubled history. It was destroyed by a flood in 1117, reconstructed in stone and swept away in 1333 again. In 1345 it was reconstructed again. During the World War II the Germans didn’t destroy the bridge (unlike destroying all other bridges in Florence

It is said that the term “bankruptcy” originated here. When a merchant couldn’t pay his debts, the table on which he sold his goods (banco) was broken (rotto) by soldiers and the process was called “bancorotto” (broken table).

Even today the bridge has shops over the bridge making it a major tourist attraction in Florence. Initially, butchers occupied the shops but today most shops offer jewelry and souvenirs for sale.

12. Jacques Cartier Bridge, Montreal, Canada

The bridge crosses Île Sainte-Hélène in the centre of the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal. It is the second busiest bridge in Canada. Construction started in 1925 and the bridge, originally named Montreal Harbour Bridge, was finished in 1940. In 1934 it was renamed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s first voyage up the river.

During the summer the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic for the firework competition held at la Ronde. It becomes passenger only during the event (mid June to mid August annually, during the day). It is also closed for traffic for the Oasis Montreal Marathon, each year in September.

13. Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary

Spanning over the Danube and connecting Buda to Pest, Chain Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe. It opened in 1849 and it was the first bridge over the Danube. Anecdotes and urban legends have always been linked to the bridge. It’s a famous urban legend that the lions at both ends of the bridge don’t have tongues, while the tunnel built under the Buda Castle is said to be there only to offer rain protection to the bridge (as both have the same length so the bridge can easily fit into the tunnel).

It is possible to walk on the bridge. At night, the views are magnificent regardless of which direction you are looking to. For a spectacular view, climb on the top of the Citadel and look down. You’ll see the square at the Buda end and the entire bridge.

Photo credits: 1 – brewbooks on Flickr ; 2 – silentsnake09; 3 & 9- wallyg ; 4 – d’n'c; 5 – ipohkia ; 6 – Serdar Gurbuz Photography; 7 – laura Padgett ; 8 – erney123 ; 10 – boggie33ad ; 11 – ‘redranch’ ; 12 – nessguide ; 13 – Cristina Dima and may not be used without permission

Source: bootsnall.com

Setsubun (Feb 3rd) is a Japanese Spring ritual where Japanese drive bad luck in the form of Oni (devils) out of their homes with a handful of tossed beans. At temples and shrines, they do mame maki which is throwing beans and other things to gathered crowds.

Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese holidays and I’ve been celebrating it for the past 6 years or more. In the past I always celebrated it at temples and shrines in or around Tokyo. This year I headed for Kyoto taking in Nara in the evening as well. I started Setsubun on the 2nd with some Geisha mame maki (geisha were throwing beans that is, not that they were throwing geisha).

A Setsubun Devil arrives with sword and torch at a Japanese Temple

On February 2nd, while Americans watch groundhogs watching for their shadows, Japanese, or at least those in Kyoto, watch Geisha throw beans to gathered crowds at Yasaka Shrine. The Geisha actually are maiko who are Geisha apprentices. There were two groups of maiko, one from the Pontocho district and the other from the Miyagawacho district. Before doing mame maki they graced us with a brief dance performance – a rare treat.

In the evening I went to Mibu-dera, a temple famous for its association with the Shinsengumi, a militaristic police group for the old Shogunate in the mid-19th Century, and for kyogen plays. Kyogen is type of comical play which was often performed as intermission pieces of more serious Noh dramas. Unfortunately for the visitor, no photography or video making was allowed. This was either to protect the performance or to keep away the distraction of camera shutters clicking, video cameras beeping, and those idiots who don’t know how to turn off the flash on their pocket cameras.

Mibu-dera put on a special Setsubun kyogen for the occasion about a widow who encounters a Setsubun devil. The widow is visited by a devil in the guise of a traveler. He has a magic hammer which he makes an expensive kimono for himself and the widow. They begin drinking sake and the devil drinking too much falls asleep. The widow gets greedy and decides to make off with the hammer and kimono.

Geisha performing a fan dance

As she strips away the “traveler’s” kimono she sees his true self and screams. The devil awakes and comes after her. Panicked, the widow reaches for the first thing to defend herself and throws it at the devil. What she threw at him was dried soybeans, the traditional beans of Setsubun. Devils hate beans for some reason and so the widow was able to drive the devil away. It was easy to understand the story despite my limited Japanese because it was all done through pantomime.

On the next day, Setsubun proper, I went to six places starting with Yasaka Shrine for a brief mame maki by people in old court costumes from the Heian Era (794-1192). The men wore a kariginu, the everyday wear of a court noble, which would later become the formal wear of the samurai in later ages. The women wore the costume of a Shirabyoshi dancer. Shirabyoshi were female dancers who wore men’s clothing and performed slow rhythmic dances that influenced later Noh performers. The Shirabyoshi tradition began in 12th Century, the last century of the Heian Period and until 1868 the last century in which governmental power would reside within the Imperial Court.

From Yasaka, I made use of my all day bus pass and leapt onto a northbound bus to Heian Shrine. Heian Shrine was built just over a hundred years ago as a replica of the old Imperial Palace. There I got a snatch of a Kyogen performance which thankfully allowed photography and video. What caught my attention was that one of the performers was female. Traditionally Kyogen like Kabuki and Noh was performed solely by males including the female roles. As this was a festival performance perhaps the rules were relaxed.

Bishamon – the Muhammad Ali of Buddhist Devil Fighters

From Heian Shrine I went to Shogo-In, a temple which normally lies off of the tourist trail as there is not much to lend itself to fame amongst so many other temples. However, this small temple puts on one of the more interesting Setsubun rituals. The priests dress as Yamabushi, which are a type of ascetic hermit who are known for often living in the mountains following a creed which is a blend of Buddhism and the native Shintoism.

After a lengthy but catchy chanting ritual, three devils arrived wielding their massive iron-studded clubs. They were quickly subdued by bean-throwing Yamabushi and tamed into submission. Later the devils participated in mami maki by throwing the beans at us instead.

At another small temple Rozan-ji, a temple far too small to accommodate the number of visitors that Setsubun brings, three devils arrived bearing weapons while another gave blessings to visitors.

The weapon-bearing devils danced around before going into the temple. An archer came out sometime later to do a kind of archery exorcism ritual in which he shot untipped arrows in the four cardinal directions. Soon after the three devils emerged from the temple sans their weapons. They were staggering about reeling from the effects of the Setsubun exorcism rituals. After that mame maki was done and here they threw hard-shelled sweets and small mochi rice cakes.

Setsubun Devils are distinguishable by their horns and fetching tiger pants

After that I took a train to Nara and got there in time to see yet another Setsubun exorcism demonstration in the evening. Nara was the first capital of Japan from 710-784. At Kofuku-ji Temple another lengthy exorcism ritual took place while the crowd shifted restlessly waiting for the main event namely the devils. The crowd was silently shouting in their minds “Get on with it! Bring on the Devils!” as the priests droned on. Finally after an eternity of waiting, the devils arrived both big and small. They pranced about the stage under the night sky waving torches and weapons.

Here the devils were apparently too tough to be defeated by just mere beans. At Kofuku-ji, they brought out the big guns in the form of Bishamonten or Bishamon, a Buddhist deity and Guardian of the North. Bishamon battles all kinds of evils. North is the direction where Japanese traditionally believe evils come from so the Northern Guardian has to be pretty stout to deal with them. Bishamon took on all the devils by himself. It was like spiritual pro-wrestling with (plastic) weapons.

After that I went to Kasuga Taisha Shrine for a cool down. The shrine’s Setsubun was far more low-key. No gods, devils, geisha, mountain priests, or grasping hands for flying beans. They just had lanterns lit up for the night. It was very beautiful and serene. Whew! After all that I was Setsubuned Out!

You know the neighborhood straightaway – Chinese signage, glowing red lanterns everywhere, maybe even some neon: you’ve stumbled into another urban Chinatown.

Nearly every large city these days has a Chinatown, each with their own vibrant feel, but distinct features of the look are common across most of them. Here are seven of the best Chinatowns you can visit; would you have identified the city just from the photo?

Sydney, Australia

The Chinatown in Sydney reflects on Australia’s bright, sun-drenched image: the neighborhood is one of the brightest and cleanest you will find. The current location in Haymarket is the third location for Chinatown; it started out near in Rocks are near the harbor, then moved to Market Street, and finally settled here in the 1920s.

A tourist must-do experience is shopping at Market City, full of specialty stores and factory outlet stores. Don’t miss the dining options in one of the massive food halls either; while it may seem daunting with all the choices and busy atmosphere, the low prices and tasty fare all make up for it. An annual highlight is the Chinese New Year festival, said to be one of the best in the world.

New York, United States

New York City takes top marks for its Chinatown because it has not only one, but three: the main tourist attraction in Manhattan, one in the neighborhood of Flushing in Queens, and a bustling community in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park.

Canal Street is the epicenter of the Manhattan action, with endless photo opportunities for the camera-toting tourists. Rows of shops offer up the traditional Chinatown fare: unusual Chinese gifts, tacky New York inspired souvenirs, fake watches and purses.

There are a large number of herbal remedy stores and the best-stocked Chinese grocery stores on all of the east coast. Visitors take note – while New York is the city that never sleeps, Chinatown closes its doors around 11pm.

San Francisco, United States

San Francisco’s Chinatown is a mega-attraction: it’s the largest Chinese community outside of Asia, the oldest Chinatown in North America, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. With charming alleyways that wouldn’t look out of place in Hong Kong and the older men playing chess and performing Tai Chi in Portsmouth Square, it is no wonder this is a crowd pleaser.

Locals stream in on the weekends for food shopping and to soak up the local atmosphere around such gorgeous sights as the Bank of Canton and Sing Chong Building.

To learn more about the history of San Francisco’s Chinatown, pick up a copy of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club – she grew up in the area and the book describes life here in a series of vignettes.

Bangkok, Thailand

Known as just Sampeng or Yaowarat, after nearby streets, Bangkok’s Chinatown is as old as the city itself. In the late 1700s, as the young city of Bangkok expanded, Chinese traders were asked to relocate. They settled here near the river where they’ve been ever since.

The area has a number of examples of early Bangkok architecture in pristine condition, found down the various lanes and narrow streets.

Tourists will be quick to point out the Wat Traimit temple, which houses the world’s largest solid gold Buddha, weighing in at over 5 tons. Don’t miss the great shopping opportunities, especially the wares on display in the old Chinese pharmacy.

Brisbane, Australia

One of the more modern versions of a Chinatown, Brisbane’s Chinatown Mall opened in 1987. The colorful architecture was designed by Chinese architects and is guarded by a pair of massive stone lions straddling the area’s entrance.

The authentic feel of neighborhood makes it a popular stop for both tourists and residents, especially on weekends when market stalls line the streets.

Many of the shops could be considered more pan-Asian than decidedly Chinese; however the most popular food stop would be Yuen’s Chinese Supermarket, a favorite to both Chinese and Australian families.

Paris, France

Unknown to many tourists, Paris actually has several Chinatowns, the largest being in the 13th arrondissement. The name Chinatown is slightly misleading, as many of residents are ethnic Chinese that emigrated from Communist-controlled Vietnam in the late 1970s.

Although not as aesthetically pleasing as Paris’s more notable districts, Chinatown has many hidden charms below the towering skyscrapers.

The Parisian influence was not lost on the Chinese, as you’ll find many shops with exotic household furnishings, plush but garish nail salons and garment stores. Many wear by the food supplies of La Boutique des frère Tang (The Tang Brothers), who supply most of the Chinese restaurants in the city. Visitors should note that most shops and restaurants are closed on Mondays.

Yokohama, Japan

Yokohama hosts the largest Chinatown in all of Asia; the neighborhood blossomed when the Port of Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859 as many of the traders were Chinese and settled here. The lanes and streets of Chinatown are marked by the nine gaudy but colorful gates found throughout.

Food is front and center, with over 200 restaurants serving up both traditional and more modern Chinese delicacies – be sure to try a plate of steamed pork buns, but you can be sure that anywhere with a queue is worth waiting for.

For those with a ravenous stomach, head for the Daisekai (Daska), a “food theme park” offering samples of various dishes from the city’s best restaurants. Be sure to take your Chinese or Japanese dictionary as English is not Yokohama’s strong suit.

Photographs of Sakura flower

Japanese traditional culture during this time.


During the beginning of the month of April, HANAMI season comes to Japan. The word HANAMI is literally translated into “flower watching.” The flower of choice is the beautiful SAKURA, Japanese Cherry Blossom. Cherry blossom viewing parties (hanami) and cherry blossom festivals are held all over Japan in spring. Sakura is the national flower of Japan, and it's said that there are over four hundred varieties of cherry trees in Japan. The most popular kind of cherry blossom which can be viewed everywhere in Japan is somei-yoshino (Yedoensis). You can view some pictures of cherry blossoms in Japan. Sakura is different from the cherry of other countries. Japanese cherry trees do not yield fruits like other cherry trees. Cherry blossom viewing has been a Japanese custom since the 7th century when the aristocrats enjoyed looking at the cherry blossoms and wrote poems.
People drink, eat, and sing during the day and night. It is like a picnic. People bring food, do BBQ, or buy food from vendors. Among various food people eat in cherry blossom viewing, dango is very popular. It is a chewy snack made of rice flour. At last night, I also joined BBQ (HANAMI) parti with some Japanese friends and enjoyed a lot viewing Cherry blossom....