Interesting Places in the World

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (also known as Golden Rock) is a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State, Myanmar. It is a small pagoda (7.3 metres (24 ft)) built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves pasted on by devotees. According to legend, the Golden Rock itself is precariously perched on a strand of the Buddha's hair. The rock seems to defy gravity, as it perpetually appears to be on the verge of rolling down the hill. The rock and the pagoda are at the top of Mt. Kyaiktiyo. It is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma after the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda. A glimpse of the "gravity defying" Golden Rock is believed to be enough of an inspiration for any person to turn to Buddhism.

Useful Things to Know During Travel

1.      Do not go to the beach in August in Spain. Three quarters of the population of Spain and their families will be there, too. You will wait nine hours to get served at a restaurant, another nine hours for the food to arrive, plus two or three more before you get fed up waiting for the bill and do a 'sinpa' (ie a runner, from sin pagar - without paying).

2.      “Wai” is the traditional Thai greeting during which the hands are brought together in front of the chin. First “wais” the person who is younger or lower–ranking.

3.      In Austria one can buy various souvenirs with the slogan "There are no kangaroos in Austria" emphasizing that it is not Australia.

4.      Taking only 1 minute and 14 seconds to complete, the shortest scheduled flight in the world is from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. You can actually get there faster by boat and possibly by swimming.

5.       In France the banks remain closed on Mondays and are usually open on Saturdays.