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10 Most Beautiful Places in the World to Add to Your Travel Bucket List
Published
2 weeks agoon
10 Most Beautiful Places in the World to Add to Your Travel Bucket List
Our planet is adorned with so much breathtaking beauty, from ancient forests and historical ruins to stunning lakes, rivers, and seas. These places are so gorgeous that it can be tough to decide which of the most beautiful places in the world you want to visit next. Europe for example, offers the ease of train travel for visiting multiple marvels in one trip, while the deserts and cities of South America may be more challenging to navigate. Regardless of these challenges, certain sites must be at the top of your travel bucket list, and we’ve gathered 10 of the most beautiful places in the world for you.
Whether you’re an adventurer eager to explore the remote Pailón del Diablo in Ecuador or you prefer relaxing amid the serene beauty of Lake Como, Italy, these destinations promise unforgettable experiences. They’ll inspire in ways that nowhere else can. So, renew your passport, invest in some quality luggage, and start planning your fall and winter travels with our curated list of the 10 most beautiful places in the world.
1
Niagara Falls, Canada
It’s almost stereotypical to put Niagara Falls on a list of the most beautiful places in the world, but it is magnificently stunning. This natural wonder is made up of three separate waterfalls with a maximum drop of almost 200 feet. You can visit this site on the United States side too, but everyone knows the Canadian side is prettier.
2
Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico
The Zapotec metropolis of Monte Albán, located in Oaxaca, Mexico, is a fascinating archaeological site that houses the ruins of ancient pyramids. As a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Monte Albán served as a ceremonial center around 500 BC. Perched atop a mountaintop, it offers breathtaking views of the Oaxaca Valley.
3
Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand, India
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan mountain at this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. As you explore this enchanting valley, you’ll encounter blooming flowers, rare wildlife, cascading waterfalls, and flowing streams. This journey to one of the most beautiful places in the world promises an unforgettable experience for nature lovers.
4
Cocora Valley, Salento, Colombia
Find beautiful examples of the wax palm—Colombia’s national tree—in full glory down in the Cocora Valley, just outside of the city of Salento. These trees are home to the vibrant yellow-eared parrot and grow up to 197 feet tall. As the trees tower over you, traipse through the valley for other scenic nature views, but be aware that this is not a short hike, so bring your walking shoes.
Stockholm, Sweden
Yes, the entirety of the capital of Sweden is on our list of the most beautiful places in the world, not only because it’s home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but because it has that storybook charm you can rarely find anywhere else. Stockholm is a picturesque destination with both old and modern architecture, a rich history, cobblestone streets, and the calming presence of water in an urban setting. There’s so much to do and so many places to shop, we can only warn you that you probably won’t want to ever leave.
Shiraito Falls, Fujinomiya, Japan
Located in the foothills of Mt. Fuji, these cascading falls are some of the most beautiful in Japan. The 20-meter-high wall of multiple falls is fed by the volcano’s spring water and surrounded by lush greenery, especially in the summer when the snowfall from the top of the mountain melts. The waterfall base is accessible by a walking trail that you can get to via car or bus, and the site is truly magical.
Undredal, Norway
This small fjord village is straight from a fairytale with its sparkling waters, steep mountains, historic buildings, and—oh, yeah—500 goats. In fact, there are more goats in Undredal than there are people, and that’s because this village is known for its goat cheese production, which only adds to the charm. While the area itself is beautiful, the tradition of cheese-making and the culture around it in Undredal is what makes it such a tourist destination.
8
Sete Cidades Lake, Azores, Portugal
As soon as you lay your eyes on Sete Cidades Lake, you won’t believe what you’re seeing is actually real—it’s just that beautiful. This crater lake is made up of two lagoons, one with a bluish tint and the other with a greenish tint, which only adds to the majesty. This body of water is surrounded by green pastures and lush gardens, and if you don’t mind renting a car, you can take a trek to other surrounding areas to see more of Portugal’s beauty, like Coal Aqueduct ruins and more beaches.
9
Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Carved by glaciers over 100,000 years ago, Fiordland might look slightly familiar to you if you’re a fan of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. This park served as the backdrop to a few scenes in the movies, like the real-life Waiau River representing the fictional River Anduin in the first flick. Even if you’re not a LOTR fan, there’s no denying that the natural landscape is breathtaking, from the ancient rainforests to the shimmering lakes and more.
10
Asturias, Spain
This northwestern region of Spain has it all: rugged mountains, historic religious sites, and an unbelievable coastline. Thanks to the amount of rainfall it receives, Asturias is always lush and green, making it an ideal tourist spot for nature lovers. However, any history buffs will fall in love with this fishing region as well, thanks to the many old cultural sites you can visit while there.
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Tinubu Has Plans To Change Nigeria — Doyin Okupe
Published
11 hours agoon
November 21, 2024Tinubu Has Plans To Change Nigeria — Doyin Okupe
…It Will Take Two Years For Reforms To Bear Fruits
…Says Atiku, Obi Had Nothing To Offer
…2023 Election Was Not Rigged
For Doyin Okupe, sitting on the fence is not an option. He prides himself as a rare politician who speaks without minding whose ox is gored. Mostly misunderstood, he has been around for a long time but has refused to exit the stage.
As a spokesman to two former presidents, he courted controversies and was once dubbed the attack dog to a sitting president. From seeing satire to innuendoes thrown at him, Okupe has waxed stronger brushing aside criticisms, he said he has grown accustomed to and fears no one. To him, eliciting criticisms is the price for being principled, and it amounts to anathema to stay under the radar for fear of being criticised.
In this interview with Isuma Mark of THE WHISTLER, Okupe took on long time political colossus, Atiku Abubakar and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, dismissing them as having nothing better to offer Nigeria. He lambasted them for daring to propagate what he claimed was a fallacy that the 2023 election was rigged.
He dubbed President Bola Tinubu a reformer in Aso Rock whose policies would begin to yield results from two years of the administration.
Except…
You’ve been in the news lately with critics and supporters saying that you’re looking for a job. What’s happening?
I am 72 years old. I have been a spokesman for two former presidents in Nigeria. I’ve been the spokesman of a major political party, NRC (National Republican Convention). I was also the spokesman of the Liberal Convention.
I have had my bit. Do you understand? I have had my bit. Those who say I’m looking for a job; if you checked that demographic, they are people in their 20s who do not know to us
I have always gone for and spoken strongly about whatever I felt compelled to comment on. That has been my lifestyle. When I supported Obi (Peter), what was I looking for? Obi was not even in the country then. He never lobbied me. He never spoke to me. He never asked for my support.
I went to Abeokuta (Ogun State) and I had a press conference, and I said I am stepping down from running for president and that I will be supporting Peter Obi. What was I looking for then? Because I believed at that time in regional equity and justice for us. Because we believed that the presidency should come to the South.
After a Northerner had been there for eight years, there is an existing understanding in the polity of this country among the political elites that the presidency would rotate between the North — not only between the zones but between the North and the South. So, if the presidency is coming to the South, there are three zones in the South—South-West, South-South and South-East.
It was only the South-East that had not had a shot at it. Nobody lobbied me, no human being on earth came to me, and pleaded for my support.
I personally, having conferred with Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who advisedly decided that I should support the South East. The best candidate at that time in the South-East, in PDP, was Peter Obi.
So, that’s why I went to support him. So, what was I looking for? That is my style. That is how I am.
When I was in the NRC, I was one of the campaign directors for Bashir Tofar. We campaigned vigorously around the country, but we lost the election. The military tried to play a game, tried to recruit us, and they did, they finally recruited us (the NRC) to support the annulment.
I left and resigned from my membership of NRC and joined NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) at the time when my colleagues in the NRC — I was in the top bracket of NRC — were being made ministers, I left it and I joined NADECO.
Abiola (MKO) did not call me, nobody called me, but that was what was just, and that was what was fair. That has always been the underlying theme in our philosophy in all my political engagements.
When I supported Obasanjo in 1998, Obasanjo never, ever called me. I didn’t know him closely. We were not friends, we were not colleagues, we were not anything. But I believed that this was a general who had strength and capacity, and he would do well, better than any other candidates, including Falae, who I had been very close to because of NADECO.
I held a press conference, and I announced that I was going to support Obasanjo. Obasanjo did not know anything about it, and on the first of December 1998, I drove to Ota Farm to meet Obasanjo and declared support for him.
That’s how my journey with him started. So, those who see what I’m doing with Bola Tinubu today and thinking that it was some personal dream, I told you, they can only be young people who do not know. They don’t have the history; they don’t know what my pedigree is. I am a man that supports what I consider to be fair and just even if it is to my detriment.
I met the president, Tinubu, about a week ago. I’ve not seen him for seven or eight years. I have not spoken to him on the phone. He didn’t talk to me. But he’s somebody I know very well politically. We have never been on the same side before in politics but we’ve always shared a camaraderie since our NADECO days. We came very, very close. When you’re in the trenches and you’re fighting a liberation war or another, you tend to be bonded more than just ordinarily when there are no issues.
From that time, till when he was governor and left as governor, I’ve had opportunities to sit with Bola Tinubu for three hours unending. And he has impressed me, not only as a politician, but as a technocrat, a man that was capable of deep thinking.
He has developmental ideologies and policies at his fingertips. This thing, you don’t learn it. It’s a gift.
The last time we had anybody close to him was Awolowo (Obafemi). Awolowo was a very serious-minded politician, but who had ideas of public policies that would benefit the masses. That is what Bola Tinubu is today.
Bola Tinubu, you know, in the villa, we have a reformer, a president who is a reformer.
I’ve heard some people saying that Bola Tinubu came to the office without a plan, he has no clue, that is balderdash, that is total nonsense.
I have worked with two past presidents. I have studied other presidents closely from a very close point. I don’t know any Nigerian president from 1960 to date who has come more armed, better prepared for governance than this gentleman.
Unfortunately for him, he has come into government at a very terrible and awful time. And when I met him, I told him, ‘are you out of your mind?’How would you want to succeed a Buhari (Muhammadu) administration, eight years of total abandonment, decadence and retrogression?
He said that is his passion. He was driven by that passion to help Nigeria. Having been part and parcel of those who brought Buhari, you can’t blame somebody for bringing a leader. If the leader does not perform, it’s unfortunate. But if you are brave enough to say, yes, you know, whatever you have done wrong, let us put our necks out and correct it. And this is what this guy is doing.
How can you ask him, how can you ask a president, Bola Tinubu, how can you hold him accountable for the ills of 30, 40 years? And for the two-terms of national abandonment of the last eight years, it’s unfair, it’s unrealistic.
And go and check it, being a reformer, you know, he didn’t ask me to say this, but I’m telling you from my own common sense and understanding of how government works, Bola Tinubu will need a minimum of two years for some of his policies to be properly grounded, established and to begin to produce results.
I have gone to read history, I read about Lin Kuan Yew. Lin Kuan Yew had, you know, Singapore, and at that point in time, the other country next to it, Malaysia, before they pulled out. He had those 31 years to rule that country, to ground that country, to transform that nation from third world to first world. 31 years, I read his book.
He said, I did certain things that were not okay. He was even almost draconian at some points, but, you know, he was focused on what he wanted to do, Just like Bola Tinubu today appears to be very strong-minded, very focused, and determined to pull this through.
It’s going to be a couple of years of pain and hardship, but he’s doing what other presidents for the last 10, 20 years have refused to do. The choice he had was to run and was to come into governance and just continue business as usual. By the time he came to the government, 98% of our revenue generated was being used to pay debt
Arbitrage on the foreign exchange was at an alarming rate. We were subsidising power, subsidising hype, subsidising virtually everything. We have over-borrowed and we are now going back to the nefarious and condemnable, financially undisciplined act of printing currency. We printed more than 21 trillion. Nobody can continue like that. If we continue like that, we will become a totally devastating, failed state by now.
So, we should commend him, support him, pray for him, cooperate with him, and endure the hardship for this short period and wait for the results. The opposition is running helter-skelter, talking about all sorts of things.
The real opposition are Abubakar Atiku and maybe Peter Obi. In the first instance, the opposition appears to be unrealistic, saying the presidency was stolen. There’s nothing like that. No presidency was stolen. I’m not saying there was no rigging.
There was no election that we have done in Nigeria since 1960 to date that was not rigged, not one maybe Abiola’s election because of the unique nature of the voting pattern. You know it was Option A4 people were counted, apart from that every other election was rigged.
We were in this country when a sitting president (Umar Yar’adua) said the process that brought him into power was flawed. That was when he put up that Alias committee.
He confessed that it was flawed. I was involved in the process that brought Obasanjo. I was involved in the process that brought Yaradua
I was involved in the process that brought G.E.J. I knew about what brought in Buhari. All without exception were flawed. All.
So, talking about rigging, that’s not the issue. But you see, you only rig where you are strong. So, if you look at it properly, when three major candidates emerged for that election, it was obvious that we will have a minority administration.
Obi was substantially supported by the Southeast. And if the Labour Party or Obi, think that people rigged, APC rigged, how did Obi win the heartland of Bola Tinbubu? Why didn’t Bola Tinubu rig Lagos for himself? Why? If Obi said or the Labour Party said APC rigged the election, how come Obi was able to win the home base of Bola Tinubu? How come APC lost the election in the home base of a sitting president? How come APC lost the election in the home base of the Secretary to that government? The accusation about rigging does not hold water at all. It doesn’t hold water.
The truth of the matter is that under the best of conditions, the results we got may not have been the exact results but they will have that ratio. I was in a Labour party. We couldn’t have done better than we did. I knew that for other reasons, but that’s a discussion for another day.
And in any case, you know, when you look at it today, critically, Bola Tinubu has come into this government with better policy documentation than any of these two rivals by far.
Atiku is a magnificent, experienced, knowledgeable, and thoroughbred politician. I am telling you that I knew that for a fact. He also came with a testament, all right, that, you know, could hold sway, a testament which would have been, if he won, would have been binding on him to Nigeria.
But when we put the testament side by side, which is the correct reality we have on the ground today, it’s not applicable. The testament, the documents, and his preparation were hinged mainly on obtaining some funds, $10 billion and $15 billion or so.
They had that $15 billion and $5 billion, you know, loans, which they intend to inject into the economy and they sort a couple of things out.
That was theoretical. Because by the time Buhari was leaving, nobody was going to borrow Nigeria money Again. If people were ready to borrow Nigerian money, Buhari would not have had to go and print money. We were no longer credit worthy by the majority of the international financial institutions.
The premises and the pillars which Atiku placed this testament on are what you call sinking sand, they can’t work.
As for Peter Obi, Peter Obi has not given any documents to Nigerians as to what he was going to do. I can tell you for a fact.
I’ve admitted Atiku’s own but in the Labour Party, we did not have a document that we could adopt as our panacea for what was going on. All we were saying was that we want to take Nigeria from consumption to production. Good rhetorics but it’s not grounded either in policy development or in principle application.
I never supported Bola Tinubu, he’s not my person. He’s not; we’re not in the same party.
But in retrospect now, his reform, I mean, his agenda, his agenda that he brought, the Renewable Hope Agenda is the most credible document that can address and is addressing the current situation. And as you can see, it is being meticulously applied.
First of all, when he came, he came and removed the subsidy, and not removed the subsidy, but announced that the subsidy was removed because Buhari had already removed the subsidy. From June 1st, there was no subsidy provision in the project. So, the statement that the subsidy was gone was just an acceptable confirmation of an event that had happened. This was superfluous, but the subsidy was actually removed.
Next, he attacked the arbitrage in the foreign exchange section. And this is what I bring Bola Tinubu and his government for. Unknown to many Nigerians, I mean, people were feeding fat on foreign exchange earnings.
There were people who didn’t do any job. They just used contacts in the CBN, and collected one million dollars every week and got the difference, and made stupendous wealth. All that has gone, this man has stopped it.
After that, I mean, see, he has now implemented the student loan program. After that, he implemented this consumer protection thing, providing money for low-income earners and all that, in a systematic manner.
Monies that were being owed over seven billion dollars, that were being owed and were going to cripple so many things, the criminal activities in the country, they paid them off. The ways and means of 21 trillion naira that was a deficit have also been neutralised.
And you say that the man does not have a plan! Now, you know, two months after coming to government, he put up a committee to look into the tax reforms for the country, which was in his agenda before he came. So, this man has the systematic, reliable, focused, applicable agenda that can take Nigeria out of the woods.
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You Are More Successful Than You Think” By Prudent Ludidi
Published
1 day agoon
November 20, 2024“You Are More Successful Than You Think” By Prudent Ludidi
There’s the truth that I believe has the power to transform your life. A truth that can shift your perspective, boost your confidence, and propel you forward. That truth is: you are more successful than you think.
We often measure success by external standards. We compare ourselves to others, focusing on their achievements and accomplishments. We forget that success is a personal journey, unique to each of us.
You see, success isn’t just about achieving grand goals or reaching milestones. Success is about progress, growth, and perseverance. It’s about showing up every day, putting in the work, and striving to be better.
Think about it. You wake up every morning, ready to face another day. You tackle challenges, overcome obstacles, and push through difficulties. You learn, adapt, and evolve. That’s success.
You’ve made it through tough times, difficult conversations, and uncertain situations. You’ve navigated uncharted territories, taken risks, and stepped outside your comfort zone. That’s success.
You’ve built relationships, formed connections, and touched lives. You’ve made a difference, no matter how small it may seem. That’s success.
But often, we downplay our achievements. We dismiss our progress, focusing on what’s still to be done. We compare our behind-the-scenes moments to everyone else’s highlight reels.
Stop doing that.
Recognize your strengths, accomplishments, and resilience. Acknowledge the late nights, early mornings, and endless efforts. Celebrate your small wins, because they add up.
You are more successful than you think.
Your success may not look like anyone else’s. It may not be flashy or Instagram-worthy. But it’s yours, and that makes it remarkable.
Don’t wait for external validation to confirm your worth. You are enough. You are worthy. You are successful.
In conclusion, remember that success is a journey, not a destination. It’s the accumulation of small victories, lessons learned, and growth experienced.
You are more successful than you think. Believe it. Own it! Celebrate it!
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Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory
Published
1 day agoon
November 20, 2024Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory
As governor elect of ondo state, Lucky Ayedatiwa continue to receive congratutory messages from well wishers, businesses stakeholders, political leaders, groups, associations, religious leaders, and the likes, Ilaje Progressive Summit Group, has also deem it fit to congratulate his Excellency for the election success of November, 16, 2024.
The group leader under the leadership of it’s executive administrator, Hon.( Prince) Aiyetoba Emmanuel has shown his excitement over the election success.
In his word, “Your Excellency sir, Mr. Governor, please accept our warmest congratulations on your well deserved victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibility and challenges of your high office.As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we assure you and the people of the sunshine state of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ondo state Government and the people.
He added” we look forward to working with you, not only to develop closer relations between our states but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and make Ondo state great in the comity of states”
Ilaje Progressive Summit Group is a group that cut across the 12 Wards in Ilaje Local Government and the group were fully respected by members found in each wards of Ilaje and they all delivered the wards to APC with large margins in the just concluded
Governorship Election.
Please Mr Governor Sir, accept our warm congratulations on your well deserved victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of your high office.
As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we wish to assure you and the people of the Sunshine State of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ondo State Government and the people.
We look forward to working with you not only to develop closer relations between our State but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and make Ondo State great in the comity of States.
Since the creation of Ondo state on 3rd February, 1976, no governor won all the 18 LGA in any governorship election.
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