The world’s first “Sky Pool” has been uncoated（曝光）-and it’ll give anyone a touch of dizziness（眩晕）, unless he or she is not bothered by heights．

   Situated in the capital’s new riverside district beside Battersea Power Station，the glass pool，hanging 10 storeys，or 110 feet up as a bridge between two apartment buildings，is 25m long，5m wide and 3m deep with a water depth of 1.2m．Swimmers will be able to look down 35 meters to the street below as they take a dip，with only 20cm of glass between them and the outside world．It’s even got a bar，folding chairs and an orange garden．

   The pool will be part of Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms，a huge￡15 billion building project beside the new American Embassy in south-west London．The project is creating thousands of apartments，the smallest of which are expected to cost nearly $1 million，and the pool will only be open to the apartments’ owners．

   Embassy Gardens takes design inspiration from the Meatpacking District of New York with floor to ceiling windows and brick frontages．The designer，Sean Mulryan，desired to push the boundaries in the capability of construction and engineering and do something that had never been done before．The Sky Pool’s transparent structure is the result of significant advancements in technologies over the last decade．

   The experience of the pool will be truly unique and it will feel like floating through the air in central London．

   Those people lucky enough to swim there will have a perfect view of the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye．It will be a selling point for developers when the second stage of the development is released to market．

On a typical warm weekend day this spring, about 60,000 people will make their way to one spot or another in the Great Smoky Mountains Park, which is found along the border between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, US. They will come to be amazed by the mountains on the skyline and the dense (茂密的），“smoky” forests, plants and animal life. They will be taken back in time, if only for a short while. As lovers of the Smoky Mountains like to say, they’re a little bit of the world as it was once.

    Over the century, Americans have built a special relationship with these wonders of the great outdoors. The parks are not just pretty places to admire, but also places of spiritual togetherness. Whether it is a snowcapped peak in the Rocky Mountains or one of the Great Lakes in the Northeast, the parks give citizens the opportunity to think more deeply about their lives, the nation and each other. They’re a connection to the US’ beginning and to the spirit of the settlers who made new lives for themselves in a wilderness .For Americans native peoples the parks are a link to their homelands, which are thousands of years old.

    The parks also inspire artists. Poems and pieces of music are written about them； visual artists have work based on them. One such artist, US photographer Ansel Adams, took thousands of photographs in Yosemite National Park.

    Above all，the parks inspire patriotism (爱国精神）in visitors. Edwin Bembaum, US director of the Sacred Mountains Program at the Mountain Institute, associates park sites like the amazing Grand Canyon with the US, national hymn (赞歌），America the Beautiful. The “spacious skies” and “purple mountain majesties (雄伟）” celebrated in the song remind Americans, according to Bembaum, “of the quest (追求）for freedom and independence at the heart of American culture and history”.

    With the launch of the US - China year of tourism in March, more travelers from China now have the opportunity to visit these wonders of nature. Who knows? Perhaps one day you will be among those going out into the Smoky Mountains or heading to Yellowstone for a glorious day enjoying nature.

Pretty much anyone can book a trip, but not everyone can plan an ultimate adventure that’s affordable, accommodating, and fun for everyone in your group. At Tripslnsider.com, we aim to provide you with the best insider secrets in the travel business and a state-of-the-art travel comparison tool to make planning easier than ever.

Here are some insider tips that we’d like to share with you.

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I had the honour of being elected chief of my tribe(部落)．With the title came great responsibility. It was my job to make peace with the Maori Tamaki tribe, whose village we visited. Their soldiers jumped from a canoe and faced us down with fierce crying, sticking eyes and much noise of sticks. They laid a palm leaf on the ground and, as head, I was forced to accept this peace offering by picking it up, then touching noses with their chief. “Kia ora，”  he said,  welcoming us into the woodland home of his people.

My “tribe” was my New Zealand coach tour group, who had forced me into being their leader. We’d been warned that the ceremony was a serious occasion and that to laugh or even smile would be considered rude to the Tamaki. After that it was non-stop fun as they demonstrated their ancient customs and I received instruction in performing the haka, the war dance immortalized(使不朽) by the All Blacks rugby team.

Then they pulled our dinner of lamb, beef and vegetables out of the ground. It had been slow-cooked in the heat just below the surface in the geothermal(地热的) area of North Island, a Maori tradition known as a hangi that goes back an extremely long period of time.

Obviously, this form of it is put on for tourists but it was hugely enjoyable. The journey back to the hotel was alone worth the effort, our elder Maori driver being deserving of his own television show. “The wheels on the bus go round and round，” he got us singing, while he circuited a round about three times.

A couple of days from the end of our trip, there was still something missing, a New Zealand icon I wanted to see to make my grand tour complete. Riding over a ridge, there it was—Aotearoa. The Maori name for New Zealand translates as “the land of the long white cloud”. Can I say “Kia ora, Aotearoa？” You bet I can.

If youˈre traveling with kids in London, many London hotels have special services and features to help the family holiday, offering services to kids as well as games, bike hire and free ice cream!

Athenaeum

The five-star Athenaeum is a fantastic family hotel，particularly with the addition of its kidsˈ services. Even before you arrive, theyˈll be in touch to make sure your kids have their favorite DVDs, treats and anything else to keep them happy. And they can arrange your perfect family activities, from bike hire to theater tickets.

Novotel

Novotelˈs family rooms are designed to accommodate two adults and two children. Accommodation and breakfast are free for under-16s(up to two staying in their parentsˈ room)．You can also enjoy a late check-out at 5 p. m. on a Sunday, and while you lie in, the kids can entertain themselves with the Cartoon Network.

Chessington Safari Hotel

At Chessington Safari Hotel, kids will love staying in an African adventure-themed room, having breakfast, overlooking the animals of the Wanyama Reserve, watching family-friendly movies and getting into the theme park before it opens.

The Ritz

Kids at The Ritz are treated just as well as their parents, if not better! Children can enjoy computer games and DVDs, free ice cream and their own bathrobes and slippers. Under-16s can stay for free in their parentsˈ bedroom, depending on the room type.

Marlin Apartments

Marlin Apartments operate more than 700 serviced apartments in London. Apartments are all within five minutesˈ walk of the Tube(Good for tired little legs！) with flat screen TVs, fully equipped kitchens and free Wi-Fi. One or two bedroom family apartments have extra room for folding beds in the living area.

Four Great Railway Journeys

    Travelling by rail holds a romantic and old-fashioned appeal that can’t be matched by flying or driving. By taking the slow route, you get to experience and interact with an area in a completely different way.

The Rocky Mountaineer

    Where: Canada, from Vancouver to Banff, Jasper and Calgary.

    When: In June, which is springtime in the Rockies, complete with blooming flowers and abundant wildlife.

    Duration: Between two and eight days, travelling only in daylight, staying in luxury hotels.

    Highlights: Splendid views of the Rocky Mountains, incredible luxury at every stage of the trip, traditional native storytelling, wine classes and natural history workshops.

The Chepe

    Where: Mexico. It begins its journey in the mountains of Chihuahua and finishes on the Sinaloa coast.

    When: In the rainy season, from June to October, you’ll get lush vegetation（丰富的植被）and blooming cacti（仙人掌）, although mid-summer (July) temperatures can reach 44℃.

    Duration: Doing the route straight through takes 14 hours, but you’ll want to stop off overnight and explore traditional towns along the way.

    Highlights: The train winds its way down through 656 km of the spectacular Copper Canyon (which is deeper than the Grand Canyon), over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels. Local people sell crafts and foods along the route.

The Ghan

    Where: Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs.

    When: Going during the wet season (December, January and February) will allow you to see more wildlife and tropical splendour in the north, though peak season is usually the winter.

    Duration: Going straight through takes 52 hours. There are disembarkation points（下车点）from which you can take tours.

    Highlights: Going through Australia’s Red Gentre with blue skies, red earth and not much else—a beautiful and serene（宁静的）experience.

The Royal Scotsman

    Where: Travels around the Scottish Highlands or all the way around Great Britain.

    When: Warmer weather and up to 20 hours of daylight in June makes it the perfect time to watch ospreys soaring（鱼鹰飞翔）over mirror-like lochs（湖）, or go in October for autumn colors.

    Duration: Trips can be as short as two days or as long as seven.

    Highlights: Possibly the most expensive train journey in the world. You’ll be treated like a member of the monarchy（王室）. Indulgent（放纵的）cuisine, fine wines and carriages that look like rooms at Balmoral Castle await those willing to part with a minimum of £ 2350 per person for a two-night trip.

  Do you like travelling? Do you want to get some information about it? If so, don't miss the following books about travelling.

Journeys of a Lifetime

   Adapted from the favorite trips of National Geographic's travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime crosses the globe to show the best of the world's most famous and little-known destinations. It presents lost of possibilities, from ocean voyages around Antarctica to horse riding in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.

Destinations of a Lifetime

   Destinations of a Lifetime takes you on a photographic tour of the world's most impressive destinations. Hundreds of the most amazing locations-both natural and man-made-are illustrated with vivid images taken by the world-class photographers. Destinations of a Lifetime includes all the information: when to go, where to eat, where to stay, and what to do to ensure the most interesting experience.

World's Best Travel Experiences

   Popular actor and award-winning travel writer Andrew McCarthy writes the foreword(序言) to this great book, offering 400 excellent destinations chosen by National Geographic's family. This broad, general interest travel title will appeal to active travellers looking for the next great trip as well as to the many readers who simply love dreaming of visiting faraway, peaceful destinations.

Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travel

   This collection of the 500 most unmissable sights and attractions in the world has been ranked by Lonely Planet's global community, so big sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal compete for a prized place in the top 10, making this the only list you'll ever need.

My Year Abroad                                                           

This month in Travelers Corner there are three teenagers’ experiences in year-abroad programmes.

Mariko Okada – Tokyo

My year abroad in the United States was a fantastic experience. I’m not a shy person, and I was very comfortable speaking to everyone. So I got lots of speaking practice. I also learned lots of interesting things about American culture. When I got home, my friends all said that I had improved so much! I hope to go back again in the future.

Carla Fonseca – Rio de Janeiro

I spent last year studying English in London. I’m from a small town, and London is a very big city. Sometimes I felt it was too big. There were so many people to talk to, but I always felt bad about my English. I missed my family, and I really missed my two cats. My roommate was always using our telephone, so I hardly had the chance for a nice long talk with my parents. I think it was a good experience for me, but I’m glad to be home!

Alvin Chen – Hong Kong

Studying in New Zealand was an interesting experience for me, but it was also lots of hard work! I had English classes six hours a day, five days a week——with lots of homework. I also kept a diary of my experience. I like to write, and I wrote two or three pages in my diary every day. On Saturdays, my home stay family took me to lots of interesting places and showed me so many wonderful things about the culture. I’m really glad I went!

Summer is the most popular season to visit Texas since there is so much to see and to do. While visiting the Lone Star State this summer, don’t miss visiting some of these attractions and taking part in some of Texas, best summer vacation activities.

Visit SeaWorld

There are sea life shows, adventure camps，thrilling rides and a water park. A great many activities are waiting for you at SeaWorld.

Windsurf (风帆冲浪) at South Padre

With miles of shallow (浅的)，calm water in the Lower Laguna Madre and strong winds conning off the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island is a windsurfer’s dream.

Swim at Barton Springs

Barton Springs is in the famous Zilker Park. It was formed when Barton Creek was built. Since its opening, Barton Springs has become one of the most popular swimming pools in the state.

Take part in an outdoor adventure

In the scenic Texas Hill Country, Lake Buchanan Adventures offers different kinds of activities, including boating, hiking, camping and more.

Camp and hike in Big Bend Park

Big Bend offers a great number of outdoor activities in an old way. Backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, hiking, nature watching and camping — you name it. If it can be done outdoors, it can be done in Big Bend.

Enjoy saltwater fishing

Saltwater fishing in Texas is as good as anywhere else in the USA. More and more fishermen have been discovering this in recent years and packing their bags and rods (鱼竿）to make good use of Texas’ world-class saltwater fishery.