Famousresorts(度假胜地)ontheearth

Maldives

Maldives is famed as the last paradise(乐园) on the earth. It's made up of more than 1,800 coral islands, spreading over a sea area of about 90,000 square kilometres on the Indian Ocean. People in Maldives believe in Islam. They must observe the religious rules strictly. However, tourists don't need to follow these customs inside hotels, but they must do as the locals when they enter the community of the local people.

Jeju Island

Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods”, is the biggest island of Korea. It is a volcanic island with a pleasant climate. Its yearly average temperature is 16℃, which makes it the most attractive vacation stop in North-east Asia. It has gained a fame as a shopping paradise. Here all the luxury(奢侈品) brands are free of duty. Every summer thousands of tourists come here to look for the gods, enjoy the coolness of the gentle sea breeze and buy cheap luxuries.

Phuket Island

Phuket Island, the biggest island of Thailand, is called a pearl on the Indian Ocean. It is world-famous for its beautiful beaches. Some are quiet and tourist-friendly, and some are as luxurious as personal vacation beaches. Some are famous for sea sports, and some are attractive to lovers of evening entertainments. Therefore, you'll have a good time here whether you're single or accompanied by your friends.

Hayman Island

Hayman Island, a secret vacation island, is one of the coral islands that make up the Great Barrier Reef. Every year thousands of tourists come here to admire the beauty of the tropic sea and the charming scene of the Great Barrier Reef. However, they seldom see any waiters or waitresses around as they work in and travel through a special tunnel(地下通道). This is why it's called the most secret resort.

The Best of Alaska

Nothing evokes(唤起)Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river.^① Combine these images with high mountains，brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska!

Join us for an unforgettable 7-day excursion (远足)to the last frontier！Additional highlights include：a scenic flight over Glacier Bay National Park，a rafting trip through the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve，historic Skagway，a whale-watching cruise and the company of knowledgeable local guides.

HIGHLIGHTS：

JUNEAU：Juneau，the state capital，is rich in culture and scenic beauty.It is here that we start and end our trip.

HAINES：Haines is a small community located along the fiords(峡湾)．The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska.In 2004，Haines was listed by Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure as one of the best places for recreation and living.The activities listed below are located in Haines.

ALASKA INDIAN ARTS：Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes.Alaska Indian Arts is also the headquarters for several of Alaskaˈs outstanding craftsmen and artisans.We spend a few hours learning carving，native beading(串珠饰)and culture from these master artists.

SKAGWAY：Skagway is famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Stampede over 100 years ago.Today，it is a historic yet lively town，which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colourful shops.In Skagway，we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitorˈs Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway.

GUSTAVUS：Gustavus is the gateway to the Glacier Bay National Park.Weˈll stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights.This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion and a full day cruise in Glacier Bay.

DATES/PRICES：

2011：May 16，June 20，July 18，August 15.

7 days—$3,500，including lodging，all meals，excursions，guides，park fees，sales taxes，and transportation between Juneau，Skagway，Haines，and Gustavus.Not included：alcohol，personal items，airfare to and from Juneau.

CONTACTS：

E-mail：info@alaskamountainguides.com

Call：(800)766-3396

Write：Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School

P．O.Box 1081，Haines AK 99827

With kids increasingly attached to their iPads, phones, and laptops how can we get them to read more books? It's easier than you think. In Michigan a barbershop is doing its part to encourage kids to read. Here's how it works: when children get their haircut at the Fuller Cut and read a book aloud to their barber during their haircut they get a $2 discount on the cut. Yes, it really is that simple: read your book aloud and you get a discount.

Griffin, who has been cutting hair at the Fuller Cut for twenty years, started the Read to Your Barber programme. He told the local media that parents love it, while the kids like getting the two dollars back—and that the two dollars often goes directly into the kids' pockets. Griffin says teachers love the initiative (创意)—they say that it does so much for the kids during the school year, for the Fuller Cut serves a diverse community with the books featuring positive images of African-Americans, which could be an astronaut, an athlete, or a writer.

This isn't the first barbershop to do this, though; Griffin said that he first read about a similar literacy (识字) programme in Harlem. Once he got the OK from his boss, the father of three began bringing his own books into the shop and soon people in the area began donating books. Griffin said, “And that's just how it started. It wasn't anything grand. I just wanted to be responsible.”

While the initiative has attracted new costumers to the barbershop, the best part, according to Griffin, is that little kids who don't know how to read watch the older kids—and then pick up a book for themselves. “When a kid thinks it's cool to read, that's a gift,” says Griffin. “If we can get kids to come back to the Fuller Cut as adults in college and they tell us, ‘Because you guys had us read here, it made me want to be a writer or journalist,’that's really the end goal.”

BEIJING, March 14 -- The language spoken by the Li ethnic group in the southernmost Chinese province of Hainan is now threatened with extinction due to the prevalence of putonghua, the standard and official Chinese language, experts have warned.

No more than 500,000 among the 1 million Li people in Hainan can speak authentic Li language or dialect, according to experts with the Hainan Provincial Committee of China Association for Promoting Democracy, which is mainly composed of intellectuals working in the fields of culture, education, publication and science.

Li dialect, a language unique to the island province, is also the most unique language in the Zhuang-Dong branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The latest studies show that it has a close relationship with languages of Malay in Malaysia, Tagalog in the Philippines, and Gaoshan dialect in China's island province Taiwan.

Research into the dialect will be of great help to study the immigration history of Hainan people, and their relationship with other ethnic groups in Southeast Asian nations, experts said.

Experts with the committee suggested linguists fully study the Li language by recording existing folk tales and songs of the ethnic group.

They also advised the local government to set up a special task force and allocate special funds to preserve the endangered Li dialect.

The Li people, together with the Zhuang, Bouyei, Dong and Dai ethnic groups, can trace their origins back to the ancient "Yue" people who inhabited the areas which are now South China's Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Yue people moved to the Hainan Island and became the Li ethnic group. However, the Li people's language is different from that spoken by other descendants of the Yue people, who live in other parts of the country. A written form for the Li language was worked out in 1957.

The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel. The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sports car. Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras. The bride wore a silk wedding dress. She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the first time.

   Carla Germaine and Greg Gordell were the winners of a radio station’s competition. The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other. Miss Germaine, 23, is a model. Mr Cordell, 27, is a TV salesman. They were among the two hundred people who entered for a peculiar “experiment” organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham,England. Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on radio. They took a lie detector (测谎仪) test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities. The competition judges included an astrologer (占星家) who declared that they were suited.

   The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening, but not everyone shared the joy. Miss Germaine’s mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr Gordell’s parents are reported to be less than delighted.

   Organization, including the marriage guidance service Relate, have criticized the marriage. As one person put it, “We have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously without this. Marriage should always be about love.”

   The couple are now on aCaribbeanhoneymoon followed by journalists. Their other prizes include a year’s free use of a wonderful apartment in the center of Birmingham, and a car. But will it last?

TIANJIN, Feb. 6 - The computer viruses known as "Kompu" and "Happytime" will attack China next week, but damage will be limited, predicted the Tianjin-based National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center on Sunday.

The center - the only anti-virus products testing and certification center authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security - raised the alert about the two viruses, which are expected to hit the country from Feb. 6 to 12.

The experts explained that the Wm_Kumpu virus originated in Estonia and appears on the computer screens with the messages "Mul on paha tuju!" and "Tahan kommi", which mean "I am in bad mood" and "Give me some candy".

The Vbs_Happytime, a virus in e-mail attachments, can eliminate.exe and .dll files in the computer hard disks.

Experts warned computer users who may log on to the Internet to receive mail or visit Internet chat rooms when they finish the week-long Spring Festival vacation and return to work on Monday.

The center advised computer system maintenance technicians to scrutinize their systems and upgrade anti-viral software as precautions against the viruses, before the routine working week starts on Monday.

Experts with the center said that there is no need to immediately format computer hard drives stricken with the viruses, since the viruses can not possibly damage all data on the hard disk in a short period of time. Computer users can use software and tools to restore the lost data.