The most famous libraries in the world that you must visit

Libraries are storehouses of different books. The hunger and thirst for knowledge of many people can be satisfied by the libraries. Students and professors are the ones that mostly visit libraries. There are famous libraries that have outstanding collection of different books. These famous libraries also have unique architectural designs that students, professors and other people will definitely love. 

Below is the list of the most famous libraries in the world. 

1. Library of Congress 
The Library of Congress located in Washington is said to be the largest library that you can find in the world. The library was established in 1800. It is composed of three buildings and has a collection of over 32 million books, 61 million manuscripts, 1 million newspapers, 14 million photos, 5 million maps and many other more. Moreover, the Library of Congress is known as the national library of America. The library is always open to the public.

2. Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is one of America's oldest libraries. It was first opened on March 20, 1854. Now, it serves as a municipal library in Boston, Massachusetts. It is also the second largest library located in the United States. The library is reported to have at least 22 million items such as medieval manuscripts, Daniel Dafoe collection, colonial Boston records, beautiful murals and a lot of rare collections. 

3. Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library is the library located in the University of Oxford. The university, which was founded in 1602, is the oldest university in Europe. The university's library was designed by an architect with the name Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The library is now popular for having at least 11 million items which include the First Folio of Shakespeare and Gutenberg Bible. And because of the unique beauty of Bodleian Library, it is now a favorite venue for a lot of film shootings.

4. Vatican Library 
The Vatican Library is suspected to be the oldest library in the world because it was founded in 1475. It is said to be as old as the Roman Catholic Church. As the years pass by, a lot more books are being added to the library. There are at least one million books in the library. And there are at least 75,000 manuscripts. The main reason why many people love to visit the library is because the library has the oldest manuscript of the bible. 

5. New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the fifth famous library in the world. It was established in response to former New York Governor Samuel Tilden's dying wish of having a free library and accessible reading room in New York. It has a fabulous collection of at least 50 million items. The first Gutenberg bible in America is placed in the library. Also, the public library has already been seen in some famous Hollywood movies such as "The day after tomorrow" and "Ghostbusters." The library is also considered as one of the very important research libraries in the planet. 
Truly, the most famous libraries in the world serve as a very important tool to supply the knowledge everyone needs. Without these libraries, the present and future generation would not be able to fully enjoy all the knowledge discovered in the past. So if you have free time, try to visit one of these famous libraries.



Sources:
http://librarysciencelist.com/25-most-famous-libraries-of-the-world/
http://mentalfloss.com/article/51788/62-worlds-most-beautiful-libraries
http://www.topdesignmag.com/20-of-the-worlds-most-famous-libraries/
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2013-11/most-beautiful-libraries-trinity-college-mushashino-bodleian-sainte-genevieve-article

20 Horrific facts about the 9/11 attacks

The 9/11 attack was one of the known events in the world history. Its impacts have been felt by many people for many years. The 9/11 attacks did not only kill many people's lives but it also affected the many parts of the world economically. Below is the list of the horrific facts about the 9/11 attacks. 

1. On September 11, 2001, almost 3,000 people were killed. Among those people were 400 firefighters and police officers. The terrorist attack happened at the World Trade Center located in NYC, in a plane crash in Shanksville, PA and at the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. 

2. The recovery clean-up for the 1.8 million tons of damaged properties took nine months.

3. Passengers in the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA tried to take the control of the plane from the hijackers but the result was not good. The hijackers purposely crashed the plane in Pennsylvania. 

4. The video for the attack in the World Trade Center was immediately released after the attack but the footage for the attack in Pentagon was only publicly released in 2006.

5. The total number of children who lost their parents in the 9/11 attacks was 3,051. Seventeen newly born babies lost their fathers during the attack. And 11 unborn babies died.

6. The 9/11 attack in the World Trade Center was the event that killed the largest number of lives in America.

7. Researchers found that the total alcohol consumption reported in Manhattan a week after the attack greatly increased by 25 percent compared to the same week the year before. Also, the consumption of marijuana increased by 3.2 percent while the consumption of tobacco rose by 10 percent and the synagogue and church attendance rose by 20 percent after the 9/11 attacks. 

8. The total amount of art lost after the collapse of the Twin Towers exceeded $100 million. The items that were damaged include the WTC Stabile sculpture of Amexander Calder, the epic World Trade Center tapestry of Joan Miro, painting of Entablature series by Roy Lichtenstein and the art works of David Hockney and Picasso. 

9. There were only 291 dead bodies that were recovered from Ground Zero. Parents of Lisa Anne Frost, one of the passengers in the United Flight 175 which hit a tower, waited for one year before the workers who were sifting through debris found a belonging of their daughter. 

10. It was discovered that three hours before the 9/11 attacks there was a machine called Random Event Generator that predicted that a cataclysmic event was about to happen.

11. The part of the Pentagon that was hit by Flight 77 had undergone a rearmament worth $258 million just before the 9/11 attacks. The walls that were strengthened and the windows that were reinforced during the rearmament were greatly damaged. There were only some parts of the Pentagon that remained intact. 

12. The North American Aerospace Defense Command or NORAD which is said to be responsible in defending the US airspace simulated plane hijackings a week before the 9/11 attacks during their exercise called "Vigilant Guardian." The next exercise of NORAD was scheduled to begin in the morning of the attacks.

13. Larry Silverstein, a property developer bought a 99-year lease on WTC for $3.2 billion six months before the 9/11 attacks.

14. Reports discovered that five hijackers in the 9/11 attacks just stayed in a motel which was just located outside the National Security Agency during the days before the attacks.

15. The total cost of cleaning the damage created by the 9/11 attacks was estimated to be at $750 million.

16. The first use of the name nine-eleven or 9/11 was made by the New York times when they published an article with the title "America's Emergency Line: 9/11." 

17. 911 became the emergency phone number in America after the 9/11 attacks.

18. The 9/11 attack is the second terrorist attack in the World Trade Center. The first terrorist attack was on the month of February in 1993 which killed six people.

19. Respiratory disorders such as lung inflammation and asthma developed at an abnormal rate after the 9/11 attack in the World Trade Center. Also, scientists discovered during the three-day flight ban over in the United States that the 9/11 attacks greatly affected the atmosphere in America. Their studies stated that the days became warmer and the nights became a little cooler after the 9/11 attacks. 

20. Cantor Fitzgerald, a global financial service firm, was the business that was greatly affected by the attacks. The New York headquarters of the firm that were located on the 101st and 105th floors of the World Trade Center lost its 658 strong workforce out of the total 960 strong workforce. 

Indeed, the 9/11 attacks caused great damage to America. After the 9/11 attacks, the United States put more strength to its security so that the probability of the occurrence of an event like that can be prevented.


Sources:
http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks
http://www2.ae911truth.org/11rfa911.php
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/01/18/24-hard-facts-about-911-that-cannot-be-debunked/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/september-11-attacks/8722638/21-awful-truths-about-911.html
http://www.wanttoknow.info/911/9-11-facts
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/509590/Top-10-facts-about-9-11

South Korea's Top Attractions

Tourists who go to South Korea for vacation have definitely come to the right place because they will surely be amazed by the combination of ancient and super modern places in South Korea.

Below is the list of South Korea’s top attractions.

#1 Most Dynamic City

Seoul is South Korea’s top attraction and capital which has a 20 million population. It has the most massive subway system in the world. One can find 1000-year-old palaces and modern apartment complexes in Seoul. Cheap restaurants are always open so tourists can enjoy Korean food anytime they want. Shopping will also be rewarding because one can find all the luxurious brand names in Gangnam, Myeongdang and Apgujeong and all the excellent and cheap deals in Dongdaneum and Namdenuem markets. Korea’s youth culture can also be revealed through the places located in Hongdae.

#2 Most Gorgeous Hiking Spots

South Korea is filled with numerous mountains so it is not surprising that hiking is a popular activity during weekends. Mountains are also one of South Korea’s top attractions. A spectacular mountain is the Songnisan National Park located in the center of Korea. Another is the Beopjusa Temple which has a huge gold statue of Buddha. Near the mountain village are the lines of hotels and restaurants where one can eat and sleep after hiking. Hiking is indeed a refreshing activity which can also reward the hikers the chance to see an amazing view of South Korea.

#3 The amazing national park

The most famous park, the Seokrasa National Park, is the third top attraction in South Korea. It is located nearSokcho, a fishing village, which is in the northeast corner of Garngwon-do. The park offers a lot of activities to its visitors. There are beautiful beaches, rafting riversand luxurious resorts during summer. While in winter, visitors can enjoy the lovely ski resorts in the park. Spending a week in the park will definitely remove all the stress that the visitors had from their work.

#4 Gyeongju’s historical relics

Gyeongju served as the capital area 2000 years ago during the Shilla Dynasty. It is now filled with historical and cultural relics. The best and fastest way to see all the historical places in Gyeongju is to ride a bike and buy a tourist map.

#5 Andong’s Mask Festival

Located in the southeast corner of Korea is the Andong village. It is famous for its foods. Food streets near the train station offer delicious and cheap foods. The village’s highlight is the Hahoe Folk Village. The Hahoe Folk Village has a mask dance event that happens every weekend and during the two-week-long festival. The festival’s best part is when tourists can sleep overnight in one of the traditional houses in the village for free.

#6 Beach Paradise in Deokjeok Island

From the port at Incheon, tourists can ride a two-hour ferry ride to reach the Deokjeok Island. The beautiful and quiet beach gives a relaxing experience to its visitors. The visitors can choose to stay at a local hotel or camp at the beach. Watching the fireworks and campfires while having food and drinks are the best parts of the beach experience.

Indeed, South Korea’s top attractions are magical places that tourists don’t want to miss. Aside from the above mentioned places, South Korea has a lot more to offer to its tourists. 

Things to Do When Visiting Ibiza

Tourists who come to Ibiza will first think of all-night parties that are very popular in Ibiza. Renowned DJs are also present during parties. Aside from the all-night parties, tourists have a lot of exciting things to do in Ibiza.

#1 Ibiza’s beaches

The tourists’ list regarding their things to do in Ibiza always mentions Ibiza’s beaches. Tourists can choose from the 40 beautiful beaches that Ibiza has. The beaches are perfect for tourists who want to tan themselves. Benirras beach is the most visited beach in Ibiza because of its rocky and grainy sand coupled with the amazing waves with blue-green color.

#2 Water sports

Water sports options are also present in Ibiza. The clear and blue waters in Ibiza will definitely tempt all the tourists to try water sports. Popular water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, jetaskiing, wakeboarding, deep sea fishing, scuba diving and kayak excursions. Snorkelling and swimming are also perfect for families.

Ibiza’s upper town is called the Eivisaa Dalt Vila. Attractions in the Eivissa Dalt Vila include the 14th century Santa Maria d’Eivissa Cathedral. Tourists can see the Necropolis of Puig Des Molins from the cathedral. The upper town has already been declared as an UNESCO World Heritage site. Visiting the Eivissa Dalt Vila is one of the things to do in Ibiza that tourist must not forget to do.#3 Eivissa Dalt Vila

#4 Es Vedra

Es Vedra is a rocky and small uninhabited island known for its beauty. Tourists love to see the romantic and captivating sunset while sitting in the beach of Es Vedra. Sightseeing and trekking are also good ways to explore the beauty of Es Vedra. Over the years, Es Vedra gained the image of a mystical place that is the site of alleged UFO sightings.

#5 Formentera

Formentera is a home to pristine beaches that can be found in the southern coastline of Ibiza. Most of the beaches are considered as naturist beaches. Nude swimming and sunbathing are allowed in the island. Formentera is also a favorite stopping point and destination of sailboats and yachts.

#6 Ses Variades

Tourists can also watch the sunset from the Ses Variades coast. They can sit comfortably on the shore while watching the amazing play of colors in the sky which turns the color of the water into a brilliant and fiery orange.

#7 Port of Ibiza

Tourists can also have a leisurely stroll around Ibiza’s port. There are many popular beachfront strips and luxurious resorts near the port. People will also have the chance to see various fishing boats, luxury yachts and cruise ships that come and go. Wonderful cafes and restaurants are lined near the port so tourists can comfortably eat their food while having a blissfulsight.

#8 Atlantis

Things to do in Ibiza are numerous but tourists find the Atlantis as the best place that they must visit first. Atlantis is the place of a former quarry. The quarry site appears as a whole town that is completely underwater. Divers will surely love to see the beauty of Atlantis while they are in Ibiza. Photographers will also enjoy the stunning scenery in Atlantis.

Indeed, Ibiza is a great location for vacation because tourists can choose from the numerous tourist attractions present in the area. An experience in Ibiza will surely give the tourists a magical and unforgettable experience.

Japan's Famous Tourist Attractions

Just like South Korea, Japan displays a unique blend of modern and traditional places. It has many modern places coupled with preserved temples. Visitors will surely be immersed in the technological achievements of Japan one day and have a glimpse of Japanese culture and history the next day. Almost all of Japan’s historical sites are open for the public.

Below is the list of Japan’s tourist attractions.

#1 Golden Pavilion

The temple of the Golden Pavilion or the Kinkaku-ji is the Japan’s most famous tourist attraction because it was originally created in the late 14th Century as the retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. A young monk, who became obsessed with the pavilion, burnt it down in 1950. Fortunately, the temple was rebuilt after five years and became an exact copy of the Golden Pavilion. The Golden Pavilion is covered with golden leaves which helped in highlighting the reflection of the Golden Pavilion in the pond.

#2 Mount Fuji                        

Mount Fuji is also one of Japan’s tourist attractions. At 3,776 meters or 12,388 feet, Mount Fuji is declared as the highest mountain in Japan. The amazing symmetrical cone of the volcano is Japan’s well-known symbol. Climbers and sightseers love to take photos of the mountain. Every year, 200,000 people climb Mount Fuji. Thirty percent of the climbers are tourists. Going up the mountain can take between three to eight hours while going down will only take two to five hours.

#3 Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Tokyo imperial Palace serves as the home for the Emperor of Japan. It is also used as a museum and administration center. The architects of the palace have honored the past emperors of Japan so they incorporated design elements of the various eras into the modern Tokyo Imperial Palace. The new Tokyo Imperial Palace is surrounded by simple and traditional Japanese gardens. Function rooms to welcome the public and receive guests are also present in the palace. Because of the palace’s significance, it has become part of Japan’s tourist attractions.

#4 Tokyo Tower

Japan as an advanced country is manifested by the Tokyo Tower. The tower signifies modern life and advancement of technology. The design of the tower is inspired by the Eiffel Tower. The Tokyo Tower is the second tallest structure in Japan which serves as an observation and communications tower. Visitors of the tower can see the unparalleled views of Tokyo and the areas surrounding it.

#5 Nara’s Todaiji Temple

Japan’s advancement in the field of engineering can be observed through the Todaji Temple. The temple, which is one of Japan’s tourist attractions, is not only the place to the world’s largest bronze statue of Buddha but also the world’s largest building made of wood. The temple is surrounded by beautiful wildlife and gardens. Kegon school of Buddhism is also located in the temple. Artifacts of Buddhist and Japanese history are also present in the temple. Visitors of the temple can see many deer roaming around the grounds of the temple because the Buddhists and Japanese people believe that they are messengers of Shinto gods.

Truly, Japan is successful in preserving its Japanese history and culture while simultaneously developing a modern country.

Eight Shocking African Traditions

Africa is often portrayed as a mystical and unique territory. Its culture and values are preserved over the years. But there are some weird African traditions that will surely shock other people.

#1 Stealing of women

Stealing of women is the weirdest African tradition. The Wodaabe tribe of Niger celebrates the Gerewol Festival. During the festival, men and women dance at night and men are allowed to steal women. They can steal single and even married women. Men are free to steal women provided that they should not be caught by the woman’s husband and the woman will not refuse. If the conditions are met, the tribe will recognize the legitimacy of the fresh marriage.

#2 Bride price

In South Africa, before a couple can get married the groom must pay first the bride price called lobolo. The natives of South Africa believe that the African tradition of having a lobolo will strengthen the relationship between the two families which can foster mutual support and respect.

#3 Spitting as a sign of greeting

In northern Tanzania and Kenya, the Masai gives spitting an unconventional meaning. Spitting is used to greet one another. The Masai people will spit in their hands before shaking the hand of another. They also believe that new born babies are evil so they spit on the babies’ bodies to remove the evil spirits in their bodies.

#4 Bride’s aunt must have sex with groom before marriage

In Uganda, the Banyankole tribe has an African tradition that requires the aunt of the bride to have sex with the groom before marriage as a part of potency test and she also needs to test her niece’s virginity.

#5 Exhume the dead

In Madagascar, the Malagasy people go every five or seven years to their relatives’ graves to exhume the dead and dance with live music. The tradition is dubbed as Famadihana and served as a symbol of their love and respect to the dead.

#6 Widow cleansing

In Malawi, widow cleansing is another African tradition that tribes do. The widow cleansing is done to cleanse the stained soul of the widow caused by the death of her husband. To do the widow cleansing, the widow is forced to have sex with the brother of her husband or a relative of the husband. Through the widow cleansing, it is believed that the soul of the widow will be cleansed and the soul of the dead husband will be freed.

# 7 Lip plates

The Surma, Mursi and Sara tribes place lip plates in the lips of 15-to-16-year-old girls. The lip plates are placed through cutting the lips. They believe that having a biggest lip plate will mean that the girl will have the highest bride price before marriage. Lip plates are also used so that the slave traders will not have an interest towards the African girls.

#8 Announcement of manhood

In Ethiopia, the Hamar tribe has an interesting initiation tradition. The female friends of the boy should take the dance test and get beaten by the elders which will cause actual wounds. The dance test is a manifestation of the friends’ loyalty. The boy will announce his manhood through stepping over four bulls for three rounds.

Indeed, Africa is abundant with its weird African traditions that Africans use to preserve their values.

What medical researchers say about cinnamon's health benefits

Cinnamon is a known as a highly delicious spice. It comes from branches of wild trees that are under the genus Cinnamomun. These wild trees are native to South America, Carribean and South East Asia. The use of Cinnamon started since 2000 BC in Egypt. It is used to treat coughing, sore throats and arthritis during the Medieval Era. Today, modern researchers have found that this spice has a lot of components that are very beneficial to the human body. 

Researchers have discovered many health benefits of cinnamon. In fact, the U.S. National Library of Medicine reported that Cinnamon is useful in treating diarrhea, vomiting, infections, muscle spasms, common cold, erectile dysfunction and loss of appetite. Aside from that, Diabetes UK stated that it can lower the blood sugar in people who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Through cinnamon, the lipid and glucose levels of diabetic individuals can be improved. A consumption of only six grams of cinnamon per day can reduce triglyceride, serum glucose and LDL cholesterol.

Fungal infections can also be treated by cinnamon. The National Institutes of Health said that the chemical cinnamaldehyde which is found in a Cassia cinnamon is effective in fighting fungal and bacterial infections. Cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's disease can also be prevented by the use of cinnamon. Michael Ovadia, a professor of the Department of Zoology in Tel Aviv University, discovered that the extract CEppt in the cinnamon bark has properties that can immediately prevent the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease. 

Meanwhile, a study regarding Indian medicinal plants led to the discovery of how cinnamon can be used against HIV. The Indian researchers wrote that the Cardiospremum helicacabum and Cinnamomum cassia extracts are the two best extracts that can fight against HIV 1 and HIV 2. Also, the destructive and bothering process of multiple sclerosis can be stopped by cinnamon. Instead of using unpleasant and inexpensive drugs, patients can just use cinnamon to overcome the disease. Neurological scientists at Rush University Medical Center have found several explanations on how it can treat multiple sclerosis. And not long ago, the Penn State researchers exposed the fact that diets that are rich in cinnamon can aid to reduce a person's negative responses when eating high-fat meals. The risk of having heart disease can also be reduced just by having a 120 ml cinnamon dose every day. 

Moving on, cinnamon is also effective to attain weight loss. Its effect of thinning the blood can increase the blood circulation. The increased blood flow will then boost the metabolism which is helpful in weight loss. As a popular warming agent, cinnamon is used in massage therapy sessions. If combined with some carrier oil, it is very effective in relieving muscle pain. Even a few drops of cinnamon in a bath tub can relax aching muscles. Lastly, the anti-bacterial properties of cinnamon are major role players in fighting harmful bacteria without the effect of damaging the gums and teeth. That is the reason why cinnamon oil is always used in mouthwashes, chewing gums, breath mints and toothpaste. 

Indeed, cinnamon cannot only be seen as a spice because medical researchers have already proved its usefulness in the field of medicine. And it is possible that in the future other discoveries about cinnamon will also be revealed to the world.