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Ah, Venice, a favorite destination for romantics for centuries, this Italian town is known for its canals, gondolas, and Saint Mark’s Basilica. The city is so amazing it’s even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Venetian sights not to be missed include the Grand Canal, Saint Mark’s Basilica and Square, Academia, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is a good sized town with a population of over 270,000. All ranges of accommodation and any dish you desire can be found in this enchanting town. So grab your amore and visit beautiful Venice!

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I recently visited the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and that inspired me to share these pictures of the 10 tallest buildings in the world with you. Here they are in ascending order by height, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH):

10. Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai, China
This 88-story skyscraper stands at a height of 421m (1,380ft). Completed in 1998, the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, China contains offices and the Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel.

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9. Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, United States of America (USA)
The Trump Tower, named for Donald Trump, is located on the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It stands 423m (1,389ft) and has 92 stories. The tower houses retail space, a parking garage, a hotel, and condominiums. It was completed in 2009.

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8. Guangzhou West Tower, Guangzhou, China
The Guangzhou West Tower in Guangzhou, China, is a 440.2m (1,444ft) tall skyscraper that is home to a conference center, a hotel, and offices. It was completed in 2009 and has 103 floors. The tower’s twin, the Guangzhou East Tower, will be completed in 2016.

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7. Willis Tower, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America (USA)
Formerly called the Sears Tower, the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois, USA, stands 442m (1,451ft) tall and has 108 floors. It was completed in 1973 and was the tallest building in the world at that time. It is currently the tallest building in the United States.

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6. Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, Nanjing, China
Also known as the Greenland Square Zifeng Tower, the Nanjing Greenland Financial Center in Nanjing, China, is 450m (1,480ft) tall. It was completed in 2009 and currently houses office space, retail space, a restaurant, and an observation deck. It has 89 stories.

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5. Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is home to the Petronas Twin Towers, which held the record for the world’s tallest buildings from their completion in 1998 until 2004. They are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. Tower 1 is headquarters to the oil and gas company Petronas, and Tower 2 houses the offices of various other corporations. The towers are 451.9m (1,482.6ft) tall and have 88 stories each. You can see more pictures and read about my visit here: Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge Visit.

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4. International Commerce Centre, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, Hong Kong, comes in at 484m (1,588ft) tall. It was completed in 2010. Its 118 stories are home to a Ritz-Carlton hotel, a shopping mall, and various corporate offices. There is a viewing deck on the 100th floor.

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3. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China
At 487.4m (1,599.1ft) tall, the Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, China, is the third tallest building in the world. It is home to the highest hotel in the world, the Park Hyatt Shanghai. It also has the highest observation deck in the world. The building’s 101 floors also house offices, hotels, conference rooms, and shopping malls. It was completed in 2008 and it stands next to the Jin Mao Tower. I think it looks like a giant bottle opener.

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2. Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan
The spectacular Taipei 101 spire in Taipei, Taiwan was the tallest building in the world from its completion in 2004 until 2010. Also known as the Taipei Financial Center, the Taipei 101 is 509.2m (1,670.6ft) tall and has 101 floors. There are numerous corporate offices and restaurants in the building.

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1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The massive Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is by far the tallest man-made structure ever built. It stands an awe-inspiring 828m (2,717ft) above ground and has 160 floors. It became the world’s tallest building when it opened on January 4th, 2010. It took six years to construct and it is home to hotels, residences, restaurants, and offices.

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The island nation known as the Seychelles can be found in the Indian Ocean off the East coast of Africa, North of Madagascar. There are 115 islands in the archipelago. Seychelles has become a popular tourist destination, thanks to its stunning tropical beaches and interesting wildlife. Popular activities include diving, fishing, sailing, and laying around on amazing white sand beaches. Visitors can find any range of accommodation on the main islands of Praslin, La Digue or Mahé, as well as a variety on outlying islands.

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The stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in the Lika region of Croatia. The park is surrounded by the mountains Plješevica, Mala Kapela, and Medveđak, which are part of the Dinaric Alps. The 16 blue-green Plitvice Lakes, which are separated by natural dams of travertine, are situated on the Plitvice plateau. Waterfalls connect the lakes, and the tallest waterfall is Veliki Slap at 70 meters (230 feet) tall. The Plitvice lakes area boasts a large variety of interesting and colorful flora and fauna. Visitors can enjoy walking and hiking the many pathways and trails, or exploring the lakes by boat. The park itself has 3 hotels and a campsite, otherwise visitors can find accommodation at any of the number of villages and cities nearby.

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