2 . Woven Wonders: Indian Textiles (纺织品) from the Parpia Collection

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) members at the Family level and above are invited to reserve tickets for an art-making activity led by a teaching artist. This edition is inspired by the exhibition—Woven Wonders: Indian Textiles from the Parpia Collection Learn the special dyeing (染色) process and bring home a naturally dyed headdress of your own as a reminder.

This exhibition, open from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturdays, takes place in the classroom close to the Hirsch Library on the lower level of the Beck Building.

In order to reflect India’s countless regional traditions, the Parpia Collection shows the extraordinary beauty and technical diversity of Indian textiles. Ranging from folk textiles to valuable court textiles, the objects go through the 14th century to the early 20th century. The collection shows the wonders of textile arts from India throughout history with examples of hand-painted and hand-block-printed cotton and other traditional cloth crafts.

Choose your one-hour time when you book your tickets. Activities are specially recommended for children aged 4 to 12, with adult supervision.

Woven Wonders: Indian Textiles from the Parpia Collection is organized by MFAH. Special exhibition programming is made possible by a fund. If you are a current museum member, please sign in to access your tickets. If you are not a member, join today.

6 . Bikini Atoll, Micronesia

This was the main area of nuclear testing in the Pacific. There were 23 tests on this small island from 1946 to 1958.When you have flown in from Honolulu, you might be surprised at what you find. Despite its nuclear past, the area looks like an undestroyed place. Thanks to a recent rise in tourism, popular activities include diving and fishing off the beautiful coastline.

The world’s first transcontinental (横贯大陆的) railway was built between 1850 and 1855. It not only connected two cities-Panama City and the port of Colon―but also two oceans―the Pacific and the Atlantic. The line had been in disrepair for many years until areas of land were cleared and a new track was laid over a period of 18 months. In July 2001 it was reopened, offering a 45-minute ride through a forested area.

In 1971, this wildlife park attracted 12,000 visitors who wanted to see the biggest lion population in Africa. From 1983 to 1992 the park was turned into an environmental disaster area during the Mozambican Civil War. After the war, the number of large animals in the park had fallen by 95%. Now, buffalo (水牛) have been reintroduced and the park has received donations from businesspeople and pop stars. You won’t find cheetahs or rhinos back in the park yet, but the beautiful Mount Gorongosa (1,863m) is perfect for hikers.

For years, border disagreements between Kenya and Uganda meant it was impossible to walk to this volcano. Now the situation has been eased, so this far corner of East Africa has reopened. Climbers can enjoy the fantastic view from the top of Mount Elgon (4,321m) but perhaps the most interesting feature is the caves. Some are over 60 m wide and run 200 m into the mountain.

7 . Whether you like history or simply learning something new, these four museums are worth paying a visit to.

Located in New York, the Tenement Museum showcases the stories of the immigrants and migrants (移民) who came to America between the 1860s and the 1980s. See how they pursued the “American dream.” Their determination and endless desire to carve out a better life not only reflects the depths of the human spirit, but also how America came to be the country it is today.

Located in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of the American Indian contains one of the world’s largest collections of native artifacts (手工艺品), photographs and documents. Featuring both ongoing and temporary exhibits, the museum documents many ways American Indians integrated into American history and culture.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson features eight galleries filled with interactive exhibits that tell the stories of black Mississippians and their fight for equality from 1945 to 1976. You’ll hear the stories of Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Vernon Dahmer, and you’ll also hear about many men, women and children who fought to be recognized as equals. Artifacts include a “colored” entrance sign, the gun used to shoot Evers, a burned cross, and a button from the 1966 March Against Fear.

In New Orleans’ No. 1 attraction, the National WWII Museum, visitors can see why World War II was fought, explore key moments such as D-Day and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and put themselves in the shoes of those who had to make difficult decisions during the war. You even can take a 4D journey through the war in “Beyond All Boundaries.”

8 . Nairobi National Park Tour

Overview

Spot free-roaming wildlife on a Nairobi National Park game drive in an open-top vehicle. An early-morning departure (出发) means cooler temperatures and the chance to see the animals when they’re most active, resting on grassy plains.

•Get a real safari experience on a half-day tour from Nairobi

•Visit a national park that’s home to rhinos, lions, giraffes, and more

•Airport drop-off option saves you a separate trip upon departure

•Convenient pickup and drop-off at Nairobi hotels

Tour Prices

What’s Included

Optional

Additional Info

•Confirmation will be received at time of booking.

•Wheelchairs are not accessible.

•Children must be accompanied by at least an adult.

•Kids under 5 must sit on laps.

•This tour will have a maximum of 15 travellers.

Built around 605 in China’s Sui Dynasty (581-618), Zhaozhou Bridge is the oldest     1     (exist) bridge in China. It stretches across the Xiao River, 2500 meters from the southern gate of Zhao County (县), Hebei province. Li Chun, a Sui Dynasty architect, presided (主持) over its     2     (construct).

In the Sui Dynasty, Zhaozhou Bridge connected north and south as     3     major transportation centre. With the Xiao River     4     (break) the south-north traffic, building a bridge was     5     (bad) needed. Given that the river dried up in spring and winter     6     flooded in summer and autumn, the bridge had to be designed to withstand severe hydrologic (水文的) conditions.

The Zhaozhou Bridge bears two pairs of small arches (拱门) at each side of the central arch. All of the arches are circular and built of stone.     7     (compare) with a filled spandrel (拱肩) arch, this single-span open-spandrel arch minimized water blockage and increased the flow area by 16.5%, especially when the Xiao River was flooded. Besides, as the bridge was single span, the weight of the whole bridge and its traffic load     8     (shoulder) by two arch feet, causing great pressure on the abutments (桥墩)     9     help to transfer the load on the large arches by more than 500 tons and save more than 200 cubic meters of stone. Zhaozhou Bridge is the world’s earliest open-spandrel arched bridge, 700 years earlier     10     its European counterparts.

10 . The Bullock Texas State History Museum

The museum opened in April of 2001. Here’s the museum’s official mission statement: We create experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. It offers interactive exhibits that explain Texas history and an IMAX^® theater.

The Exhibits

The first floor is about the land and covers the first meetings between Native Americans and Europeans, early settlers and missions and the mapping of the state. The second floor is about identity and discusses Texas history, the significant battles and people who made the state what it is today. The third floor covers important technology from Texas, Texas-led explorations and other Texan achievements.

IMAXW Theater

The Bullock museum’s IMAX® theater was one of the first IMAX® theaters in Texas, and one of few in the world. The theater seats 329 guests and houses the biggest IMAX ^® screen in the state at 6 stories high and 84 feet wide. Guests can enjoy sharp and vivid images, as well as immersive (沉浸式虚拟现实的) sound.

Museum Store

On the first floor of the Bullock Texas State History Museum, you will find the museum store. It is filled with Texas-themed goodies, such as clothing, ornaments, books, movies, jewelry, music, home décor and kitchenware.

The Essentials

Address: 1800 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Hours: The museum is open from Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Parking: The museum has an underground parking garage with an entrance. Parking in the museum garage is $15 for full-day parking.