Durban Botanic Gardens, Durban, South Africa

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“Durban Botanic Gardens is Durban’s oldest public institution and Africa’s oldest surviving botanical gardens.

The Durban Botanic Gardens was established to participate in the quest of Kew Gardens to establish a series of botanic gardens across the world which would assist in the introduction of economically valuable plants, and to supply plants to Kew that were new to science.” (1)

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Durban City, Durban, South Africa

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“Durban (Zulu: eThekwini, from itheku meaning ‘bay / lagoon’) is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is also the second most important manufacturing hub in South Africa after Johannesburg.

Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa and Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism because of the city’s warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches.” (1)

“The city hall in Durban, South Africa is almost an exact replica of Belfast’s City Hall. It was built in 1910 and designed by Stanley G. Hudson, who was inspired by the Belfast design.” (2)

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Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand

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“Wat Phra That Hariphunchai’s earliest origins were in 897 when the then king of Hariphunchai ( King Arthitayarat, a descendant of Queen Chamthewi) is said to have built a stupa (now the central stupa) to house a hair of the Buddha. The name of the Wat translates to “Temple of the Sacred Hariphunchai Relic”.

At the end of the 13th century, Hariphunchai was besieged by King Mengrai who brought Lamphun into the Lanna Kingdom. The temple was first rebuilt in 1443 by King Tilokaraja of Lanna kingdom Chiang Mai. One of its most noteworthy landmarks is the 46-meter tall golden Chedi or Buddhist stupa. The temple’s pyramid-shaped Chedi Suwanna was built in 1418.” (1)

“About mid 15th century, the temple was renovated and expanded with a number of Lanna style structures.” (2)

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