Crossness Engines House, in Bexley: grade I-listed Crossness Engines House is a beautifully maintained waste-water pumping station. It was built by Joseph Bazalgette, who was the engineer of London's Victorian sewerage system, and it contains four of the largest beam engines in the world.

The building dates from the late 1800s and was vital in improving the health of Londoners. Prior to 1865 the Thames served in some respects as an open sewer - each drain in London led there and the constant deluge of sewage polluted the water significantly. This in turn was one of the causes of the great cholera epidemics of 1831, 1842 and 1852.

All of the buildings in this gallery are participating in Open House London, a free event which sees 700 distinctive London buildings open their doors to the public for one weekend. This year it takes place from September 17-18.

W Plumb Family Butchers, in Holloway: this Grade II-listed, ornate former Edwardian butcher's shop dates from around 1900. Impressively well preserved and beautifully decorated, it features art nouveau wall tiling, a geometric tiled floor, scrolled meat rails and mahogany cashier's booth with etched and brilliant cut glass. Less readily visible is the shop's supposed ghost. The building's present owner is said to share the space with a spirit that rattles within the shop and emits a distinct 'moo' sound. It seems the ghost in this former butchers is a cow.

National Tennis Centre, Roehampton: the world's first composite demountable air-beam canopy in the sports sector, the canopy at the National Tennis Sports Centre in Roehampton spans 188ft (42m). Stretched smoothly over the centre's clay courts, the cover has a timeless quality but was erected in 2010.

National Tennis Centre, Roehampton: development of the canopy had to adhere to strict local planning policy but looks impressively unrestrained. The design was intended to provide an inspirational and 'clutter-free' playing environment attuned to players' needs. It's also useful for shielding glaring sun or, more commonly, pounding rain.

The bodies of executed Bali duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have arrived at Sydney airport after the final leg of their journey home to Australia.

It has also been revealed the executions may have been considered illegal under international law, and an Australian request to submit the case to an international court was ignored, according to reports.

The coffins were carried on Qantas flight 42, which landed in Sydney just before dawn, at 6:13am. Chan's widow, Febyanti Herewila, Sukumaran's parents and siblings, and Australian officials were also on board the flight.

The flight was the last leg in Chan and Sukumaran's journey home to Australia, after they were killed by an Indonesian firing squad on Wednesday morning. 

David Chipperfield Architects is behind the upgrade of the 19th-century Grade I-listed building on Regent Street, which has been closed for five years. The hotel will have 159 rooms with a midcentury-modern flavour, plus several restaurants and a spa. Rooms will cost from £450, but until March 2013 a special introductory rate of £350 is available, including a bottle of champagne and late checkout. 

It's a good time to... visit a garden 

It's tempting to go into hibernation, but more gardens than ever will be keeping their gates open this winter. Undeterred by the encroaching nights, Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire will be lighting up its gardens on weekend evenings, with magical walks through the illuminated silver birch grove and statue gardens (1-16 December, adults £10, children £7), while the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, will celebrate the dark skies with a Stargazing Party (23 November, adults £3, children free).

Kew Gardens is offering guided tours of its evergreens, plus a vintage carousel, and if it gets cold you can warm up in the tropical palm houses (1 December-6 January, adults £14.50, children free, kew.org). Glasgow's Botanic Gardens have gone one better with the installation of Heliotrope, an immersive "experience" designed to bathe visitors in sunlight and music – a perfect antidote to Seasonal Affective Disorder (24-27 November, free, heliotrope-project.com).

For a truly festive atmosphere, head to Northumberland's Belsay Hall, which is running a wreath-making workshop followed by a tour of the gardens and lunch (6 December, £50).

Give me a break: The week's best deals

Home The Foley, an 18th-century coaching inn in the village of Claygate, Surrey, has been given a makeover, with the addition of 17 smart new bedrooms and a restaurant serving British menu classics. The normal rate for a double room is £149 including full English breakfast, but a special introductory rate of £89 per night is available until the end of January.

Away Snow is already falling in the Alps, and to encourage skiers to get on to the slopes early A&K Chalets is offering a free day's lift pass for every night stayed in one of their chalets in Verbier or Davos Klosters before Christmas. A four-night stay in December at the self-catering Bois Gentil chalet in Verbier costs from £285pp based on eight people sharing.

When you are in a romantic relationship, you will always prefer to be in touch with your partner. Text messages are an easy way to be in touch with your partner. For making plans, checking in, making dinner dates, sending a flirty or a love message made easy with texting service. It is incredibly easy and its proximity makes a couple to be in touch all day long as they have their phones with them. But this is always not a good thing as every person needs their own space. Texting is a low risk service in having a conversation and also useful. But sometimes those small texts can give a wrong direction to a romantic relationship which was in a right track before. As the text messages are exposed of a body language, no one knows the exact expression on the senders face when they are sending a message saying “I like you”, and thus a miss understanding can occur between two friends or between a couple also.

So, for everyone who gives priority to texting than calling or having a face to face chat, especially for couples, try hard to avoid these consequences of texting.

This trip has me landing in bangkok, on my way to Chiva-Som in Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand. I’m met at the airport by a Chiva-Som limousine – a sleek black Mercedes with cold water, healthy snacks and WiFi to pass the time on my three-hour drive south.

On entering the gates of Chiva-Som, I leave the outside world behind. “Haven of Life”, is the meaning of the name Chiva-Som and spending time here is all about creating your personal path to health and wellness. After being shown to my room, a beautiful garden pavilion with a verandah, I have my initial consultation with Mae, my wellness advisor, to determine which program will best benefit me.  I have a regular fitness routine at home and decide maybe it’s time to up the ante as I’m getting older and don’t seem to be getting the results that I used to. With this in mind I decide to do the “optimal performance program”, which will set me up with a new fitness regime and because it also includes some physiotherapy, will provide me with some insight into the pain I have been experiencing in my foot. I also add some treatments from the Eternal Youth program so that it’s not all hard work, and to be honest, anything that suggests “Eternal Youth” is just too tempting to pass up.

If you have never experienced a wellness retreat before, don’t entertain any visions of lounging by the pool drinking mai-tais. Though you can do as much or little as you like, if you want to get the most out of your time here I suggest embracing all of the opportunities on offer, saving pool time for another holiday. Chiva-Som also has a strict privacy policy, so no electronics outside of your room including cameras, phones, laptops and even e-readers. My days are a mixture of yoga, fitness classes, interesting lectures, massage, skin treatments as well as physiotherapy (the ultrasound does wonders to help the pain in my foot) and of course the delicious, healthy meals. There are fitness classes throughout the day; some such as Thai kickboxing are in an open pavilion (a high energy workout and lots of fun) while others like TRX are in an air-conditioned gym. One class that I have never seen before that ended up being my favorite is called Power Drum. Using a pair of drumsticks and three Swiss balls positioned around your body, you try to repeat the same drumming rhythm as the instructor. Forget about Sudoku and crossword puzzles, my brain was exhausted and I had also worked up quite a sweat by the end of the class. After you get over feeling very silly, you realise it’s ridiculously fun and a challenge both physically and mentally.

In the evening you’re invited to sit in on lectures by visiting practitioners. My favorite was on Oriental stress management delivered by Anamai Apaiso, who has been a Buddhist monk for 10 years. He had some great advice for us on how to keep the mind happy – I think he must know what he’s talking about as he radiated happiness.

There are several massages included in the program, from traditional Thai to a stress therapy massage that involves warm parafin wax on your arms and is followed by a body massage. I loved the invigorating massage - it’s rough and involves lots of pounding, but I felt amazing and energised when it was finished.

There are two dining options, the Emerald Room with an international menu and A Taste of Siam nestled between the pool and the beach, which serves Thai food with a healthy twist.

On Saturday night there is a barbeue held outside with locally prepared fish, lobster, prawns, salads, sashimi, scallops and succulent grilled meats. Traditional dancers demonstrate Thai dances throughout history. I sit at the Talkers Table (specifically set up for people who want to meet and greet other guests) and meet people from all over the world – America to Europe to Dubai. I also meet return guests; some are Chiva-Som junkies and have visited many times. One man from Bangkok comes to Chiva-Som on a regular basis. He says he has learned a lot over the years and we end up chatting about meditation.

After dinner, a few of us walk 10 minutes down the road to a wonderful night market. Cicada Market is held on the weekends and is full of trendy young designers selling handmade clothing, jewelry, handbags and artwork. I stay later than the others and walk back by myself after 11pm feeling perfectly safe.

Chiva-Som is well known for its Medi-Spa Niranlada with its advanced technology and experienced medical team. Dr. Niwat Polnikorn, who was trained in the US and has been a dermatologist since 1982, heads Niranlada. It offers the latest anti-ageing treatments and has a well-trained and caring staff. After a very confronting, up-close look at my face using a 3D computerised facial analysis, I decide to try the Revlight laser treatment. This treatment will get rid of the pigmentation on my cheeks from too many years in the sun. A nurse puts a numbing cream on my face and another massages my hands and feet while we wait for it to take effect. After about 25 minutes, they start the procedure. There is no pain at all, just a little bit of an electrical sensation. Fifteen minutes later, I walk out looking like someone has splashed mud on my face (the spots go darker before they peel off), which I was a bit self-conscious about, but six days later all of the spots have flaked off and the pigmentation is gone. I’m very happy with the results.

Operation Rebrand Ryanair moved into phase two this week with the news that Michael O’Leary is keen to offer transatlantic flights to the States for £10 a time.
Time was when Mr O’Leary wanted to get a few headlines he used to dress up as the Pope or threaten to ban fat people – in this new era of being nice, he has to find something uplifting to talk about.

Hence the cheap flights to America idea. It’s a nice idea. And it was a nice when he was talking about the same thing six years ago.

But talking about £10 fares this week came as a bit of a surprise because a year ago the airline announced that it would definitely not be entering the transatlantic market.

The company's deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, said in March 2013 that Ryanair's business model was ‘not suited’ to the long-haul market.

'I don't think it is ever envisaged that Ryanair would get into the long-haul market,' he said.

'Long haul for us is flying to the Canaries or to Greece at the moment. Some of our flights are four and five hours. From Prestwick to the Canaries, it is five hours.

'As far as flying across the Atlantic is concerned, a lot of the things we do, like 25-minute turnarounds, are not that relevant in the context that you are not going to get an extra flight like you will from Shannon to London if you do it often enough during the day,' Mr Cawley said.

So the transatlantic: what’s Ryanair’s position? It’s a bit like the hokey-cokey: in, out, in, out – shake it all about.

If Ryanair wants to get back into the headlines, Michael O’Leary will have to return to his Wolf of Wicklow persona.

Angkor Wat – Siem Reap, Cambodia

When it comes to booking a holiday, the world is quite literally your oyster.With so many iconic sites around the world, the pressure is on to tick off the destinations everyone should try to see at least once in their lifetime.

TripAdvisor asked reviewers to vote for their favourite landmarks – with some surprising entries making it into the top 25.

1. Angkor Wat – Siem Reap, Cambodia 

Topping TripAdvisor’s Ranking of Top Landmarks 2015, the masterpiece of Angkor Wat is a trip of a lifetime. Boasting architectural sophistication, the majestic structure is Cambodia’s most beloved and best-preserved temple. The 500-acre site is one of the largest religious monuments in the world and represents the architectural pinnacle of the Khmer Empire. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, it has remained a place of worship since its founding in the 12th century.

2. Machu Picchu – Machu Picchi, Peru

As a close runner up, Peru’s famous lost city in the Andes Mountains is one of travel’s greatest adventures. The 500-year-old Inca trail is guaranteed to thrill even the most well travelled backpackers. Its sheer scale and audacity will require careful route planning.

3. Taj Mahal – Angra, India 

Standing majestically on the banks of the River Yamuna, India’s national treasure is a symbol of love and romance.  The Taj Mahal’s pure white marble, exquisite ornamentation and precious gemstones make it one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world. However, once you find out the love story behind its construction its beauty is given a new light. Its name was inspired by Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan’s beloved wife who died during childbirth of their 14th child.

4. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque– Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Visible from each of the bridges joining Abu Dhabi to the mainland, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an impressive welcome to the city. Conceived by the first president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Zayed, the mosque accommodates over 41,000 worshippers and is one of few mosques open to tourists in the region.

5. Basilica of the Sagrada Familia – Barcelona, Spain

Although incomplete, the Sagrada Familia is one of the most visited sites in the world. Architect Gaudi devoted much of his life to the basilica’s construction, which began in 1882. Gaudi transformed the project after taking over in 1883 before dying 1926, when less than a quarter of construction was complete. Construction passed its midpoint in 2010 and the anticipated completion date is 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death.

6. St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy

Rome is full of outstanding churches, but none can rival St Peter’s Basilica, Italy’s most spectacular cathedral.  Built atop of an earlier 4th century church, it was completed in 1626 after 150 years of construction. The cathedral boasts many masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s Pietà, his soaring dome, and Bernini’s 29m-high baldachin over the papal altar.

7. Milan Cathedral (Duomo) – Milian, Italy 

This exceptionally large and elaborate Gothic cathedral on the main square of Milan is one the most famous buildings in Europe. Its dazzling white facade occupies the most central location in Milan and took nearly six centuries to complete.

8. Alcatraz – San Francisco, California 

Alcatraz Island, which is located offshore in the San Francisco Bay, was home to a federal and military prison until 1963. During the 29 years it was in use, the prison was home to some of America’s most notorious prisoners. Today, the island and its lighthouse are open to visitors – it’s best to book in advance as there can be a several day wait for tickets.

Corcovado – Cristo Redentor – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

9. Corcovado – Cristo Redentor – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Corcovado, meaning ‘hunchback’ in Portuguese, towers above the vibrant Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Boasting spectacular views of the entire city, many tourists would argue that a round the world trip is not complete without a visit to the mountain.

10. Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California 

Once called “the bridge that couldn’t be built’, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is the city’s second entry in the top 10. Known for its orange colour, the suspension bridge crosses from the city to the Marin headlands for 1.7 miles.

11. Eiffel Tower – Paris, France

12. Church of the Saviour on Blood – St. Petersburg, Russia 

13. Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris, France 

14. The Alhambra – Granada, Spain

15. Hagia Sophia Museum and Church (Ayasofya) – Istanbul, Turkey 

16. Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) – Prague, Czech Republic 

17. Great Wall at Mutianyu – Beijing, China 

18. Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool – Washington DC, District of Columbia 

19. Burj Khalifa – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

20. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum – New York City, New York

Great Wall at Mutianyu – Beijing, China

21. Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) – Bangkok, Thailand 22. Chichen Itza –  Chicken Itza, Mexico

23. Sydney Opera House – Sydney, Australia 

24. Petronas Twin Towers – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Whales of Iceland is a permanent exhibition in Reykjavik’s harbour area, featuring life-size models of the 23 species found around the country’s coast

At Whales of Iceland, a new permanent museum, visitors walk below full-scale models of these graceful giants.

The exhibition features 23 species found in Icelandic waters, including beluga, humpback, minke whales and orcas or killer whales.

A whale museum in a country that still hunts the creatures may raise eyebrows. Whales are still slaughtered in Icelandic waters, despite an international ban, but opposition to the practice is growing among Icelanders – and whale tourism has become a major attraction, with a quarter of visitors taking a whale tour.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), a charity that campaigns against whaling, has launched an initiative to promote Iceland as a whale nation and not a whaling nation, encouraging visitors to go whale watching and not to eat whale meat while there (more tourists eat it than locals). Danny Groves of WDC said: “We hope that this museum will help change perceptions and counter the whale hunting industry in Iceland.”

The models are made from steel and foam.

Based at the harbour, a few minutes’ walk from Reykjavik city centre, the exhibition costs 2.900 IKR (£14) for adults and 1.500 IKR (£7) for kids (7-15yrs) or 5.800 IKR (£28) for a family (two adults, two children

The rare animal species in Con Dao

The rare animal species in Con Dao plentiful, all located in the Red Book of the world, are interested and strict conservation of the natural environment of Con Dao National Park, count as pigeons Nicoba, red monkeys, squirrels ebony, dugon, green sea turtle Chelonia mydas turtles or ...

At this years meeting for Social Psychology in New Orleans, was presented a study. The more we find animals cuter the more we want to hug them. The researchers came up with the conclusion  that the more we find something unbelievably cute it actually can make us more aggressive. In the first part of the study,109 volunteers were looking different pictures of animals. Some cute, some funny and some “neutral”. When answered how they felt the majority answered “They are so adorable that i want to die” or “They are so cute, i want to hug them till they die”.In the second part of the study the scientists wanted to see if the answers were only verbal. To test that they gave everyone a bubble wrap. The ones that watched pictures from adorable animals popped around 120 bubbles , those who watched pictures from funny animals popped around 80 and the ones that watched “neutral” pictures popped around 100. A side of this study me personally watching pictures of animals in love , adorable animals, funny animals, they relax me and make me happy. Enjoy these beautiful pictures of adorable animals, i hope they cheer you up.

Sabah, the Land of Wind in Malaysia

With the provision of information and the collection of actual images of Sabah - the Land of Wind in Malaysia, Air Asia VN Booking agent will help visitors more attractive option when coming to this beautiful country Malaysia . Malaysia with great beauty, wonder of nature and traditional culture characteristics. For international travelers, the Sabah has long been one of the most attractive tourist destinations.

Sabah is located on the beautiful island of Borneo (known as Kalimantan), the 3rd largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. City natural beauty of the tropics with a long history and culture rich art. Besides, Sabah, also known as the "Land of the Wind" because it is very close to the area of ​​Philippines typhoon. In recent years, Sabah has been increasingly widely known on the world tourist map, for those who love nature love peace, the Sabah is an ideal place to come.

In tropical forests in Sabah has the world's largest flower Rafflesia (also known as the flower king); Sabah Mount Kinabalu - one of the highest mountain in Southeast Asia and is a convergence of some of the world's top diving - Sipadan Island. For tourists who love nature will surely be fascinated Sabah since the first steps to this land.

Majestic mountains and magnificent Kinabalu lies 180km Kota Kinabalu. Mountain with a height of 4.101m stretched almost throughout its history, it has been revered as a sacred place. Kinabalu traditionally attracted a lot of tourists come here with the aim to conquer the highest peak in Southeast Asia this. Despite high and intimidating size, Kinabalu is one of the most climbed mountain in the world easy, because it requires a skill or special media. Every year, thousands of people involved in mountaineering expeditions lasting two to three days. In addition to this two or three days hiking, visitors can explore the pristine rainforest located halfway up the mountain, the river or the mountains perched alternating white foam sun waterfall or cliff caves. One of the final boundaries of the wildlife here is truly a paradise of nature. The national park is located on an area of ​​754km2, is home to flora and fauna extremely diverse, rich and wealthy world. Mount Kinabalu and fauna populations of forest was recognized by UNESCO as world heritage.

Tourist destination but most notably in malaysia