The Silent Spin: A Ferris Wheel in a Park Full of Greenery and Calm

 The Silent Spin: A Ferris Wheel in a Park Full of Greenery and Calm

In the heart of a lush park, surrounded by tall trees and a carpet of grass, stands a simple Ferris wheel.
It isn’t grand or towering, and it doesn’t flash with neon lights. But it captures something timeless—the quiet thrill of going up, seeing far, and coming down gently.

This photograph tells a story through stillness.
The Ferris wheel stands almost at rest, yet you can imagine it turning slowly. You can feel the breeze, hear children’s laughter in the background, and sense the soft rustle of leaves in the air.

There’s a beauty in how this wheel fits into the landscape—its circular form mirroring nature’s curves, its structure both playful and sturdy.
This image isn’t just about a ride; it’s about a mood, a memory, and the essence of adventure simplified.

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A Scene Framed by Green

The setting around the Ferris wheel is rich with life.
The grass is soft and full, spreading across the ground like a blanket. Trees with full canopies stretch upward and outward, providing a shaded sanctuary from the sun.

Unlike the urban amusement parks packed with steel and sound, this park offers something gentler.
Nature and mechanics coexist here—not in conflict, but in harmony.

• The Ferris wheel does not dominate the space; it blends into it.

• Its colorful seats add vibrance against the greens and browns.

• The stillness of the trees contrasts the silent promise of motion in the wheel.

For lovers of abstract images, this is a powerful contrast—structure within nature, motion inside calm, excitement framed in serenity.

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The Evolution of Ferris Wheels: From Wonder to Classic

The Ferris wheel is one of the oldest and most beloved rides in amusement history.

• The original Ferris wheel was built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. It stood 264 feet tall and symbolized human innovation.

• Over the decades, Ferris wheels became a staple at fairs and festivals across the globe—representing joy, elevation, and a momentary escape from the ordinary.

• Modern observation wheels, like the London Eye or the Singapore Flyer, now stretch over 400 feet high, offering sweeping views of cities and skylines.

Yet, the smaller, simpler Ferris wheels—like the one in this image—retain a special charm.
They’re accessible, friendly, and deeply nostalgic.
They remind us that adventure doesn’t always have to be extreme. Sometimes, it just means rising slowly above the treetops.

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Why We Love Height, Motion, and the Thrill of the Ride

Human beings have always been drawn to motion, speed, and elevation.

From ancient swings tied to tree branches to today’s high-speed roller coasters and ziplines, we crave the feeling of being lifted off the ground—even briefly.

The thrill of rides comes from:

• A rush of adrenaline as we defy gravity.

• A break in routine, shifting from still to moving, from flat to vertical.

• A feeling of control and surrender, both happening at once.

Ferris wheels offer a gentler thrill than extreme sports, but the emotional response is the same:

• The slight flutter in the chest as the wheel lifts you upward.

• The quiet wonder when you see the park, the trees, the world from above.

• The peaceful descent, bringing you gently back to earth.

It’s a poetic motion—almost like breathing: rise, pause, return.

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Adventure Sports: A Growing Love Across the World

As cities get denser and screens get brighter, people are seeking more physical, immersive experiences—especially outdoors.

The rise of adventure sports reflects a global craving for real emotion and direct experience.

From bungee jumping and paragliding to mountain biking, white water rafting, and skydiving, we are increasingly drawn to activities that challenge the body and awaken the senses.

Even simpler rides—like zip lines, chair lifts, and Ferris wheels—give us the illusion of flight, which remains one of humanity’s most enduring dreams.

Why do we seek these thrills?

• To feel alive, in contrast to daily routines.

• To conquer fear, even momentarily.

• To connect with the environment, in ways that feel direct and memorable.

And while not everyone will climb a cliff or jump from a plane, the Ferris wheel offers a more universal version of the adventure:

A safe, repeatable, joyful experience of motion and view.

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Simple Rides, Deep Meaning

Look again at the Ferris wheel in the image.
It’s not spinning wildly. There’s no crowd.
It stands alone, quietly waiting.

Yet, in its structure lies an invitation:

• To pause.

• To rise.

• To view the world from a new angle.

For photographers, artists, and abstract thinkers, a Ferris wheel becomes more than a ride.
It becomes:

• A metaphor for life’s cycles.

• A symbol of perspective and height.

• A reminder that even mechanical things can have soul when placed in the right setting.

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Green Spaces and Playful Structures: A Beautiful Balance

Parks that combine natural beauty with simple joys—like swings, seesaws, and Ferris wheels—create a space for every kind of visitor.

• The young can play.

• The old can reminisce.

• The thoughtful can reflect.

This image of a Ferris wheel framed by green space is more than scenic—it’s balanced.
It invites movement without chaos, structure without noise, and joy without frenzy.

It’s a visual reminder that adventure and peace are not opposites.
They can exist in the same frame.

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Closing Reflection

The Ferris wheel in this photograph stands as a gentle monument—one that honors our love of motion, view, and simplicity.

Set among trees and grass, it doesn’t shout for attention.
Instead, it whispers something timeless:

Life moves. Life lifts. Life returns.
And in between those movements, there is beauty.

Whether you ride for thrill or for thought, the wheel always gives you what you need:
A moment off the ground, a moment above the noise, a moment of pure perspective.

Splash zone inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Singapore has a large number of tourist attractions, both in the mainland and in the island of Sentosa (Sentosa is actually designed as a tourist destination with a large number of world class tourist attractions such as the Universal Studios Park, an aquarium, and numerous other places that people visit in droves). In the mainland also, there are numerous tourist attractions such as the Zoo, Night Safari, River Safari, Singapore Flyer, cruises on the Singapore River and off the harbor, the laser shows, and multiple such places. One of the top-notch tourist destinations is the Jurong Bird Park, which has a huge varieties of birds present inside in different enclosures along with popular shows.

Splash zone inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

Children get excited about the various bird exhibits (after all, if you show them colorful birds such as the Macaw or the Flamingo, they are likely to be attracted to the show). Another part of the park, specifically meant for children, is the splash zone. Water, and lots of water, make this zone very interesting for children. There are slides and a huge water bucket, all with lots of water everywhere, all with the motif of birds. Great fun.

Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands

The Scottish and Gaelic term for a lake or sea inlet is 'Loch' (read more about Loch on Wikipedia). And for a traveler to the Scottish Highlands, it would seem that the entire region of the Scottish Highlands have a number of such water bodies, and also help in drawing a number of tourists to the region. One of the largest such bodies in the region is Loch Ness, a massive water body that is very deep and hence contains a huge amount of water (Loch Ness on Wikipedia); containing more water than any other such Loch in the British Isles with the deepest point being 230 meters deep. Loch Ness of course is more famous for the apparent (or alleged) presence of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. Sightings have been there for millennia, with the first presence of the monster in the River Ness during the 6th century when Saint Columba ordered the monster to not attack his companion at which the monster drew back. Over the years, especially in the last century, sightings have increased, but no proof has been found even after many attempts to solve the mystery of the monster.

The entrance to the Loch Ness caravan park right next to the Loch (More photos / Print of this photo)

Loch Ness is very beautiful, set amidst some great greenery and with green covered hills on the side. For people wanting to see this beautiful environment and the surroundings, and who are using caravans, this caravan park is a great idea. Set just next to the loch, the image shows the entrance to the Loch along with the greenery.

Trees on the shore of Loch Ness in Fort Augustus (More photos / Print this photo)

A spectacular setting on the shore Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. This is a small settlement, called Fort Augustus, located on the south west end of the Loch. The place is small, with less than a 1000 people and is heavily dependent on tourism. With settings such as the above, a small section of the shore of the Loch, looking extraordinarily beautiful, no wonder you have a lot of visitors to the Loch and its surroundings.

Man kayaking on the water of the Loch Ness (More photos / Print this photo)

Enjoying on the waters of the Loch Ness, in the morning. I wanted to enjoy a view of the Loch in the morning, when there is a slight mist, and there are almost no tourists around. Apparently, this person had a better idea, going kayaking on the water of the Loch in the morning. Obviously, no fear of the Loch Ness monster.

Dolphins frolicking around in the waters off Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea

View of dolphin under the blue water of the Red Sea off Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

A number of bottle nosed dolphins in the waters of the Red Sea off Egypt

A view of dolphins enjoying themselves in the waters of the Red Sea. There are a number of different species of dolphins in the waters of the Red Sea (a thin sea between the main part of Egypt and the Sinai peninsula (also a part of Egypt)). Since many parts of this waterway are protected, the dolphins find shelter here. We were on our way to the coral regions off the tourist city of Sharm el Sheikh and in the middle of the trip, there was a commotion. The people handling the boat told us that there were a number of dolphins to be seen in the water, and our boat (along with other such tourist boats) headed towards them, almost forming a ring around them. Although the dolphins did not do anything other than just generally swim around, it was a great experience to see them like this, and we stayed there till the dolphins submerged and went away one after the other.

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Rubber dhingy next to the tourist boat near the shore of Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea resort of Egypt

Rubber floats (small boats) powered with powerful small engines can be very fast and move easily even in shallow waters. This is such a boat next to a tourist craft. The Egyptian Red Sea coastal city of Sharm el Sheikh is a very popular tourist region, both for the beaches over there, and the coral reefs (which draw people wanting to do snorkeling or do scuba diving). Most of the tourist boats in the region cater to the needs of these tourists who come to visit the various coral reefs in the region (we were taken to 3 such coral reefs, with the ability to do snorkeling at all of them). It was a lot of fun, since in most of the cases, the coral reefs were right at the water level (in fact, it was difficult to move over the coral reef and one had to go by the side of the reef). When we were there, there were a number of such ships and tourists at the coral reefs, and we just joined the others who were also having fun over there.

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Couple sun-bathing on the lower deck of a small yacht used for tourists off the shore of Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

Couple on the lower deck of the yacht off the shore of Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea in Egypt. Sharm El Sheikh sees a large number of tourists from Europe and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months, times when these lands are groaning under the snow and ice of winter while the weather in Sharm el Sheikh is perfect, with sun, beaches and perfect temperature water. Part of the activities at Sharm El Sheikh deals with making a trip to the various coral formations off the shore of Sharm El Sheikh (these are protected areas with restrictions on commercial shipping and fishing in order to preserve the coral formations), and since the journey can take some time, a number of tourists take the time to get some sun. Also, this is one of the few regions of Egypt (which is otherwise a conservative Islamic country) where tourists can wear a bikini or swimwear and not cause raised eyebrows.

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Snorkeling mask, air pipe and life vest at the water surface at Sharm el Sheikh

One of the biggest pleasures of the water at Sharm el Sheikh is the coral reefs. They provide an incredible assortment of reef, colorful and other marine creatures that visitors come a long distance to see. Visitors can do either of 2 activities - they can put on scuba diving equipment and dive to slightly deeper sections and enjoy the marine life there, including the viewing of sharks and dolphins; or you can do snorkeling on the surface near the coral reefs. If you are doing snorkeling and are a beginner, it is recommended that you have the protective gear such as safety vests (unless you are a good swimmer), snorkeling tubes and the goggles (the safety vests are useful for beginners since the water depth can be 15 feet or more, enough to drown you if you are not careful). The photo shows a young man having all these protective equipment and also clutching onto a rubber tube for added safety and flotation. Doing snorkeling and admiring the beauty of the coral reef can be really incredible. We had taken a water proof camera and were able to take a number of shots of the area.

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A view of the sea near Sharm el Sheikh - liked the shine in the sea

The sea near Sharm el Sheikh is very attractive. This was a scene where we were on a tourist ship, heading towards the coral reefs for some snorkeling. This was fairly warm water, and it was fun just standing there and watching the sea pass by while we whizzed by at some speed (not too much speed, but when you are standing on the lower deck and looking at the water going by, it can seem that the water is going by at some speed). There was a shine on the water surface that was pretty interesting, and you can see it in this photo, a shine or glimmer on the surface of the water.

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Head and upper body of a Bottle Nose Dolphin emering from the water in the Red Sea near Sharm el Sheikh

The Red Sea is one of the smaller seas of the world, connecting the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (almost touching the Mediterranean, this connection was made with the construction of the Suez Canal), but has some exceedingly beautiful coral formations in the shallower parts of the Red sea. Portions of these shallower coral formations are found in the Ras Mohammed marine park (a protected stretch of water containing a number of beautiful coral formations). We were on our way to the coral formations from the Sharm el Sheikh coastline in a tour ship run by one of the operators over there, and on the way we came across a pod of Bottle Nose dolphins; coming across this pod was a treat and we spent some time around the location of these dolphins (along with many other ships that also landed up in the area) until the dolphins made their move and got out of the area.

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A submerging bottle nose dolphin in the Red Sea off the coast of Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

A Bottle nose dolphin, with the body of the dolphin almost fully submerged. The only part of the dolphin visible above water was the fin of the dolphin, which had not yet gone below water. This was one of the dolphins that were part of a small pod of dolphins (not sure about the size of the pod since we could see only 3 dolphins at the max at any point of time). This was off the shore of the tourist town of Sharm el Sheikh at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. Control of the town has tossed between Egypt and Israel twice over the past 60 years, but now is fully under control of Egypt. Over the past 40 years, there has been a concerted effort to promote tourism in Sharm, especially related to the waters of the Red Sea along with the incredible coral formations in the region that attract snorkeling and scuba diving. While on the way to the coral formations, we came across this pod of Dolphins, providing a fascinating beginning to the trip. It was not only us, in front of us, there was another ship that had spotted this pod, and our ship and many other ships behind us all started circling the pod of dolphins until they tired of all the attraction and dived under the water.

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Bottle nose dolphin above water in the Red Sea off the shore of Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

One of the prime attractions of the tourist town of Sharm el Sheikh is the sea, the Red Sea. Sharm el Sheikh is located at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula, and control of the Sinai was transferred between Israel and Egypt after 2 wars in the region. During the control of Israel of the Sinai, there were efforts made to ensure that tourism in the region was developed; this was continued after the Sinai was returned back to Egypt where the efforts to develop tourism was continued and there was the demarcation of the Ras Mohammed marine park as a protected area, in order to ensure that there was no fishing in the area, no commercial shipping, nothing that could impact the coral formations in the area. These coral formations now form the backbone of tourism in the area, since the coral reefs and their colorful fish attract snorkeling and scuba diving; further in the Red Sea there are multiple variety of dolphins. While heading to the coral formations, we were lucky to to come across a small school of dolphins and were able to see these dolphins at fairly close quarters for a few minutes before they decided to submerge and vanished from view.

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Bottle nose dolphin in the Red Sea off Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

The main attraction in the Sharm el Sheikh and other Egyptian resorts on the Red Sea is the water and the weather. Temperate weather all year ensures that people flock here during holiday season in other regions, especially in Europe and Russia. Sharm el Sheikh is easily accessible with a large number of people arriving her through charter flights, and through other airlines as well. Once here, you can relax in resorts, enjoy the water of the beaches (fairly long beaches). The other attraction of the location is the coral formations located fairly close to Sharm el Sheikh, primarily in the Ras Mohammed marine park (a protected marine habitat where fishing and commercial traffic are banned, where people are prohibited from feeding fish and also from picking up any coral); tourists head there in yachts and small ships run by tour operators to do snorkeling and scuba diving (snorkeling is done in places which are shallow while scuba diving is done in places that are deeper). While on the way to the coral formations, we encountered something which was incredible. We came across a small school of bottle nose dolphins, and soon there were a number of ships all around these dolphins, with cameras out in full and people admiring the view. However, after around 15 minutes, they dived and were soon out of view.

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Tourists relaxing on the deck of a yacht in the Red Sea off Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

The Red Sea is a fairly narrow sea compared to other seas or oceans, being bounded by Asia on one side and Africa on the other side and being a channel that goes through them. In addition, the parts near the tourist town of Sharm el Sheikh are even narrower, and there are a number of coral formations near Sharm, with these coral formations attracting a large number of tourists. The Red Sea can be very deep in parts, with an average depth of 490m, but is also famous for some shallow regions that have coral formations. These coral formations provide a magnet for tourism in the region, since the shallower coral formations let tourists enjoy snorkeling while the slightly deeper coral formations and reefs providing an extensive location to enjoy scuba diving. Tourists are taken to the site of these coral formations in the Ras Mohammed park (declared protected locations to prevent shipping and to prevent the creation of resorts nearby) through the use of yachts or small ships such as can be seen in this photo. The temperate weather also ensures that getting into the water is not a problem throughout the year.

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Small ship heading towars the coral formations off Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea in Egypt

This is a familiar sight off the waters of Sharm El Sheikh (located near the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in the Red Sea in Egypt). The water here is great, and the temperate weather of the region ensures a steady inflow of tourists (there are a number of tourists who come here through charter flights from Europe, especially in winter where the weather in large parts of Europe is very cold). This is a photo from February, and as you can see, the temperature seems just fine. Off the shore of Sharm el Sheikh, at a short distance, there are a number of coral formations that draw tourist to them for the purpose of snorkeling and scuba diving (for shallow areas, it is snorkeling, while for deeper waters, it is scuba diving). The coral ensures that the marine life over there is rich and vivid, and yet the amount of danger is very low. Tourists are taken to these coral formations through small ships and yachts, and what you see in this photo is one such ship carrying tourists. It is a lot of fun, with the experience of the ship also being something that a number of people may not have experienced.

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Blue water and limestone cliffs at the Red Sea off the shore of Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

The waters off Sharm el Sheikh can be really beautiful. Sharm el Sheikh is located near the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula, and boasts of some great weather (and more importantly for tourists, the weather here remains temperate during the freezing and icy winter months for Europe and North America). The sea coast here is extended and provides some great sun and tanning for tourists. The location of Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai peninsula, on the Red Sea is very strategic. As a result of this location, Sharm was developed as a naval base by the Egyptian army, and was also conquered twice by the Israelis during the combat with their neighbors; and was returned to the Egyptians as part of peace settlements. For the past 40+ years, the Egyptians have been developing Sharm el Sheikh as a tourist location, and the water, the shore line, and the coral formations make this a much visited tourist location. Tourists from all over come here, including many who come here but do not visit the monuments of ancient Egypt.

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Multiple ships heading out from Sharm port to the coral formations in the Red Sea in Egypt

Sharm el Sheikh is a town located near the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. The town is fairly recent in importance, with the strategic history of the town only being present for the past few decades. Starting near the 1950's, the strategic location of the town meant that the Egyptian navy started using it as a base; and then in the 1956 war with Israel it was captured and then released back to the Egyptians in 1957. Similarly, in the 1973 war, the Sinai was captured and was released back to Egypt in 1982 as part of the peace agreement. Over a period of time, the town was developed into a tourist location, helped by the long stretches of beach, the great weather, and the incredible coral formations in the sea. These coral formations in turn help develop an incredible environment of different types of fish, which has been used by the Government to drive the whole area as a tourism magnet, especially related to snorkeling and scuba diving. A large number of ships head out to the coral formations on a daily basis, taking tourists for their adventures.

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Tourists at the upper level of the small ship at the Red Sea in Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

In previous photos, I have described how these small ships set off from Sharm el Sheikh to the coral formations where tourists can go off for snorkeling or scuba diving. For tourists who have come in from Europe or North America and are shivering from the cold in their native lands in winter, the weather in Sharm el Sheikh was great. In winter, you can easily get into the waters of the Red Sea without any issue, the water temperature is great. One of the prime attractions of Sharm el Sheikh are the coral formations, located at a short distance from the port of Sharm. These coral formations are grouped together into a marine park, declared to be a protected environment by the Egyptian Government to ensure that the wonderful formations created over here over the millenia don't get disturbed due to shipping (one oil slick in the region could end up spoiling large sections of coral). Tourists are welcome in this region, but the operators are given strict instructions over how to ensure conservation; tourists are taken close to the coral formations in small ships such as the one in the photo and then are taken from there by a guide.

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Ships around a dolphin in the waters of the Red Sea around Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

One of the most interesting aspects of going to Sharm el Sheikh (located near the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in east Egypt) is the presence of the Red Sea. The Red Sea and the coral formations found nearby provide this place with a great deal of beauty (besides of course providing an excellent climate which attracts a large number of tourists when their own countries are in the grip of cold winters). These coral formations are now under the protection of the Egyptian Government with no development allowed nearby, control of marine traffic in these areas, and a tourist driven economy that has a significant stake in ensuring that the coral reserves and marine life in the area remain in a protected condition. Tourists make the journey from the shore to the coral formations through small ships or yachts, and it takes some amount of time. In one such trip, one of the ships detected a small school of dolphins and went close, which meant that soon there were a number of such ships that were around the dolphins, showing them off to the admiring tourists on board.

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Small ship loaded with tourists heading off towards the coral formations in the Red Sea off Sharm el Sheikh

When you see images of Sharm el Sheikh, you mostly see photos of water. After all, the major attraction of this tourist town on the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula is that it provides a lot of water for tourists to enjoy. Tourists come here for the excellent temperate weather (imagine that it is January or February in Europe, very cold, and you see this incredible place that is not cold or hot, where you can enter the water of the sea), some great beaches, and a lot of attention paid to finding locations where you can do scuba diving or snorkeling (the coral formations provide an environment for a lot of beautiful colored fish, providing ideal locations for snorkeling in shallower waters, and providing great locations for scuba diving when the water is deeper). There are a number of small ships and yachts that serve to take tourists to these locations, providing facilities for eating and drinking while on the path to these coral formations, and then being the base when indulging in snorkeling or scuba diving.

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Float marking a point in the Red Sea off the town of Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

Sharm el Sheikh is a major tourist attraction on the shore of the Red Sea, near the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. This is different from the rest of the towns that attract tourists in Egypt, most of which are geared towards showcasing the tremendous historical heritage of ancient Egypt, the structures created by the pharaohs from 35-45 centuries back. Those highlight the architecture from those times, and are the ones that also draw most of the tourists. Sharm is more important that it provides a different sort of tourist experience, and the way that we had structured our trip was that we spent the major part of our trip seeing and admiring the monuments of ancient Egypt (and some of those monuments are indeed incredible, such as when you stand in front of the Pyramids, you admire the incredible size and magnificence of such an immense structure), and then we would head over to Sharm el Sheikh (either by road or by flight) where it was all about fun and recreation (and it was indeed fun, especially the snorkeling in those coral formations). This is a photo of a float which we passed by while on a small tourist ship along with other tourists, heading towards the coral formations. I don't know the purpose of this float, but it could be a milestone in the water.

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