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No one is exactly sure why the stone trilithon pictured in our February 2016 mystery photo was built, but one story says it’s likely that the Ha’amonga ‘a Maui (Burden of Maui) was a gateway to the king’s royal compound. It stands near the village of Niuto¯ua on the island of Tongatapu in the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga. Another theory says the trilithon was built to symbolize the brotherhood of the king’s two sons.
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Steam locomotives, royal rail carriages and ephemera are among historical pieces on display at Train World (Princesse Elisabeth 5, 1030 Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium; phone +32 02 224 74 98, www.trainworld.be/en), which opened in Brussels’ Schaerbeek Station on Sept. 25, 2015.
The museum is dedicated to Europe’s primary mode of long-distance transportation since 1835, when the continent’s first railway line was completed, connecting Mechelen and Brussels, Belgium.
In Santiago, Chile, Sky Costanera, the highest man-made lookout point in South America, opened in August 2015 at the top of the Gran Torre Santiago building at the Costanera Center (Avenida Andrés Bello 2425, Providencia, Santiago, Chile; phone +562 29169200, www.skycostanera.cl/en/start). At 300 meters, Gran Torre Santiago is the second-tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere.
In post-WWI Ljubljana, Slovenian architect Jože Plecnik designed and built many city landmarks in a neoclassic Greek style. Six works have been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status, including, in Ljubljana, his promenade and bridges on the Ljubljanica River, the National & University Library, the Church of St. Francis, the Church of St. Michael and the Garden of All Saints in Žale Cemetery.
The city of Kyoto, Japan, released an online “Akimahen (Do Not) of Kyoto” visual etiquette guide for visitors, warning that “Kyoto-ites are pretty fastidious!” Behaviors listed are each given an “Akimahen rate,” expressed in frowning faces. Tipping is ranked at one slightly frowning face (instead of tipping, one should say “O¯kini”), while smoking in an undesignated area ranks three angry frowning faces.
A German “Enigma” coding machine used in WWII is among more than 1,000 items at the Spy Museum Berlin (Leipziger Platz 9, 10117 Berlin, Germany; phone +49 30 206 203 54, www.deutsches-spionagemuseum.de/en), which opened in September 2015.
With over 28 miles of trails through Cape Pillar, Cape Hauy and Cape Raoul in southeastern Tasmania, the Three Capes Track (for Tasmanian Parks Department, phone +61 1300 827 727, www.threecapestrack.com.au) opened on Dec. 21, 2015.
Only 48 hikers per day are allowed, and they all must follow a set, 4-day, 3-night journey. Treks must be booked ahead and are recommended only for people who can walk at least four hours a day.
In Kakadu National Park, on the northern coast of Australia’s Northern Territory, the “Algohgarrng Experience” is a stargazing billabong cruise from Kakadu Tourism (Kakadu National Park, Australia; phone +61 8 8979 1500, wwwkakadu tourism.com).
Lasting 1½ hours and lit only by the stars, the cruise is guided by an indigenous member of the Kakadu clan, who will share his people’s stories of the night sky. It runs during the dry season (June-September). AUD90 (near $66) per person. On the website, under “TOURS & ACTIVITIES,” click “Yellow Water Cruises.”
In Lapland, Sweden, the Aurora Sky Station (STF Abisko Mountain Station, SE-981 07 Sweden; phone +46 980 402 00, www.auroraskystation.com/en), located in Abisko National Park, north of the Arctic Circle, offers great winter views of the northern lights, when they’re active.