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Visiting Alien Landscapes of World

The idea vacation builds an image of beaches, sun and amazing architecture. How about using your vacation to travel to a different planet,  or at least an alien landscape?  We take you on an amazing ride to some of the most unreal landscapes here on Earth, but appear to be transplanted from a different world.

Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat is located in southwest Bolivia. Salar de Uyuni steadily attracts tourists from all around the world. As it is located far from the cities, a number of hotels have been raised in the area over the years.
The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness. The salt desert surrounded by cacti, volcanoes and geysers looks as if it was a remote planet, far from our solar system.

Rio Tinto River

The Río Tinto meaning the “Painted River” is in southwestern Spain that originates in the Sierra Morena mountains of Andalusia. Since ancient times, a site along the river has been mined for copper, silver, gold and other minerals. As a result of the mining, Río Tinto is notable for being very acidic and its deep reddish hue is due to iron dissolved in the water. It doesn’t look human-friendly but it is definitely worth visiting this amazing unreal landscape.

Socotra

Socotra or Soqotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. It is very isolated, and through the process of speciation, a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth. Hyperbolic plants and funky-looking trees can be great inspiration for vacationers looking for an alien experience. The island is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 km from Somalia and 340 km from Yemen and has been isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years.

Blood Pond Hot Springs

Located in Beppu, a city on the island of Japan, it feels like the set of a sci-fi movie when you visit Blood Pond Hot Springs. The high iron content turns the waters a deep, unsettling red and the effect is magnified by the steam that rolls off the surface. Perhaps it’s the effect and appearance that earns it the name of “Hell” by the locals.

Air France has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380. The French carrier is the first European airline to fly the all-new double-deck aircraft on scheduled services. The aircraft is the twentieth A380 delivered by Airbus.The aircraft was handed over in a delivery ceremony in Hamburg, Germany.  At the ceremony Air France unveiled its spacious and comfortable cabin, featuring 538 seats in a three class configuration (nine First, 80 Business and 449 Voyageur Economy). The cabin features innovative mood lighting with several different lighting scenarios to create a calm atmosphere and environment for its passengers.

The new Air France A380 is the 20th A380 delivered by Airbus – 10 are already flying with Singapore, five with Emirates and four with Qantas. These aircraft are connecting four continents on 13 major international routes. Today 12 major international hub-airports around the world regularly welcome the A380 including: Auckland, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.

Paris is a city I have visited over and over and each time I go I find something new to see. It is a timeless city and one that should be on every itinerary. Brush up on some polite French phrases before you go; the people are wonderful but far more welcoming if you do make the effort to speak in French.

The city of Paris has a charm and feel all its own. Many people choose it for a romantic getaway but for me the real romance is the city itself. Since there are so many things to experience we’ll start with one of my favorite subjects, food.

You can never go wrong when eating in Paris. From the bakery for various types of breads and croissants to the pastry shop for goodies and cakes there are an overwhelming number of choices. Waste away an afternoon at a small café with outdoor seating and sip a café crème while watching Parisians stroll by. For dinner be sure to try a traditional salad Nicoise, a plate of French cheeses and a nice bottle of wine.

If museums are your focus then there are plenty to choose from. One museum not to miss for the art lover is the Louvre with over 35,000 items on display. The Winged Victory of Samothrace from 190 B.C. and Da Vinci’s famed Mona Lisa are all found here. Almost as amazing as the art inside the museum is the art of the museum itself. The glass pyramid and surrounding courtyard make a lovely backdrop of old and new for an afternoon rest.

Smaller venues with more focused collections are the Musee D’Orsay, Musee National Du Moyen Age and the Picasso Museum. With all the museums in the city there’s something for everyone.

Although the metro system is fantastic, a great way to see the famous sights is by foot. Take a long stroll from the Louvre through the Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde and along the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Along the way you can enjoy the many ritzy shops, elaborate car dealerships and outdoor restaurants. Use the underground tunnel to reach the Arc de Triomphe to avoid the traffic around the roundabout. After the Arc de Triomphe, take a stroll down Avenue Kleber to the Trocadero for a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower. Then head across the River Seine to the Eiffel Tower. With three different viewing platforms the views are nothing short of spectacular.

Other worthy sights include the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame. The architecture of the cathedral itself is stunning along with the sheer size. Inside be sure not to miss the three rose windows. The Sacred Heart Basilica in Montmartre is beautiful and well worth a visit even if you simply sit on the steps outside and soak in the atmosphere.

The best part about Paris is the feeling I always get when I visit. I’m overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and the people. It is a city that is hard to describe but one that I find myself visiting over and over. Visit Paris and see for yourself the unmistakable lure of the city and its people.

You can visit me at Blogging Mama – http://bloggingmama-andrea.blogspot.com

All text and pictures are copyright by Andrea White

If you are an architecture interested traveler who gets fascinated by rising skyscrapers, towers that defy gravity and buildings that reflect human intelligence and smartness, then perhaps this post is going to fascinate you further.
Get a travel deal to these modern cities as we take you on a joy-ride of some most amazing human creations.

Reichstag Dome

There could be no better icon than the Reichstag dome to express unity of two countries. The current Reichstag Dome is an iconic glass dome constructed on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building in Berlin, capital of Germany.
The dome was designed by architect Norman Foster and built to symbolize the reunification of Germany. A mirrored cone in the center of the dome directs sunlight into the building. The dome open to public can be reached by climbing two steel, spiraling ramps that are reminiscent of a double-helix.

Shard London Bridge

Renzo Piano, the project’s architect, has compared his design to “a shard of glass” – he considers the slender, spire-like form of the tower a positive addition to the London skyline. Shard London Bridge, also known as London Bridge Tower and The Shard is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Southwark, London.
When completed in 2012 it will be the tallest building in the United Kingdom and one of the tallest buildings in Europe.

Torre Agbaris

As per the architect Jean Nouvel inspired by Montserrat, a mountain near Barcelona, Torre Agbaris a 33-story tower at Placa de les Glories Catalanes in Barcelona, Spain. It opened in June 2005 and was inaugurated officially by the King of Spain on 16 September 2005.
Its design combines a number of different architectural concepts, resulting in a striking structure built with reinforced concrete, covered with a facade of glass and over 4,500 window openings cut out of the structural concrete.

City of the Arts and the Sciences

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is an entertainment-based cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia. The architecture showcases innovative bridges and buildings whose graceful, sculptural qualities disguise their rigorous engineering.
Designed by Calatrava, the buildings clearly show resemblance to Mother Nature. You are likely to find elements that will remind you of wingspans, fossils and other vertebrae.

With these sky altering projects there’s no question that sensational new architecture would definitely get you excited enough to get on a plane.

Welcome guest blogger, JTrek, and thank you for this personal look at a trip on the Trans-Siberian.

Sleep isn’t coming. My left earplug’s come out again, and I’m putting both of them away. While I try to rearrange the covers on my upper bunk with my feet, I shove my pillow to one side to see out the compartment window a little better. At first I think we’re going through a tunnel, but then realize the sun still hasn’t risen. I fumble for my pants, and pull the cell phone out of my pocket to check the time. 3:37am. Maybe. We’d crossed one time zone yesterday morning and then yet another in the afternoon, and figuring out whether we’d done it again would have taken effort. My phone hadn’t automatically updated its clock since Australia, so I’d just set it to Moscow time. I realize water is in order, reach down for my nalgene knock-off and drink.

Two hours later, I wake up again, still not knowing what time it really is. I take a quick survey of the compartment. Across from me in the upper bunk, the 26-year-old Russian father is asleep, shirtless without any covers, and making an odd squeaking noise with his mouth I’d only heard one or two people pull off, conscious or unconscious. His 22-year-old wife is asleep on the bunk below him, as was their 3-year-old son, who is buck naked. Across from them on the bunk below mine is the new guy, fully clothed, no covers, asleep on his face. He looks like just like stereotypical drunk out of a Charlie Chaplin movie. I can no longer smell him on account of having been in the cabin far longer than the 5 minutes it takes for the human nose to ignore existing smells. Same with the smoked omul fish. propped open by toothpicks on the table for the last three days, though we might have eaten all those last night. The fish, not the toothpicks. Actually, after the amount of vodka consumed by all present, I can only really speak for myself on that point.

Where did my shirt go? I switch to clean underwear under the covers, pull on my pants and clean socks and start digging around my bunk and the crawlspace at the end where I’d stashed my bag and food. I’d already had one t-shirt disappear on me in the last couple days, and had left another shirt with a couchsurfing host to dry who then couldn’t return it (though she’s going to meet me with it in Moscow on her way to Turkey). This means I have only one shirt left, the one I’ve been wearing. I guess I could go with my sweater if… where did my sweater go? I find the shirt under my bag and behind my last couple packets of noodles, but the sweater isn’t anywhere so obvious. The shirt isn’t smelling so good, so I get my drain plug, laundry detergent, and towel, and pat myself on the back again for having the sense to pack quick-dry clothing.

On my way to the bathroom, I run into Gareth, an engineer living in Holland. He is normally a fun and overwhelmingly positive guy. He does not look fun or overwhelmingly positive this morning. He tries to say good morning and ask how I am, and succeeds on the second or third try. “Dude, I really have to go to the bathroom.” he says. The bathroom is occupied, but when it opens up, I let him go in first. Afterwards, he gets out a “later man” and goes back to the compartment with his other Portuguese friends to nurse the hangover from the Russian hospitality we were poured last night, mostly by the family of three.

I go in, scrub the bathroom sink a bit, plug it, fill with water, add detergent, take off my shirt and drop it in. I sit down to actually use the toilet while the shirt soaks. Someone raps sharply on the door. I rap sharply back. I think I know who it is– the ernourmous lady cabin attendant locks the doors of the bathroom a few minutes before we stop at each station, and the train might be slowing down a bit. A minute later, I’m not quite done, and someone shakes the handle. I shake it back. I hear the attendant shouting something in Russian. The lock turns. I jam my foot in the door and turn it back, angrily yelling a two of the few words in Russian I learned from a play in college- Pazhaulsta (please) and Padazhdee (wait), adding a few choice phrases under my breath in English and Spanish. I flush, wash my hands, and start trying to rinse the shirt. The door is unlocked from the outside again, and this time since I have pants on, but no shirt, I allow it to open a crack. My favorite attendant yells something more at me in Russian, and I ignore her. I wring the shirt out, ignoring more yelling, and finally step out, shirtless, into the hallway, rolling the shirt up in my towel to dry, thinking of a very short list of words that rhyme with “witch.”

I put the shirt back on, only a slightly damp, and walk back to my cabin to hang the wet towel up above my bunk. I get my tupperware container, oatmeal and jam. I look around for the spoon and realize it’s in the cup they were using for vodka, then beer. I’m not sure what they’ve done with it while I’m gone, so I first search for the one spoon I packed deep in my tool kit with the vague idea it will be useful. Nowhere to be found. So I take the tiny plastic fork that came with a large bowl-of-instant-noodles. There’s a tap on my shoulder. The father is offering me a bottle of beer. Again. I break Russian protocol and turn it down. Not for breakfast, thank you. I put some oatmeal and jam in the container and exit to the hallway again.

I fill the container with boiling water from the samovar at the end of the cabin, and go to say hello to Allison, a traveler from Hawaii, standing in the hallway. “That lady is mean!” she said, nodding at the attendant’s cabin. I agree, and wonder aloud why the train company hires an attendant who is as wide as the train hallways. Allison tells stories of her trying to read in the hallway when the attendant walk up and down, squeezing past and touching a lot of things she didn’t want to touch.

The sun has just risen and the train has just stopped at this point. I feel another tap on my shoulder, and am a little surprised to see another doctor and nurse behind me. Rita, one of the four Portugese travelers, got sick yesterday, and despite our telling them that, Alice, another one of the four, was a doctor, they insisted on calling a doctor to be at the next station, who came in, speaking only Russian, and throwing everyone else out of the compartment. This happened twice. Gareth yesterday said he thought it was remarkably thoughtful of them and showed excellent service and attention. But this time, with the doctor rapping on the door at hangover o’clock in the morning, I don’t think he, or anyone else inside, is quite so happy.

After the fouth tap the compartment door slowly slides open and the doctor says Dobbrey ootro (good morning). Then comes a lot of talking in Russian.

“Izviniche! (excuse me)” I call to the doctor, “Nipanimayu paruski! (They don’t understand Russian)” I am ignored. More talking in Russian.

“Joel?” Gareth calls over “Can you translate some Paruski for us?” I come over and repeat myself. The doctors then turn to me and start speaking very fast in Russian. My skill with the language comes from a play I did in college where half my lines were in Russian, most of which I’ve forgotten, and much of the rest not being very useful, like “your flock” and “I have a Russian soul.” My vocabulary fits on half a piece of paper, I checked. So I have no idea what the doctors are saying. But when they start pointing from bunk to bunk, I hazard a guess.

“I think they want to know who was sick.” Gareth points to Rita, and I step back. A few seconds later, everyone except the patient is thrown out. First Gareth, leaning against the wall, then Alice, staring out the window, still wearing eyeliner from yesterday, and then João, stepping out with his classic deadpan expression, wearing a polo shirt, socks, and boxers with sharks and yellow fish. I want to take a photo, but I’m not that mean.

The doctors leave a couple minutes later, satisfied. Gareth comes over with his big smile,

“Okay, I’m awake now! Before, I wasn’t doing so good, but no I can talk to somebody again!” I look from Alice, who is still staring out the window and not responding to noises, to Rita, still slightly sick, to her boyfriend, who still has no pants, and wonder which one feels like talking with Gareth.

The train begins to move. I go over to the samovar to get boiling water to wash out the tupperware container, then back to the other end to the bathroom. It’s still locked. So I exit the car and crouch on the space between the two cars, swishing the boiling water and scraping off bits of oatmeal, dumping the mix onto the moving tracks between cars. The attendant attendant opens the door, and gives me funny look number five million and sixteen before closing the door again.

Back to my compartment. The whole family is now awake. The mother gives me a huge smile, says dobrey ootro, and the kid resumes his favorite game of grabbing me by the pantleg and giggling. I say dobrey ootro back, get my toothbrush and toothpaste, gently detach myself from the kid, and go back out towards the bathroom, finding Alice waiting outside.

She asks me if I won the poker game I’d been pulled into with the Scottish, Spanish, and Australian guys late last night. My mouth is full of foam and toothpaste, so I just gave her a thumbs up to say yes. After the bathroom opens, I spit and clarify that I was in the final four when the restaurant staff had reclaimed their pile of bottle caps, leaving us without any chips. But still, I’d done pretty well.

On my way back, I run into someone in the hallway, I forget who, and they ask me if I’m going back to sleep. I tell them no, I am going to get my laptop and write up what had just happened in the morning for my blog.

And that’s exactly what I do.

“Say Cheese”

Scientists at Cornell University analyzed nearly 35 million geo-tagged Flickr uploads collected by more than 300,000 photographers to come up with exclusive list of “Most Photographed Monuments”.

The Empire State Building

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is the number one on the list of U.S. top 100 most photographed landmarks. Part of Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the building has been a favored subject for photographers since construction began in 1930. The 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York City stood as the world’s tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center’s North Tower was completed in 1972.

The Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center

With an astounding 3,626 photographers clicking 20,688 photos, The Rockefeller Center in New York City is number 2 on the list of most photographed monuments. Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st streets in New York City. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan.

Times Square

Times Square

The close third on the list of most photographed landmarks is Times Square in New York. Popularly known as known as the “Crossroads of the World,” Times Square has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and has become a symbol of New York City. The landmark is principally defined by its spectaculars, animated, digital advertisements.

Cloud Gate

Cloud Gate

Cloud Gate, a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. The landmark is fourth highly photographed landmark on the list of 100 monuments. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed The Bean because of its legume-like shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams.

Grand Central Station

Grand Central Station

Another entry from New York in the Top 5 is Grand Central Station. Built by and named for the New York Central Railroad in the heyday of American long-distance passenger trains, it is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms: 44, with 67 tracks along them. They are on two levels, both below ground, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower.

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Try something new this Halloween with a trip to one of these unique haunted destinations!

Seattle’s Underground City

Below the streets of Seattle lies the haunted subterranean story of a town that once burned to the ground. Fire fighters fought the blaze and lost. A guided walking tour will share with you the mystery and lore of this underground tragedy. While you roam the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle, Tour Guides regale you with humorous and often risqué stories that you won’t hear anywhere else. It’s history with a twist!

Deadwood, South Dakota

In 1876, the gold camp of Deadwood in Dakota Territory was a rough and tumble gambling town where Wild West legends were made. Today, the entire Black Hills’ town is a National Historic Landmark and is still known for its wild ways. From our gold rush history to our 80 historic gaming halls, Deadwood is the ideal place to release your inner outlaw.

New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans has long been known for its close ties to the paranormal and spiritual. Not only does the French Quarter have a haunted feel, but its history of voodoo curses and paranormal activity are well documented throughout the years.

Neverland Ranch, California

Welcome guest blogger, Lyn Harris from Traveling New Zealand

Surrounded by water, Auckland, New Zealand has much to offer if you like boats, maritime history, or just plain sea life. When you visit this City of Sails, you’ll find water everywhere.

Near the Ferry Berth on Quay and Hobson Streets, the New Zealand Maritime Museum covers Kiwi maritime history from the Maori migration to modern day cup sailing. You can check out the boats, life-sized exhibits, or collection of models and artifacts on a guided tour or poke around on your own with an Audio Guide. If you’d like to get out on the water, the museum’s Ted Ashby sails Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The SS Puke and Breeze sail most weekends.

The waterfront itself is a good place to spend an afternoon. Ferries come and go as well as other interesting boats. My first trip to New Zealand in 1985, I wandered the docks and visited with one of the crew of the damaged Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, which was lashed to the dock. The Rainbow Warrior had been ripped by two bombs killing one crew member, Fernando Pereira. The French government had ordered the bombing. The Rainbow Warrior crew have since scattered around the world. Today, the Rainbow Warrior is a living reef off the Cavalli Islands in Northland.

Probably the only place you’ll find snow and ice in Auckland is Kelly Tarlton’s Under Water World. South of Central Auckland on Tamaki Drive, you can time travel back to visit a life-size replica hut of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, the South Pole explorer. Then, visit a penguin colony in an antarctic snow cat. In Underwater World, you can view the sea life while traveling through a clear tunnel on a moving walkway. If you want a closer view of the sharks, you can get nose to nose with one. A professional dive instructor will help you meet the sharks. You’ll get a lot wetter than you would on a ride through the tunnel, so bring a towel.

Maybe you don’t want to rub noses with a fish, but you’d still like to get a little sand in your shorts and meet new friends. November to March each year, Auckland’s Stroke & Stride Series invites locals and visitors to enter one or all of eight swim/run events. Swim in Waitemata Harbour Bay then run along Auckland’s waterfront dripping salt water– and maybe win a prize.

You’re never far from water in Auckland, so dig into New Zealand maritime history, take a boat trip, or at least take off your shoes and get your feet wet.

Rugby is a world wide known sport. It’s not the most famous international sport but it is well known in many countries. Rugby was developed in different areas of the United Kingdom and is divided into 2 categories. One is Rugby League and the other is Rugby Union. The Rugby Union is divided into 3 unions of different countries, made up of both professionals and armature players. The 1^st union is made up of Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. The 2^nd and 3^rd are made up of Canada, Chile, Georgia, Japan, Namibia, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Tonga, United States and Uruguay. The Rugby League is also made up of players who are professionals and armatures but the difference is that Rugby League is administrated on a Global stage. The countries include the same as the Rugby union but also consist of, Russia and Lebanon and across Europe and Australasia. There are two major professional competitions worldwide within the Rugby League; there is the Australasian National Rugby League and then the European Super League.

Rugby is sport that was known back in the day to be played by only thugs and hooligans. You would find people from the upper class in private schools and people from the middle class to play in the Rugby Union. In the Rugby League on the other hand, is pursued by working and the middle class. Rugby is played worldwide but you can mainly find it being played all the time in Europe, especially France. You can watch Rugby being played in Australia, South America, New Zealand and many other countries. Countless people travel to watch the playoffs of rugby. Just like Fifa Soccer, the public travel nationwide just to watch rugby matches.

Rugby is played at a fast pace with hardly any time stoppages at all and nonstop possession of the ball. The Field on which Rugby is played on is quiet similar to the soccer field in length but instead of goals they have huge H shaped crossbar on each side. The Ball used, is made out of leather and comes in different sizes (3, 4 & 5) depending on youths and adults. 15 players per team are allowed to play on the field. As general rules, the players have to run with the ball constantly just like soccer but this is with ball in hand. Unlike football there are no yards that need to be covered. You just have to make it to the opponents end and score in either 1 of the following 4 ways.

Try: Touching the ball on the opponents ground of the goal area wins 5 points.

Conversion: Following the try, the players have to kick it between the H shaped crossbars, if succeeded they win 2 points.

Penalty Kick: Kick the ball for 3 points or just resume the game following a foul.

Drop Goal: Kicking the ball while the game is in plat through the H Crossbars can win you 3 points.

The rules to Rugby are a bit puzzling but if you pay close attention to it you might just become interested. Rugby is considered to be a gender fairness sport as roughly 25% of all players in the United States are female.