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World's Tallest Dog

2009-12-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

Standing at nearly 43 inches tall from paw to shoulder and weighing a staggering 245lbs could this be the world's new tallest dog? Pictured here in the parks of Tuscon, Arizona, George, a four-year-old blue great dane, looks more like a miniature horse than a dog. More images after a break.......
'Giant George' and owner Dave Nasser share a couch together: The four-year-old blue great dane, weighs a staggering 245lbs and measures almost 43ins at the shoulder. The gentle giant, who measures 7ft 3ins from nose to tail, could be a prime contender to take the title from the former record holder, Gibson, a harlequin Great Dane who passed away from cancer last August.

Now George's owners, David and Christine Nasser, are awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records to see if he has achieved the lofty heights.

'He's 42.625 inches at the shoulder,' said David. 'He's very very unique.'

According to David, George consumes 110lbs of food every month, and sleeps alone in his own Queen Size Bed. David and Christine raised George from when he was 7 weeks old, but never expected him to grow so big.

Magnificent: George measures more than 7ft from nose to tail and tucks away 110lbs of food every month

With size comes problems: The giant great dane barely fits in the back of his owner's SUV

The couple eventually had to move their aptly named dog out of their king sized bed, when he grew too large for the three of them to share the same sheets.

Dr. William Wallace of the Buena Pet Clinic in Tucson, who witnessed the documentation necessary for the Guinness record, said: 'In my 45 years of experience working with giant breed dogs, without question, George is the tallest dog I have ever seen.'

David is currently rushing to get that necessary documentation into Guinness as other dog owners are coming forth claiming the record. As they wait for the results to come through, George is busy occupying himself with his new found stardom and even has a Facebook fan page and Twitter accounts for his adorning fans. It appears as though the sky's the limit for this mammoth hound.

Paws for thought: George's giant feet dwarf his owner Dave Nassar's hand. Last August the worldís tallest dog, Gibson, a harlequin Great Dane, passed away from cancer

Via Link

Bull Frog Vs Sparrow

2009-12-25T06:28:00.000-08:00

Spectacular captures of the American Bullfrog preying on an unlucky sparrow. Growing up to a length of 20 centimeters or 7.9 inches, the bullfrog preys on any animal that it can overpower and stuff down its throat. Their stomachs have been found to contain rodents, small turtles, snakes, frogs including bullfrogs and birds of course. Ambush predators as they are known for, the bullfrog can be seen submerging large preys (in this case the sparrow) into the water to cut their air supply and defense. Check out the whole sequence of the bullfrog and the unlucky sparrow with 5 more pics after the jump........

Via : Link

The Highest Railways in the World

2009-12-22T06:17:00.000-08:00

Photo (Foto: China Photos/Getty Images)

The Qingzang railway, Qinghai–Xizang railway, or Qinghai–Tibet railway is a high-altitude railway that connects Xining, Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. The total length of Qingzang railway is 1956 km. Construction of the 815 km section between Xining and Golmud was completed by 1984. The 1142 km section between Golmud and Lhasa was inaugurated on 1 July 2006 by president Hu Jintao: the first two passenger trains were "Qing 1" (Q1) from Golmud to Lhasa, and "Zang 2" (J2) from Lhasa.This railway is the first to connect China proper with the Tibet Autonomous Region, which, due to its altitude and terrain, is the last province-level entity in mainland China to have a conventional railway. Testing of the line and equipment started on 1 May 2006. Passenger trains run from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xining and Lanzhou. 54 images after a break.......

The line includes the Tanggula Pass, which, at 5,072 m (16,640 feet) above sea level, is the world's highest rail track. The 1,338 m Fenghuoshan tunnel is the highest rail tunnel in the world at 4,905 m above sea level. It is known as the nearest door to the heaven. The 4,010-m Guanjiao tunnel is the longest tunnel from Xining to Golmod and the 3,345-m Yangbajing tunnel is the longest tunnel from Golmod to Lhasa. More than 960 km, or over 80% of the Golmud-Lhasa section, is at an altitude of more than 4,000 m. There are 675 bridges, totalling 159.88 km, and about 550 km of the railway is laid on permafrost. Text Via Link

Photos Via Link

The Largest Pair of Jeans Ever

2009-12-22T05:45:00.000-08:00

Seamstresses in Peru decided to get to the Guinness World Record for the largest pair of jeans ever. The pair of jeans measures 141 feet tall and 98 feet wide and weighs in at 7.5 tons. The current record is held by the city of Medellin in Columbia. That pair was 114 feet tall and 82 feet wide. It sounds like they are just waiting for their record setting jeans to be accepted by Guinness. There wasn’t a Guinness representative present, but a notary who can send documentation to the group was. The pants will be recycled as backpacks for school children. [via DamnCoolPics] More images after a break.......

Expensive Art

2009-12-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

All right, I understand everything: it is art, it is beautiful etc…

but why, why did they have to waste so much money? Please dont ...? More images after a break....

Four Enormous - Eerie Hands

2009-12-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

For many reasons there are hundreds if not thousands of large outdoor hand sculptures around the world, the majority of which seem to be reaching towards the sky in an attempt to escape life below ground. I'm a big fan of all things creepy so thought I'd show you 4 of the best examples. Here they are.

Mano del Desertio

Image Credit: Wikipedia

The 11 metre tall Mano del Desertio can be found protruding from the sand in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and has been standing alone since 1992 when it was inaugurated. Made from a combination of iron and cement, the huge hand was designed and built by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, the man also behind 'The Drowned', seen below.

The Drowned

Image Credit: Patricia Soransso

Designed by Mario Irarrázabal in 1982, Then Drowned was initially built as a warning to sunbathers about the dangers of drowning in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and I can imagine the sculpture definitely keeping people away from the water. The piece of art was so well received by the public that Irarrázabal went on to make hand sculptures in Chile, Venice and Spain.

Somewhere in Saskatoon

Image Credit: SummachPhoto

I've found it extremely difficult to uncover any information about this extremely creepy hand's exact whereabouts, but what I do know is that it can be found somewhere in Saskatoon, Canada, quite near the University. I've no idea of the sculptor's identity. Regardless, it's incredibly eerie.

Hand of Harmony

Image Credit: Rhinosaurus

The Hand of Harmony is just one of many sculptures on Homigot Beach in South Korea but is also the most widely recognised. The hand is made from bronze and granite, was built in 1999 and apparently is meant to symbolise 'continuing efforts of all Korean citizens to pursue a better quality of life'.

The Mystery of Qin Shi Huangdis Mausoleum

2009-12-14T05:17:00.000-08:00

1. The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huangdi / Photo from Fraggle Rockstar

The tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China is loaded with historical significances. This mausoleum, which is seen as the epitome of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi’s boundless power and prestige is located 30 km to the outside of X’ian in the Shensi province of China. Qin Shi Huangdi was the only ruler who single-handedly unified the seven warring clans of the China of 221 BCE and commanded massive construction of several public infrastructures as well as the legendary Great Wall of China.

2. Generales de Qin Shi Huang / Photo from Lezama

The emperor left a written record of his military and diplomatic feats in a series of tablets. He successfully abolished feudalism, promoted religion and divided China into 36 states for an efficient administration. Among the other significant achievements of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi was the standardization of various systems of writing, weights and measures, currencies and the simplification of the record-keeping methods. Despite these progressive works, Qin Shi Huangdi was despotic and tyrannical in his rule.

3. Some of the 7000 Warriors, discovered in 1974. They are guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi near Xi’an, Central China. Known as the “Terra-cotta Army”, the Warriors are now considered the 8th Wonder of the World / Photo from Heaven’s Gate (John)

Interestingly, this great builder ordered the erection of his burial chamber right after his ascension to the throne in 246 BCE when he was just a boy of thirteen! Going by the records about his personal traits, it was rather a contradictory step for Qin Shi Huangdi to take because of his search for an immortality formula to help him eternalize his ‘divine rule’. However, the work completed 36 years after it was started and Qin Shi Huangdi died soon after in 210 BCE to be buried in it.

4. Tomb Warriors exhibit in Epcot’s China Pavillion. / Photo from Damgaard

The discovery of this archeological treasure happened in 1974, when a team of Chinese peasants abruptly came across the tomb while trying to drill a well. What was most striking about this mausoleum was its huge size and the remarkable artworks stored in it. This includes the 8000 life-size army consisting of terracotta statues of men and horses. Because each statue was individually built with 3-inch thick terra-cotta clay, you can distinguish each soldier and horse from another in their unique looks, weaponry and dressing.

5. Terracotta Warriors / Photo from One Daring Armadillo

The warriors are positioned according to the ranks they held in the contemporary time. The different sections of the 8000 troops are distributed in three separate chambers. The first and the largest chamber contains the troop of active duty officers, the second chamber is where the reserves are placed while the third small chamber houses 68 elite commanders and officers. All the soldiers face east to protect the afterlife of Qin Shi Huangdi from possible enemy attacks coming from that direction.

6. Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses – Xian, China. / Photo from Purple Cloud

The mystery of this tomb lies in the fact that the three-chamber terracotta soldier complex forms only 1% of the total mausoleum area. The central section of the 90-feet tall mausoleum building beneath an earthen pyramid is still unexcavated. According to the accounts of Chinese historians and popular legends, this part is mapped as a city, with walls, palaces and cemetery and meant for the use of Qin Shi Huangdi in his luxurious afterlife. The rivers and water bodies are sketched with flowing mercury while the sky is represented by constellations of pearls.

7. Photo from Kiwi Mikex

The underground palace is arguably the most elaborate structure in its grandeur and amenities. It could be an abode of long-buried treasures like precious gems, metals and other wealth. This intricate bronze-lined, waterproof construction extending over four square miles took the labor of 700,000 prisoners of war and slaves for its completion after which they were killed to stop them from divulging the tomb’s secret. To make Qin Shi Huangdi’s second life as pompous as his life on earth, his mistresses were buried alive in this tomb as well.

8. Life after death / Photo from Mernas

Even today the excitement over the mysterious secrets of this sophisticated necropolis has not stopped drawing groups of tourists and intellectuals from the world over. As a tourist, you can freely take a tour to the spot although all the details of its excavations are strictly under Chinese authorities. They are still to dig out treasures and valuables from the womb of Qin Shi Huangdi’s mausoleum. Only when the tomb is opened up completely, the myriad marvelous accounts it has commanded will meet the light of truth.

9. Xi’an – Terracota Warriors / Photo from mseguias (Source)

World's 10 Extraordinary Swimming Pools

2009-12-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

Be it for location, design or size, these pools are more than just enclosed bodies of water intended for swimming - as put in a definition. These extraordinary pools give a whole new meaning to swimming. In some cases you would have to be super rich to dip yourself in the luxurious waters, but a few of them are set in amazing sceneries, open to the public, and quite inexpensive.

1. The Icebergs. Sydney. Australia.

The ocean's waves often break over the side of the Icebergs swimming pool located in the corner of the famed Bondi Beach. This beautiful full-sized 8 lane, 50m swimming pool is open to the public and the fee is only 5 AUD.

The Icebergs in Sydney. By Gary Hayes

The Icebergs. Sydney. By Carlos Lopez Molina

2. The Neptune Pool, Hearst Castle. California, the USA.

Unlike with Icebergs, you would have to be a millionaire to immerse yourself in the waters of the Neptune Pool. The pool, located at Hearst Castle, was originally constructed in 1920s for William Randolph Hearst, an American magnate, and then rebuilt twice.

The Neptune pool. By Hishaam Siddiqi.

The Neptune pool. By Rieh

The Roman pool. By Novembering

3. The Joule Hotel. Dallas, the USA.

This twisting swimming pool projects eight feet over the sidewalk, at the edge of the 10th floor of the Joule Hotel in Dallas. The five-star complex, located in the building since 1927, was designed by a famed architect, Adam D. Tihany.

The Joule Hotel in Dallas.

The Joule Hotel pool. By Bryan.Bmann

The Joule Hotel. By Bryan.Amman

4. The Alila Ubud swimming pool. Bali.

The calm, emerald-green swimming pool is floating above the Ayung River valley in Bali's lush foothills. The pool's home is the Alila Udubu resort, Payangan, a traditional Balinese hill village, near Ubud.

Alila Ubud. By Seanmcgrath

5. Simply a swimming pool. Iceland.

All we know about this swimming pool is that it is located somewhere in Iceland, and to swim in it you have to drive to the farm next door to ask for a key. If you find it, let us know...

Iceland. By iphilipp

Swimming pool. Iceland. By iphilipp

6. San Alfonso del Mar. Algarrobo, Chile.

This is the world's largest swimming pool. It is 1,013 m (3,324 ft) long and has an area of 8 ha (19.77 acre), which is equivalent to 6,000 8-meter-long pools. The water is pumped from the Pacific Ocean, then filtered and treated before it is supplied to the pool.

San Alfonso del Mar. By ervega

San Alfosno del Mar. By Thiago Graça Couto

7. The Gellert Swimming Pool. Budapest, Hungary.

Gellert Baths and Swimming Pool complex looks more like a cathedral than a pool. The famed Budapest's bath was constructed between 1912 and 1918 and it features chic Art Nouveau style. The temperature of water exceeds 40°C (110°F), so visiting the baths is a perfect way to kill the time on a rainy day.

Gellert Swimming Pool in Budapest. By pinkcigarette

8. Harbour Plaza Hotel Swimming Pool. Hong Kong, China.

Harbour Grand Hong Kong, an icon of luxury in Hong Kong, is home to an amazing outdoor swimming pool that sits on the 23th floor of the hotel. The pool, facing the Victoria Harbour, has some truly stunning views of the city's countless skyscrapers.

Harbour Plaza Hotel. By PVCG

9. The Badeschiff. Berlin, Germany.

Badeschiff or "bathing ship" is the most unusual swimming pool in Berlin. It is an old cargo container converted into a pool on Spree River. During the summer it is an outdoor pool with the beach, bar and DJs. In the winter the whole thing is covered, and a few extra saunas are added.

Berlin's swimming pool. By maurizio.mwg

10. The Pimalai Resort swimming pool. Koh Lanta, Thailand.

This amazing swimming pool in Pimalai Resort & Spa on Koh Lanta looks more like some kind of a temple site. In fact, it is a fresh-water, infinity-edge pool, which is set around 50 meters above sea level - so while swimming you can admire the spectacular views of the beach and the sea below.

Pimalai Resort swimming pool. By Gkamin

Pimalai Resort. By Gkamin

That's what you call swimming with a capital S. Just looking at them sends shivers down my spine, so diving to their bottoms must be nothing short of thrilling. Via : Link

Lock of Love

2009-12-03T05:52:00.000-08:00

Locks of love are the padlocks fixed by loving couples, on to a fence or a pole or metallic chain/string alongside some wall etc at a public place, to symbolize their eternal love. A couple would hang a padlock after inscribing their name or initials on it and throw the key away so that their love is locked forever. Some couple use two inter-twined locks, each lock bearing their name/initials. Besides lovers, often family members and close friends also put such locks at these places, to lock their relationship forever.

The tradition probably originated from China where the love locks can be seen at several locations alongside the Great Wall of China and also in many temples and on the steps/paths leading to sacred peaks.

The tradition has spread around the World and is now quite prevalent in South Korea, Japan, Guam, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Russia, USA etc.

Juyongguan, Sanbu and Badaling sections of the Great Wall, being close to Beijing, are the most popular sections of the Great Wall and thousands of locks of various sizes, attached to the rows and rows of steel chains along the wall, can be seen at these places.

The watch towers at these places are occasionally used as a venue for weddings. Loving couples announce their love for each other as they hang their lock, and then they throw away the key, in the hopes that their love will last for as long as the Great Wall stands.

I have tried to locate and placemark as many places as I could find on the World Wide Web. I am sure the romantic readers will now try to find more such places.

Here are some photographs taken at these locations;

Great Wall, Juyongguan, China

Image from Panoramio is by irish craptock

Great Wall, Sanbu, China

Image from Panoramio is by Rehal AlKhabar Wael AlDafaq

It may be worth noting that often family members and close friends, not necessarily lovers, also put such locks at these places, to lock their relationship forever.

Great Wall, Badaling, China

Image from Flickr is by Alieh

President Richard Nixon during his historic journey to China visited this portion of the wall alongwith his wife, on February 24, 1972.

Mt. Hua, Huashan, China

It is one of the, Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism. The mountain is famous for steep peaks which are very difficult to climb.

Image from Panoramio is by Liu Hongshi liuhs

Puning Temple, (commonly called the Big Buddha Temple) Chengde, China

Image from travelblog.org is by Elizabeth Christie

Mt. Putuo, Putuoshan Island, China

Image from Picasaweb is by Andrew

Mt. Tai, Taishan, China

The route to the peak of Taishan (Mt. Tai) has many temples. These temples and the railings along the route are the favourite spots for the loving couples to lock their lock of love.

Image from Panoramio is by Sam Mintonye

This image of lovelocks was taken on way to the peak of Taishan (Mt. Tai)

Image from Panoramio is by Hua Qing Hot Spring

This image was taken near the famous Confucius Temple located on a peak of Mt. Tai

Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie

Image from travelblog.org is by Elizabeth Christie

The path is leading to, reportedly the highest natural bridge in the world, often called heaven's gate.

Image from travelblog.org is by Cheuk

This one was taken at a nearby area.

Keila-Joa, Estonia

On the railings of a pedestrian bridge near the waterfall.

Image from Panoramio is by Duke1999

Two Lovers' Point, (Puntan dos Amantes) Tumon Bay, Guam

Image from Flickr is by chotda

Szinva Terrace, Miskolc, Hungary

Image from Panoramio is by FedorTamas

Pics, Hungary

Image from Panoramio is by Antissimo

Image from Panoramio is by Bal�zs S�ndor

Tata, Hungary

Image from Panoramio is by Napsugi

Bruneck (Brunico), Italy

Image from Panoramio is by doc.pl(Gdansk)

Ponto Vecchio, Florence, Italy

Image from Panoramio is by Pietro Rapisarda

Ponte Aragonese, Ischia, Italy

Image from Flickr is by Underpuppy

Parco Sempione, Milan, Italy

Image from Flickr is by Andrek

Napoli (Naples), Italy

Image from Panoramio is by Maria Rosaria Penna

Image from Panoramio is by Santhat

Via dell'amore, Riomaggiore, Italy

Image from Panoramio is by �Luigi Petrazzoli

Ponte Milvio, Rome, Italy

Image from Panoramio is by psetron

The condition of the pole due to overload can be clearly seen in this photo.

Image from Panoramio is by gianni loperfido

The photo shows the present arrangement, where in locks are put on a chain and not on the lighting pole.

Siracusa-Ortigia Bridge, Sicily

Image from Blah Blah Blog is by Linda (aka Lou)

Riga Park, Riga, Latvia

Image from Panoramio is by alex_walker

Luzhkov bridge, Moscow, Russia

Image from Panoramio is by Alexander Pototskiy

N Seoul Tower, Seoul, S Korea

Image from Panora mio is by Meditation

The lovelocks have almost blocked view beneath.

Lovelock, Nevada, USA

Image from Panoramio is by mitrom

If there is any mistake, I apologies in advance. Please let me through this forum or by e-mail the correct name so that I can rectify the mistake. This Post From Link

10 Most Fascinating Castles and Palaces

2009-12-01T05:53:00.000-08:00

1. The Potala Palace: Tibet's greatest monumental structure

Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, Tibet. Destroyed by lightning and war, Potala Palace had been rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. Since then, Potala Palace has become the seat of Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet. The thirteenth Dalai Lama extended it to the present size, 117 meters (384 ft) in height and 360 meters (1,180 ft) in width, covering an area of more than 130, 000 sq meters (about 32 acres). Mainly comprised by the White Palace (administerial building) and the Red Palace (religious building), Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks.

Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Early legends concerning the rocky hill tell of a sacred cave, considered to be the dwelling place of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara), that was used as a meditation retreat by Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century AD. In 637 Songtsen Gampo built a palace on the hill. This structure stood until the seventeenth century, when it was incorporated into the foundations of the greater buildings still standing today. Construction of the present palace began in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694; its construction required the labors of more than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsman. In 1922 the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the White Palace and added two stories to the Red Palace. The Potala Palace was only slightly damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the invading Chinese in 1959. Unlike most other Tibetan religious structures, it was not sacked by the Red Guards during the 1960s and 1970s, apparently through the personal intervention of Chou En Lai. As a result, all the chapels and their artifacts are very well preserved.Via Link

2. Mont Saint-Michel: a Medieval Castle on a Small Island

Le Mont-Saint-Michel (English: Saint Michael's Mount) is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre off the country's north coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island is 41.

Formation

In prehistoric times the bay was land. As sea levels rose erosion shaped the coastal landscape over millions of years. Several blocks of granite or granulite emerged in the bay, having resisted the wear and tear of the ocean better than the surrounding rocks. These included Lillemer, the Mont-Dol, Tombelaine and Mont Tombe, later called Mont-Saint-Michel.

Tidal island

Mont-Saint-Michel seen from Spot Satellite

Mont-Saint-Michel was previously connected to the mainland via a thin natural land bridge, which before modernization was covered at high tide and revealed at low tide. This has been compromised by several developments. Over the centuries, the coastal flats have been polderised to create pasture. Thus the distance between the shore and the south coast of Mont-Saint-Michel has decreased. The Couesnon River has been canalised, reducing the flow of water and thereby encouraging a silting-up of the bay. In 1879, the land bridge was fortified into a true causeway. This prevented the tide from scouring the silt round the mount.

At low tide surrounded by mud flats - seen from the air

On 16 June 2006, the French prime minister and regional authorities announced a €164 million project (Projet Mont-Saint-Michel) to build a hydraulic dam using the waters of the river Couesnon and of tides that will help remove the accumulated silt deposited by the uprising tides, and to make Mont-Saint-Michel an island again. It is expected to be completed by 2012.

The construction of the dam is now complete (it was inaugurated in 2009), but the project also includes the destruction of the causeway that was built on top of the small land bridge and enlarged, to join the island to the continent, but also used as a parking for visitors. It will be replaced by an elevated light bridge, under which the waters will flow more freely, and that will improve the efficiency of the now operational dam, and the construction of another parking on the continent. Visitors will have to use small shuttles to cross the future bridge which will be still open to walking people and unmotorized cycles. Via Link

3 Predjamski Castle: Integrated in a Cave

llama Castle' (Slovene: Predjamski grad or Grad Predjama, German: Höhlenburg Lueg, Italian: Castel Lueghi) is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia. It is located approximately 11 kilometres from Postojna.

History of the castle

The castle was first mentioned in the year 1274 with the German name Luegg, when the Patriarch of Aquileia built the castle in Gothic style. The castle was built under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall to make access to it difficult. It was later acquired and expanded by the Luegg noble family, also known as the Knights of Adelsberg (the German name of Postojna).

The legend of Erazem of Predjama

The castle became known as the seat of Knight Erazem Lueger (or Luegger), owner of the castle in 15th century, and a renowned robber baron. He was the son of the Imperial Governor of Trieste, Nikolaj Lueger. According to legend, Erazem came into conflict with the Habsburg establishment, when he killed the commander of the Imperial army Marshall Pappencheim, who had offended the honour of Erazem's deceased friend, Andrej Baumkircher of Vipava. Fleeing from the revenge of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, Erazem settled in the family fortress of Predjama. He allied himself with the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, and started to attack Habsburg estates and towns in Carniola, turning into some kind of local Robin Hood.

The Imperial forces sent the Governor of Trieste, Andrej Ravbar, to siege the castle. After a long siege, Erazem was betrayed by one of his men and killed. Via Link

4. Neuschwanstein Castle: the Classic Fairytale's Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein, lit. New Swan Stone palace, pronounced [n??'?va?n?ta??n]) is a 19th-century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse. Although public photography of the interior is not permitted, it is the most photographed building in Germany and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Ludwig himself named it Neue Hohenschwangau; the name Neuschwanstein was coined after his death.

The reclusive Ludwig did not allow visitors to his castles, which he intended as personal refuges, but after his death in 1886 the castle was opened to the public (in part due to the need to pay off the debts Ludwig incurred financing its construction).[citation needed] Since that time over 50 million people have visited the Neuschwanstein Castle. About 1.3 million people visit annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the summer. The palace has appeared in several movies, and was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle (1955) at both Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland.

In 1923 Crown Prince Rupprecht gave the palace to the state of Bavaria, unlike nearby Hohenschwangau Castle which was transferred to the private Wittelsbach Trust (Wittelsbacher Ausgleichfonds), which is administered on behalf of the head of the house of Wittelsbach, currently Franz, Duke of Bavaria. The Free State of Bavaria has spent more than €14.5 million on Neuschwanstein's maintenance, renovation and visitor services since 1990. Via Link

5 Matsumoto Castle: Japan's most fascinating castle

Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan's finest historic castles. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail. The keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the late 16th century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan.

Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain. Its complete defences would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats and gatehouses. In 1872, following the Meiji Restoration, the site, like many former daimyos' castles, was sold at auction for redevelopment. However, when news broke that the keep was going to be demolished, an influential figure from Matsumoto, Ichikawa Ryozo, along with residents from Matsumoto started a campaign to save the building. Their efforts were rewarded when the tower was acquired by the city government. In the late Meiji period the keep started to lean to one side due to neglect coupled with a structural defect. ( But rumour said that it was because of the curse Tada Kasuke had put on more than two hundred years before with his last breath on the execution pole.) A local high school principal, Kobayashi Unari, decided to renovate the castle and appealed for funds. The castle underwent "the great Meiji renovation"(1903-1913) thanks to Kobayashi and others. Half a century later, it underwent another renovation "the great Showa renovation"(1950-1955). In 1990, the Kuromon-Ninomon (second gate of the Black Gate) and sodebei (side wall) were reconstructed. The square drum gate was reconstructed in 1999. There is a plan for restoring the soto-bori(outer moat) which was reclaimed for a residential zone. Via Link

6. Hunyad Castle: were Dracula was held prisoner

The Hunyad Castle (Romanian: Castelul Huniazilor or Castelul Corvinestilor, Hungarian: Vajdahunyad vára) is a castle in Transylvanian Hunedoara, present-day Romania. Until 1541 it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, and after the Principality of Transylvania.

It is believed to be the place where Vlad III of Wallachia (commonly known as Vlad the Impaler) was held prisoner for 7 years after he was deposed in 1462.

The castle is a relic of the Hunyadi dynasty. In the 14th century, the castle was given to John Hunyadi Serb, or Sorb by Sigismund king of Hungary as severance. The castle was restored between 1446 and 1453 by his grandson John Hunyadi. It was built mainly in Gothic style, but has Renaissance architectural elements. It features tall and strong defense towers, an interior yard and a drawbridge. Built over the site of an older fortification and on a rock above the small river Zlasti, the castle is a large and imposing building with tall and diversely colored roofs, towers and myriad windows and balconies adorned with stone carvings.

As one of the most important properties of John Hunyadi, the castle was transformed during his reign. It became a sumptuous home, not only a strategically enforced point. With the passing of the years, the masters of the castle had modified its look, adding towers, halls and guest rooms. The gallery and the keep - the last defense tower (called "Ne boisa" = Do not be afraid), which remained unchanged from Iancu de Hunedoara's time, and the Capistrano Tower (named after the Franciscan monk from the castle court) are some of the most significant parts of the construction. Other significant parts of the building are the Knights' Hall (a great reception hall), the Club Tower, the White bastion, which served as a food storage room, and the Diet Hall, on whose walls medallions are painted (among them there are the portraits of Matei Basarab, ruler from Wallachia, and Vasile Lupu, ruler of Moldavia). In the wing of the castle called the Mantle, a painting can be seen which portrays the legend of the raven from which the name of the descendants of John Hunyadi, Corvinus came.

In the castle yard, near the chapel built also during Vlad The Third's ruling, is a well 30 meters deep. The legend says that this fountain was dug by twelve Turkish prisoners to whom liberty was promised if they reached water. After 15 years they completed the well, but their captors did not keep their promise. It is said that the inscription on a wall of the well means "you have water, but not soul". Specialists, however, have translated the inscription as "he who wrote this inscription is Hasan, who lives as slave of the giaours, in the fortress near the church".

In February 2007, Hunyad Castle played host to the British paranormal television program Most Haunted Live! for a three-night live investigation into the spirits reported to be haunting the castle. Via Link

7. Malbork Castle: World's Largest Brick Gothic Castle

The Castle in Malbork (German: Die Marienburg, Polish: Zamek w Malborku) was built in Prussia by the Teutonic Order as an Ordensburg. The Order named it Marienburg, literally "Mary's Castle". The town which grew around it was also named Marienburg, but since 1945 it is again, after 173 years, part of Poland and known as Malbork.

The castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress, and is the world’s largest brick gothic castle. UNESCO listed the castle and its museum as World Heritage Sites in December 1997 as Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. It is one of two World Heritage Sites in the region with origins in the Teutonic Order. The other is the Medieval Town of Torun, founded in 1231 as the site of the castle Thorn (Torun).

The castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Order during their government of Prussia and is located on the Southeastern bank of the river Nogat. It was named Marienburg after the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Order.

The Order had been based in Acre, but when this last stronghold of the Crusades fell, the Order had to move its headquarters to Venice. In 1309, in the wake of both the papal persecution of the Knights Templar as well as the Teutonic takeover of Danzig, the Order under Siegfried von Feuchtwangen moved its headquarters into the Prussian part of their monastic state. They chose the Marienburg, conveniently located on the Nogat, in the Vistula Delta, which allows access by ship.

The castle was expanded several time to host the growing number of Knights, and became the largest fortified Gothic building in Europe, featuring several sections and walls. It consists of three separate sections - the High, Middle and Lower Castles, separated by multiple dry moats and towers. The castle once housed approximately 3,000 "brothers in arms", and the outermost castle walls enclose 52 acres (210,000 m²), four times larger than the enclosed space of Windsor Castle.

The favourable position of the castle on the river Nogat and its relatively flat surrounding allowed for easy access by barges and trading ships, from the Vistula and the Baltic Sea. During their governance, the Teutonic Knights collected river tolls on passing ships, as did other castles along the rivers, imposing a monopoly on the trade of amber. When the city became a member of the Hanseatic League, many Hanseatic meetings were held at Marienburg castle. Via Link

8. Palacio da Pena: Oldest Palace inspired by European Romanticism

The Pena National Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional da Pena) is the oldest palace inspired by European Romanticism. It is located in the civil parish of São Pedro de Penaferrim, municipality of Sintra, Portugal. The palace stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials. Via Link

9. Lowenburg Castle: The Disneyland of the 18th century Photo Link

Within the Wilhelmshöhe Hill Park which sits on one end of the city of Kassel, there stands what appears to be a medieval castle. However, the Löwenburg or “Lion’s Castle” was ordered to be built by the Landgrave Wilhelm IX from Hessen Kassel (1743 -1821) (later he gained the higher title of Elector Wilhelm I - Kurfürst Wilhelm I), the Walt Disney of his era, over a period of eight years between 1793 and 1801 as a romantic ruin. It was carfelully designed by his royal court building inspector Heinrich Christoph Jussow (1754 – 1825) who had been trained as an architect and construction project manager in France, Italy, and England, and who had gone to England specifically to study romantic English ruins and draw up a plan for the Landgrave’s garden folly. Today scholars regard Löwenburg Castle ruins as one of the most significant buildings of its genre, in addition to being one of the first major neo-Gothic buildings in Germany.

What the Landgrave did here was the eighteenth century equivalent of Disney World Tokyo. It is a central element of the Wilhlemshöhe castle park which, starting in 1785, the Landgrave transformed into a landscaped garden modeled on the English pattern, and filled with themed areas – fake Roman aquaducts, fake English Castle Ruins, fake Grecian temples, and even a fake Chinese Village. In terms of sheer monumental size, however, the fake monumental castle ruin of the Löwenburg stands apart from the numerous antiquated and pseudo-medieval constructions that served as decorative motifs for landscaped parks in other parts of Europe. Via Link

10. Prague Castle: World's Largest Ancient Castle

Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad) is a castle in Prague where the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here. Prague Castle is one of the biggest castles in the world (according to Guinness Book of Records the biggest ancient castle [1]) at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.

History

The history of the castle stretches back to the 9th century (870). The first walled building was the church of Our Lady[2]. The Basilica of Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded in the first half of the 10th century. The first convent in Bohemia was founded in the castle, next to the church of St. George. A Romanesque palace was erected here during the 12th century. In the 14th century, under the reign of Charles IV the royal palace was rebuilt in Gothic style and the castle fortifications were strengthened. In place of rotunda and basilica of St. Vitus began building of a vast Gothic church, that have been completed almost six centuries later. During the Hussite Wars and the following decades the Castle was not inhabited. In 1485, King Ladislaus II Jagello began to rebuild the castle. The massive Vladislav Hall (built by Benedikt Rejt) was added to the Royal Palace. There were also built new defence towers on the northern side of the castle. A large fire in 1541 destroyed large parts of the castle. Under the Habsburgs some new buildings in renaissance style appeared here. Ferdinand I built Belvedere, summer palace for his wife Anne. Rudolph II used Prague Castle as his main residence. He founded the northern wing of the palace, with the Spanish Hall, where his precious artistic collections were exhibited. The Second Prague defenestration in 1618 began the Bohemian Revolt. During the subsequent wars the Castle was damaged and dilapidated. Many works from the collection of Rudolph II were looted by Swedes in 1648, in the course of the Thirty Years' War. The last major rebuilding of the castle was carried out by Queen Maria Theresa in the second half of the 18th century. Ferdinand V, after abdication in 1848, chose Prague Castle as his home. Via Link

Brazilian Women Prisons

2009-11-26T04:29:00.000-08:00

Incredible photo essay of a photographer Luiz Santos who made this project in order to show the situation of women in Brazil prisons and their children that live with them in prison and who are exposed to “violence, drug use and poor hygiene.”

A detainee returns to prison after a visit to a local hospital. The prison itself has a surgery but major medical proceedings take part away from the main building. Moving prisoners can be a daunting business. Attempting escapes are commonplace.

Dona Maria is a former prisoner herself and comes to the prison to visit her daughter who waits trial for shop lifting. She is the main provider for her grandson Junior, 9, and granddaughter Vitoria, 4 - a responsibility she considers too great.

Dona Maria is a former prisoner herself and comes to the prison to visit her daughter condemned for drug trafficking. She fells humiliated every time she visits her daughter as the warders strip her naked and search her vagina for drugs with the help of a torch. She also struggles to maintain her daughter's children.

Michele Damaces, 19 and Ingride. Michele was arrested with her partner both accused of trafficking crack cocaine.

Michele Damaces, 19, feeds her 9 days old baby.

The prison is open to visitors on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is an opportunity to catch up with the world outside the walls. In the common area families meet to share not only stories, anxieties and experiences but also the physical space.

A mother waits to meet her son at a prison gate. Black poor children born in prison (or who have mothers in prison) are more likely to get involved in crime than those white, free and better off counterparts. The State in Brazil has the obligation to protect vulnerable children but rarely do so. At the end, grandmothers outside the prisons are, in fact, responsible for those left without assistance.

Rosangela, 33, and her 1 year old son Bruno. Rosangela was sent to prison for one year, eleven months and ten days convicted of international drug trafficking. Pedro was born in prison.

Pedro was born in prison. His mother Rosangela, 33, (on the left) was locked for international drug trafficking as she attempted to embark to Spain carrying cocaine. According to Brazilian law a child cannot stay in prison once completing two years of age but in many cases the detainees are abandoned by the family or are so poor that they can't afford childcare so the children have to live with them.

Inmates look after themselves (and other inmates' children) as long as internal disputes do not get on the way. Antonia Lucia, 29, is a crack cocaine addict - and my right hand on this assignment. She holds an inmates's baby.

No doubt prisons are tough places. It is also true that inmates find support and comfort amongst themselves as the State fails to assist them. Pregnant inmates are very vulnerable and cared for by other prisoners. Different from the general public's perception, the fact that some prisoners are guilty of horrible crimes, it does not mean they lack of friendship and compassion.

A prisoner has arrived one day prior my first day in the prison. On visit days she is kept locked in a small pavilion as she does not have friends or relatives in town. Some prisoners are from distant villages and relatives cannot afford to travel to the prison. Some others are simply abandoned.

Suelen Santos Medeiros, a 23 years old spent one year in prison for drug trafficking and now waits to be sentenced for storming a local hairdresser and throwing acid on her boyfriend lover's face. She ended up injuring eight people - including herself. Wilames, her partner and also a drug dealer, was arrested on the same occasion for possession of a fire arm.

During my time in the prison the inmates wrote a letter to the prison's director to complain about the conditions in the prison as well as to demand the review of cases. Those accused of minor crimes, and waiting to be sentenced, live in the same cells as sentenced murders. Workshops were closed due political struggles at managerial level and the inmates complain of boredom as they spend the day doing noting but smoking weed or planing the next escape.

These items were confiscated by the warders during a number of searches in the cells. Amongst them there are sex toys, hand made weapons and mobile phones (kept hidden away in the inmates' vagina). Inmates complain that searches are carried violently by the police special forces in fully riot gear and balaclavas.

Sister Adele moved to Brazil from Milan/Italy in 1993. She quotes from the Bible '...I was in jail and you visited me...' to justify her work with the families in the prison in Bahia/Brazil. Brazilian judges ruled, in 1999, that children over the age of two could not leave in prison with their mothers. As the inmates did not trust the State they decided to trust their children in the hands of Sister Adele. Her mission then begun.

Sister Adele administers a creche near the prison and looks after those who are too old to stay in prison or are from extremely poor backgrounds. The children receive good education and live like a family. In return they must accept Catholicism as their religion.

Dona Maria de Fatima contracted HIV while injecting cocaine - an addiction she has left behind. She has a daughter in prison and looks after Diane (pictured), one of her granddaughters. Her other daughter is a crack cocaine addict and her son works in security on a minimum wage.

Dona Maria de Fatima, 48 years old, who contracted HIV while injecting cocaine, looks after her granddaughter Diane as her daughter is currently in prison. Although very poor and sharing accommodation with drug dealers, drug addicts and thieves, Dona Maria de Fatima sends Diane to school and ballet and flute classes. She invests her energies in braking the cycle of violence, imprisonment and poverty that surrounds her and her community. She gave up her addiction to cocaine altogether.

Suelen Santos Medeiros, who was sentenced for burning her boyfriend's lover with acid, appears on a television blood thirsty program. When that happens the community where she lives stops to watch. Crime is almost the only way for them to enjoy their '15 minutes of fame'.

Dona Maria de Fatima's daughter (who did not want to reveal her name) is addicted to crack cocaine and has given birth to her seventh offspring. The only possessions the child has was given by the government as part of a program to assist extremely poor mothers who cannot afford the cost of maternity. The mothers must take part in pre-birth programs during pregnancy to receive the benefit. These programs aim to reduce levels of children (and mothers) mortality during labour. Her mother is HIV positive and her sister is currently imprisoned. Those inmates in long-term relationship have the right to have intimate encounters but only if they agree on receiving a contraceptive injection. The rooms where the encounters occur are as basic to say the least.

Via : Link

New Ocean to form inside Africa ?

2009-11-18T05:33:00.001-08:00

A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will eventually become a new ocean or sea, researchers now confirm. The crack, 20 feet wide in spots, opened in 2005. Some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new
ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied. A new study involving an international team of scientists and reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds the processes creating the rift are nearly identical to what goes on at the bottom of oceans, further indication a new sea is in the region's future. The same rift activity is slowly parting the Red Sea, too. Using newly gathered seismic data from 2005, researchers reconstructed the event to show the rift tore open along its entire 35-mile length in just days. Dabbahu, a volcano at the northern end of the rift, erupted first, then magma pushed up through the middle of the rift area and began "unzipping" the rift in both directions, the researchers explained in a statement today. "We know that seafloor ridges are created by a similar intrusion of magma into a rift, but we never knew that a huge length of the ridge could break open at once like this," said Cindy Ebinger, professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester and co-author of the study. The result shows that highly active volcanic boundaries along the edges of tectonic ocean plates may suddenly break apart in large sections, instead of in bits, as the leading theory held. And such sudden large-scale events on land pose a much more serious hazard to populations living near the rift than would several smaller events, Ebinger said. "The whole point of this study is to learn whether what is happening in Ethiopia is like what is happening at the bottom of the ocean where it's almost impossible for us to go," says Ebinger. "We knew that if we could establish that, then Ethiopia would essentially be a unique and superb ocean-ridge laboratory for us. Because of the unprecedented cross-border collaboration behind this research, we now know that the answer is yes, it is analogous." The African and Arabian plates meet in the remote Afar desert of Northern Ethiopia and have been spreading apart in a rifting process — at a speed of less than 1 inch per year — for the past 30 million years. This rifting formed the 186-mile Afar depression and the Red Sea. The thinking is that the Red Sea will eventually pour into the new sea in a million years or so. The new body of water would connect to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Arabian Sea between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in eastern Africa. Atalay Ayele, professor at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, led the investigation, gathering seismic data with help from neighboring Eritrea and Ghebrebrhan Ogubazghi, professor at the Eritrea Institute of Technology, and from Yemen with the help of Jamal Sholan of the National Yemen Seismological Observatory Center. New Via Link

Tim Wright/University of OxfordA crevice in the Afar Triangle signals the birth of an ocean. In ten million years this ocean will split the African continent.

Dereje Ayalew/Universität Addis AbbabaScientists examine crevices in the Afar Triangle.

SeaWiFS Project/NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/ORBIMAGEAn aerial view of north-eastern Africa. The Afar Triangle is the sandy-colored triangle bordering on the sea.

Anthony PhilpottsA view of the East African Rift System, which is already largely below sea level.

Asfawossen AsratThis crevice was photographed in the fall of 2005. It is 500 meters (1,640 feet) long and 100 meters (328 feet) deep. Via : Link

New Ocean to form inside Africa ?

2009-11-18T05:33:00.000-08:00

A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will eventually become a new ocean or sea, researchers now confirm. The crack, 20 feet wide in spots, opened in 2005. Some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied. A new study involving an international team of scientists and reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds the processes creating the rift are nearly identical to what goes on at the bottom of oceans, further indication a new sea is in the region's future. The same rift activity is slowly parting the Red Sea, too. Using newly gathered seismic data from 2005, researchers reconstructed the event to show the rift tore open along its entire 35-mile length in just days. Dabbahu, a volcano at the northern end of the rift, erupted first, then magma pushed up through the middle of the rift area and began "unzipping" the rift in both directions, the researchers explained in a statement today. "We know that seafloor ridges are created by a similar intrusion of magma into a rift, but we never knew that a huge length of the ridge could break open at once like this," said Cindy Ebinger, professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester and co-author of the study. The result shows that highly active volcanic boundaries along the edges of tectonic ocean plates may suddenly break apart in large sections, instead of in bits, as the leading theory held. And such sudden large-scale events on land pose a much more serious hazard to populations living near the rift than would several smaller events, Ebinger said. "The whole point of this study is to learn whether what is happening in Ethiopia is like what is happening at the bottom of the ocean where it's almost impossible for us to go," says Ebinger. "We knew that if we could establish that, then Ethiopia would essentially be a unique and superb ocean-ridge laboratory for us. Because of the unprecedented cross-border collaboration behind this research, we now know that the answer is yes, it is analogous." The African and Arabian plates meet in the remote Afar desert of Northern Ethiopia and have been spreading apart in a rifting process — at a speed of less than 1 inch per year — for the past 30 million years. This rifting formed the 186-mile Afar depression and the Red Sea. The thinking is that the Red Sea will eventually pour into the new sea in a million years or so. The new body of water would connect to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Arabian Sea between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in eastern Africa. Atalay Ayele, professor at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, led the investigation, gathering seismic data with help from neighboring Eritrea and Ghebrebrhan Ogubazghi, professor at the Eritrea Institute of Technology, and from Yemen with the help of Jamal Sholan of the National Yemen Seismological Observatory Center. New Via Link

Tim Wright/University of OxfordA crevice in the Afar Triangle signals the birth of an ocean. In ten million years this ocean will split the African continent.

Dereje Ayalew/Universität Addis AbbabaScientists examine crevices in the Afar Triangle.

SeaWiFS Project/NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/ORBIMAGEAn aerial view of north-eastern Africa. The Afar Triangle is the sandy-colored triangle bordering on the sea.

Anthony PhilpottsA view of the East African Rift System, which is already largely below sea level.

Asfawossen AsratThis crevice was photographed in the fall of 2005. It is 500 meters (1,640 feet) long and 100 meters (328 feet) deep. Via : Link

Seven Wonders Of India

2009-11-18T04:34:00.001-08:00

1.Shravanabelagola or Gomateshwara

The 17.8 m monolith of Jain prophet Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali, which was carved out around 983 C.E and is located in Shravanabelagola, India, is anointed with saffron every 12 years by thousands of devotees as part of the Mahamastakabhisheka festival. The colossal monolithic statue of Gomateshwara (Shravanabelagola is a synonymous word), also called as Bahubali the Jain saint, created around 983 C.E by Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga King, Rachamalla (Raachmalla SathyaVaak IV 975-986 C.E) is located atop the Chandragiri hill (618 steps climb leads to the monolith on the hill), near the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka state. This statue is said to have been carved out of a single block of fine-grained white granite and is considered of great religious significance because Jains believe Bahubali was the first to attain moksha (freedom from cycle of birth and death). The image stands on a lotus. It has no support up to the thighs and is 60 feet (18 m) tall with the face measuring 6.5 feet (2.0 m). The statue is completely in the nude, in the Jain custom and is visible from a distance of 30 km.With the serene expression on the face of the image, its curled hair with graceful locks, its proportional anatomy, the monolith size, and the combination of its artistry and craftsmanship have led it to be called the mightiest achievement in sculptural art in medieval Karnataka. It is the largest monolithic statue in the world.
The neighbouring areas of Shravanabelagola, apart from the Gomateshwara statue, have Jaina bastis and several images of the Jaina Thirthankaras. A beautiful view of the surrounding areas could be seen from the top of the Chandragiri hill. Every 12 years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony in which the thousand-year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The anointing last took place in February 2006, and the next ceremony will occur in 2018.

2. Golden temple or Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib (The abode of God) – Golden Temple (main building) Complex with Akal Takht Sahib.completed in August 1604 AD

The Harmandir Sahib (Punjabi) or Darbar Sahib, informally referred to as the Golden Temple or Temple of God, is culturally the most significant shrine of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh Gurudwara. It is located in the city of Amritsar, which was established by Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs and the city that it was built in, is also due to the shrine known as Amritsar.
The fourth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Ram Das, excavated a tank in 1577 C.E which subsequently became known as Amritsar or Amrit Sarovar (meaning: Pool of the Nectar of Immortality), giving its name to the city that grew around it. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib (meaning: The abode of God) [6], rose in the middle of this tank and became the supreme centre of Sikhism. Its sanctum houses the Adi Granth, compiled by Guru Arjun Dev, comprising compositions of Sikh Gurus and other saints considered to have Sikh values and philosophies e.g. Baba Farid, Kabir, etc. . Devotees, for whom the temple is a symbol of freedom and spiritual independence, come here from all over the world to enjoy its environs and offer their prayers. The Golden Temple sits on a rectangular platform, surrounded by a pool of water called the Amrit Sarovar. The temple building has four entrances instead of the usual single entry. This is symbolic of the openness of Sikhism and indicates that followers of all faiths are allowed inside. The walls within are decorated with carved wooden panels and elaborate inlay work in silver and gold. The Adi Granth, rests on a throne beneath a jewel-encrusted canopy. Priests conduct continuous recitation of verses from the holy book.

03. Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal, built in the memory of the queen Mumtaz Mahal

Taj Mahal (also "the Taj"), the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, * Archeological Survey of India description was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage." It is an integrated symmetric complex of structures that was completed around 1648. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer of the Taj Mahal.
The focus of the Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are Persian in origin. The base structure is a large, multi-chambered structure. The base is essentially a cube with chamfered edges and is roughly 55 meters on each side (see floor plan, right). On the long sides, a massive pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with a similar arch-shaped balcony. On either side of the main arch, additional pishtaqs are stacked above and below. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on chamfered corner areas as well. The design is completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets, one at each corner of the plinth, facing the chamfered corners, frame the tomb. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; their actual graves are at a lower level. The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. The calligraphy found are of florid thuluth script, created by Persian calligrapher Amanat Khan.
Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran to build the monument. While bricks for internal constructions were locally prepared, white marble for external use in veneering work was obtained from Makrana in Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were brought from distant regions of India, Ceylon (SriLanka) and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was requisitioned from the neighbouring quarries of Sikri, Dholpur. It took 17 years for the Taj to be built.

04. Hampi
Vijayanagar Raja Gopura at Hampi, Karnataka

The 14th century ruins nestle within them with almost every highlight of classical Indian architecture. Palaces, temples, marketplaces, watch towers, stables, baths and monoliths lie scattered amidst huge boulders, which complement the rugged look and historic feel of the place.

Ruins of Hampi - UNESCO World Heritage Site, presents the Vijayanagara architecture, a vibrant combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya Chola styles, idioms that prospered in previous centuries. It Hampi was the last capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, which was admired by the travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. But it was pillaged and abandoned by the Muslim confederacy which conquered the Decann in 1565 C.E. Palaces, temples, marketplaces, watch towers, stables, baths and monoliths lie scattered amidst huge boulders, which complement the rugged look and historic feel of the place.
Its legacy of sculpture, architecture and painting influenced the development of the arts long after the empire came to an end. Its stylistic hallmark is the ornate pillared Kalyanamantapa (marriage hall), Vasanthamantapa (open pillared halls) and the Rajagopura (tower). While the empire's monuments are spread over the whole of Southern India, nothing surpasses the vast open air theatre of monuments at its capital at Vijayanagara.

05. Konark
Konark sun temple at Night, OrissaWheel of Konark Sun Temple

Konark Sun temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), was built in black granite by King Narasimhadeva I (1236 C.E-1264 C.E) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is a UNESCO-World Heritage Site. Built in the 13th century, the temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with 24 wheels (3.3 m dia diameter each) drawn by seven horses and, carrying the Sun god, Surya, across the heavens.It is a stunning monument of religious (Brahmanical) architecture. The Sun temple belongs to the Kalinga School of Indian Temples with characteristic curvilinear towers mounted by cupolas and is aligned in the east-west direction as it is dedicated to Sun, which sun lits the entrance. The temple plan depicts three segments, viz., Natmandir (the outer complex), Jagmohan (the central complex) and Garbhagriha (the main complex housing the Deity). The main sanctum which (69.8 m. high) was constructed along with the audience hall (39.5 m. high) having elaborate external projections. The main sanctum which enshrined the presiding deity has fallen off. The Audience Hall survives in its entirely, but only small portions of the Dancing Hall (nata Mandir) and the Dining Hall (Bhoga-Mandap) have survived the vagaries of time. The Temple compound measures The Temple compound measures 857 ft (261 m) by 540 ft (160 m).

The entrance to the temple is guarded by two lions, each shown crushing a war elephant. Each elephant in turn is shown on top of a human body. At the entrance, there is also a Nata Mandir or dance hall where the temple dancers used to perform dances in homage to the Sun god. All around the temple, there are various floral and geometric patterns. There are also human, divine and semi-divine figures in sensuous poses. The poses contains couples in various amorous postures, and are derived from the Kama Sutr@.

06. Nalanda
The stupa of Sariputta at Nalanda.

The Nalanda, located in the Indian State of Bihar, was a Buddhist center of learning from 427 C.E to 1197 C.E partly under the Pala Empire. It has been called "one of the first great universities in recorded history." According to historical studies the University of Nalanda was established 450 C.E under the patronage of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumaragupta. Nalanda, considered as the world's first residential university, had dormitories for students and had accommodated over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university was considered an architectural masterpiece, and was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. Nalanda had eight separate compounds and ten temples, along with many other meditation halls and classrooms. On the grounds were lakes and parks. The library was located in a nine storied building where meticulous copies of texts were produced. The subjects taught at Nalanda University covered every field of learning, and it attracted pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey. The Tang Dynasty Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang left detailed accounts of the university in the 7th century.

07. Khajuraho

Lakshmana temple at Khajuraho, a panchayatana temple.Khajuraho Temple, India
Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval (between 950 C.E and 1050 C.E) temples of Hindu and Jain religion. There is perfect fusion of architecture and sculpture at this temple complex, famous for their erotic sculpture. The temples are a UNESCO world Heritage Site. At the Temple of Kandariya, there is a profusion of decorated sculptures considered as one of the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. Built by Chandela dynasty, the temples exhibit stunningly explicit sexual sculptures which were created by the artist's imagination of lovemaking positions prevalent at that time, or based on the rules outlined in the Kamasutra. Many of the sculptors have claimed artistic ownership on many sculptures. Built of sandstone in varying shades of buff, pink or pale yellow, most of the temples belong to the Shiva, Vaishnava or Jaina religious Sects, which are difficult to differentiate from one another. The temples, sited in an East-West direction, depicts a plan with spacious layout with interior rooms inter connected. An entrance, a hall, a vestibule and a sanctum are part the common layout plan of the temples. It is stated that the Khajuraho temples are a celebration of womankind, her innumerable moods and facets which are witnessed by the carvings of a woman writing letter, applying makeup to her eyes, combing her tresses, dancing, and playing with her child. Also etched, sculpted with consummate skill are innocent, coquettish, smiling, seductive, passionate and beautiful and erotic sculptures depicted in intricate detail. It is also opined that the Chandelas followed the Tantric cult with the faith that gratification of earthly desires is a step towards attaining Nirvana, the infinite liberation.

Via : Link

Seven Wonders Of India

2009-11-18T04:34:00.000-08:00

1.Shravanabelagola or Gomateshwara

The 17.8 m monolith of Jain prophet Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali, which was carved out around 983 C.E and is located in Shravanabelagola, India, is anointed with saffron every 12 years by thousands of devotees as part of the Mahamastakabhisheka festival.
The colossal monolithic statue of Gomateshwara (Shravanabelagola is a synonymous word), also called as Bahubali the Jain saint, created around 983 C.E by Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga King, Rachamalla (Raachmalla SathyaVaak IV 975-986 C.E) is located atop the Chandragiri hill (618 steps climb leads to the monolith on the hill), near the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka state. This statue is said to have been carved out of a single block of fine-grained white granite and is considered of great religious significance because Jains believe Bahubali was the first to attain moksha (freedom from cycle of birth and death). The image stands on a lotus. It has no support up to the thighs and is 60 feet (18 m) tall with the face measuring 6.5 feet (2.0 m). The statue is completely in the nude, in the Jain custom and is visible from a distance of 30 km.With the serene expression on the face of the image, its curled hair with graceful locks, its proportional anatomy, the monolith size, and the combination of its artistry and craftsmanship have led it to be called the mightiest achievement in sculptural art in medieval Karnataka. It is the largest monolithic statue in the world.
The neighbouring areas of Shravanabelagola, apart from the Gomateshwara statue, have Jaina bastis and several images of the Jaina Thirthankaras. A beautiful view of the surrounding areas could be seen from the top of the Chandragiri hill. Every 12 years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony in which the thousand-year-old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The anointing last took place in February 2006, and the next ceremony will occur in 2018.

2. Golden temple or Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib (The abode of God) – Golden Temple (main building) Complex with Akal Takht Sahib.completed in August 1604 AD

03. Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal, built in the memory of the queen Mumtaz Mahal

04. Hampi
Vijayanagar Raja Gopura at Hampi, Karnataka

05. Konark
Konark sun temple at Night, OrissaWheel of Konark Sun Temple

06. Nalanda
The stupa of Sariputta at Nalanda.

07. Khajuraho

Via : Link

15 Amazing Google Earth Finds

2009-11-05T03:45:00.000-08:00

Dubbed the "Badlands Guardian" by locals, this geological marvel (Google Earth coordinates 50.010083,-110.113006) in Alberta, Canada, bears an uncanny resemblance to a human head wearing a full Native American headdress--and earphones, to boot. Of course,
The Guardian was produced naturally. (Link Photo)

A synthetic wonder that can be truly appreciated only from above, this giant man-shaped lake (-21.805149,-49.089977) is located near Bauru, Brazil. (Link)

This heart-shaped island in the Adriatic became a hit on Google Earth for Valentine's Day. The uninhabited island is only 130,000 square yards and is called Galesnjak. The owner didn't even know how perfectly this island off the Croatian coast was until he was swamped with requests from couples to stay there. (Link Photo)

This fingerprint can be found in Hove Park, near Brighton and Hove in the UK. It measures 38 metres around. Imagine the size of the hand. (Link)

Rhett Dashwood, a graphic designer from Australia, created the first Google Maps alphabet, featuring all 26 letters, using satellite images of natural features and buildings. (Link)

Lion, at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo located at Whipsnade, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England. (Link)

Some of the sights you find in Google Earth are just plain mysterious. For example, why is a fighter jet parked (Google Earth coordinates 48.825183,2.1985795) in what looks to be a residential neighborhood lot near Paris? NOTE: our reader Guilhem told us it "must be located at a Dassault Système office. It's an old Mirage and I know for a fact that there is a Dassault office there", while another reader, Roland, argues "it's a full scale model of a Mirage 2000 on a campus of the university of Paris Photo

This is a US Navy building in Coronado, Ca. that was unintentionally built in the shape of a swastika. Now, because of a public uproar, the Navy will be spending $600,000 to alter the shape of the building.(Link)

In the early days of Firefox, a few devoted fans wanted to generate more PR for their beloved site and so gathered a team of people in Amity, Oregon, to recreate the Firefox logo in a field; their very own fox crop. (Link)

Last year, one of the Google Earth Community members called 'ear1grey' posted an amazing discovery. He found a huge picture (36 miles tall) of Santa! (Link)

So here's a giant Ipod Shuffle! It looks like a farmer's field with a horse pen or something on it? Either that or a hard core apple enthusiast. Unfortunately, it looks like he moved the pen on the map since it was first spotted.

Google Earth doesn't have advertising, unless you consider the corporate logos and trademarks big enough to be seen from space. Check out this massive Coca-Cola logo (-18.529225,-70.25002) etched into a hillside of Chile with 70,000 Coke bottles. Haven't they heard of recycling? (Link)

As if Oprah Winfrey's celebrity weren't already big enough, an Arizona farmer built a 10-acre homage to the talk show host (Google Earth coordinates 33.225488,-111.5955). (Link)

Too late now, huh? (Link)

It's not safe to do topless in your roof anymore. One careless sunbath and you can end in everyone else's computer screen. (Link)

Ferrari Park in Abu Dhabi

2009-11-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

“Ferrari World Abu Dhabi”, you only need to say the name and the possibilities start racing through your head. This is a world first from a brand that thrives on being first.“Opening in 2010, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is set to be the world’s largest indoor theme park, sitting under a roof designed in the style of a classic double-curve body shell of a Ferrari GT car. There is energy, excitement and passion for the entire family at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. With over 20 rides and attractions, including the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Ferrari World is more than a theme park – it is where Ferrari’s legendary story is unveiled.”Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will captivate the whole family with its array of engaging activities. Couple this with its extremely innovative architecture, a dash of Italian spirit, and you will surely live an experience like nothing else you have before.

Via : Link

Picnic On the Bridge - Sydney Harbour

2009-10-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Sydney Harbour Bridge was turned into a picnic en masse yesterday as thousands flocked to the world famous landmark to share breakfast. On most mornings, the bridge is packed with the vehicles of thousands of busy commuters driving bumper to bumper trying to make it to work in the rush-hour traffic. But this morning it was closed to traffic and instead transformed into a huge gathering for an al fresco breakfast as part of a city-wide food festival. Around 6,000 people were invited to lay siege on the grassy banks in the middle of the highway.