Angel's Secret Garden

Earth of Arts

2011-01-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is also the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is sometimes referred to as the World, the Blue Planet, or by its Latin name, Terra. Needless to say, Earth is the only planet that home millions of species, one of the species are us ~ human. How amazing our Earth is?! However, you will be more amazed by Earth after seeing the satellite pictures that took by Nasa.

Ephemeral Lake

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

Patches of southern Australia's shallow Lake Eyre seem to form a grimacing face in an August 2006 satellite picture. When seasonal rains are plentiful, the water body is Australia's largest lake. But it's also an "ephemeral" feature in a dry land: The lake has only filled three times during the past 150 years.

Sinewy Delta

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

Like branching blood vessels, the Yukon Delta's sinuous waterways empty into the Bering Sea in a 2002 satellite picture. The Yukon River—which begins in the Canadian province of British Columbia and crosses through the Yukon Territory and Alaska—was protected in 2010 as part of the United States' new Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

Van Gogh Algae

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

In the style of Van Gogh's "Starry Night," massive congregations of greenish phytoplankton swirl in dark water around Sweden's Gotland island. Population explosions, or blooms, of phytoplankton, like the one shown here, occur when deep currents bring nutrients up to sunlit surface waters, fueling the growth and reproduction of these tiny plants.

Meanderring Mississippi

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

The Mississippi River—North America's largest—unfurls like a teal ribbon through towns, fields, and pastures on the Arkansas-Mississippi border in a 2003 satellite picture.

Giant Sand Sea

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

White bits of cloud cast black shadows on the Rub' al Khali desert near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen in a 2003 satellite picture.

Extreme Salt Dessert

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

Like poster paints run wild, a 2003 image captures an "eclectic montage" of landscapes in Iran's largest desert, the Dasht-e Kavir, or Great Salt Desert. The mostly uninhabited region—a mix of dry streambeds, desert plateaus, mud flats, and salt marshes—covers an area of more than 29,730 square miles (77,000 square kilometers).

Startling Trench
Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

What looks like red paint is actually a "remarkable interplay of light and cloud" captured in 2004 in the Canadian Rockies. Low clouds filled a part of the Rocky Mountain Trench, which sits near the border between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Light reflecting off the clouds, coupled with low sun elevation.

Stunning Ice Shapes

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

A complex "circuitry" of Greenland fjords among red-tinted mountains ease the flow of glacial ice into the Atlantic Ocean in 2001. When temperatures rise in the summer, newly calved icebergs here join slabs of sea ice and older, weathered icebergs in an offshore slurry that sometimes "swirls into stunning shapes".

Glimmering Crater

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

Tin Bider, an ancient and eroded meteor crater in the Algerian Sahara, glimmers in a 2009 picture. Nearly 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) wide, the crater was caused by a meteorite impact in this region of northern Africa roughly 70 million years ago.

Greasy Ice Galaxies

Image courtesy EROS/USGS/NASA

Resembling distant galaxies amid clouds of interstellar dust, chunks of sea ice drift through swirls of grease ice near Canada's Baffin Island in 2002. Sea ice often begins as grease ice, a soupy slick of tiny ice crystals on the ocean's surface. As the temperature drops, grease ice thickens and coalesces into solid ice slabs.

Beautiful and Tranquil Photographs for You and Me

2011-01-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while I didn't active on my "baby" blog. I was away for holidays and busy with my marketing tasks. The gift that I received thus far for the New Year is I'm alive from a car accident. It happened last night, the right side of my car was damaged severely by the speeding car. I was so lucky that the huge impact neither cause my car window to break nor impacted on me orelse I wouldn't be here. Therefore, in order to cheer and celebrate my so-called "relive", I've selected a few photographs that are peaceful, beautiful and tranquil for you and me.

Fallen Maple Leaf

Photograph by Raul Touzon

Lavender Fields

Photograph by Gerd Ludwig

Castor Bean Leaf Close-up

Photograph by Jozsef Szentpeteri

Autumn Landscape

Photograph by Olegas Kurasovas

Thunder Lake, Minnesota

Photograph by Jack Dykinga

Great White Egrets

Photograph by Michael Nichols

Frog of Lily Pad

Photograph by James P. Blair

Snowy Twilight
Photograph by Sisse Brimberg

Boatman, Philippines
Photograph by Gerardo Sabado

Dead Sea
Photograph by Paolo Pellegrin

Puffin, Shiant Islands
Photograph by Jim Richardson

Fishing, Celebes Sea
Photograph by Liang Huan Chuan

Keoladeo National Park, India
Photograph by James P. Blair

Porcupine Mountains Waterfall, Michigan
Photograph by Gowtham

Swans in Flight, Washington
Photograph by Mike McElroy

Aurora Borealis, Manitoba, Canada
Photograph by Kurt Baumgartner

Notes: Nobody was injured in this horrific accident. My car has admitted into "hospital", it will be under knife by "surgeons". The estimated hospitalization fee of my car is....... {Dear}

Everyone: Life is the most precious thing on Earth, others are only supplements, you can take back what you've lost except life.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T23:09:00.000-08:00

It's almost Christmas time! Countdown day three to me. Most of my friends are in holiday except me... Let's not talk about holiday or work... This is the first time my little angel's secret garden celebrating Christmas. Therefore, a little snowflakes Christmas tree here to wish you an early Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. Thanks for visiting & supporting my little 4 months old baby. May all your dreams come true. Stay happy & healthy always.

Ten Weirdest New Animals of 2010

2010-12-16T05:32:00.000-08:00

The world is full of mysterious and unusual "things". Therefore, the hunger in discovering new things never slow down among scientist. Thanks for their curiousity and enthusiasm in exploring the beauty of Earth in an attempts to unearth the new things. Or else, we would never know the "weirdest new animals" on Earth.

New Purple Octopus

Photograph courtesy Bedford Institute of Oceanography

Ninja Slug

Photograph courtesy Peter Koomen

Yoda Bat

Photograph courtesy Piotr Naskrecki, Conservation International

The Simpsoms Toad

Photograph courtesy Robin Moore, ILCP

Squid worm

Photograph courtesy Laurence Madin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Self-Cloning Lizard

Photograph courtesy Lee Grismer

Pink Handfish

Photograph courtesy Karen Gowlett-Holmes

Wood-Eating Catfish

Photograph by Michael Goulding/Copeia

T.Rex Leech

Photograph courtesy PLoS ONE

Sneezing Snub-Nosed Monkey

Photograph courtesy Ngwe Lwin

Spring & Summer Color Trends 2011

2010-12-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas is around the corner, it's reminding me the end of the year 2010. It's time to prepare and present the best of ourselves in the brand new year 2011. And, don't miss the fashion trends for spring and summer in 2011 too. Being browsed through most of the fashion websites, all of them have one thing in common ~ color. Therefore, helping to shape the numerous trends we'll wear throughout the year are a number of colour trends that a lot of designers and labels will use to shape their collection. Hence, let's have a peak of color trends in 2011.

"Soften", "Energize", "Excite" and "Uplifting" are keywords for Spring/Summer 2011. For the Spring / Summer 2011 season they've put forwards five key colour trends.

Celebration

Spring personified in a palette, the colors that make up this Spring 2011 color trend are mostly named after flowers: iris, viola, daffodil, poppy, and geranium.

Abstraction

This is one color trend for those who are loud and proud.

New Classic

According to Lenzing new and unexpected twists on classic elements, and naturally bright pigments, will develop into new classics. "Fabrics are classic, materials the same but all elements are somewhat twisted: fibers in unusual yarn-spinning and -counts, classical weave patterns in atypical materials clashed with a curious checkered design, an embroidery where you didn't expect it - nothing loud, just enough to make you startle."

Aqueous

An obvious color theme for Spring 2011 because of its nautical tones, such obviousness is also what is likely to see it lazily interpreted and applied - a danger for designers and labels looking to apply seasonal colors to their basics. To avoid such misapplication, it should be used with "floating" pieces where the fabric is the focus; an interpretation of the sheer clothing trend seems a strong contender if you intend to work this color theme through your wardrobe.

Perleage
Subtle colours, bar for the jet black, this is a color trend all about sheen; in effect, luxurious and radiant colors menat to match with your radiant Summer tan.

Lingerie / Swimwear Spring 2011 Colour Trends

Along with their take on the motifs that we'll be wearing in Spring 2011, Interfiliere have also released their interpretation of the season's colour trends. Their choice for the colours you should be picking for your swimwear and lingerie are an eclectic range of hues, and ones better suited to swimwear than they are to the boudoir.

You may read the Spring and Summer color trends 2011 of Le Cuir A Paris for more information.

Spectacular Photos of Animal Migration

2010-12-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Animal migration is the travelling of long distances in search of a new habitat/home. The trigger for the migration is usually a response to lower temperatures resulting in a reduced food supply, and a change in day length. Migration is common in mammals, fish , and some insects but is most marked in birds. To be counted as a true migration, and not just a local dispersal or irruption, the movement of the animals should be an annual or seasonal occurrence. Here are some examples of truly awesome, breathtaking, and spectacular animal migration photos that you should see yourself. Enjoy the photos!

White Pilcans, Lousiana

Photograph by Annie Griffiths

Flamingo, Yucatan Peninsula

Photograph by Robert B. Haas

Jellyfish, Palau

Photograph courtesy National Geographic Television

Burchell's Zebra, Botswana
Photograph by Beverly Joubert

Wildebeest, Kenya/Tanzania
Photograph by Anup Shah

Albatross, Falkland Islands
Photograph by NGT

Pronghorn, Wyoming
Photograph by Joe Riis

Bison, South Dakota
Photograph by Joel Sartore

Mexican Free-Tailed Bats, Texas
Photograph by Joel Sartore

Snow Geese, New Mexico
Photograph by Ralph Lee Hopkins

Walrusses, Svalbard
Photograph by Paul Nicklen

Gentoo Penguins, South Georgia
Photograph by Paul Nicklen

Monarch Butterflies, Mexico
Photograph by Joel Sartore

Samburu Elephants, Kenya
Photograph by Michael Nichols

Elephant Seals & King Penguins
Photograph by Paul Nicklen

Red Crabs
Photograph by NGT

Kobs
Photograph by NGT

Army Ants
Photograph by NGT

Travel guide to Hokkaido, Japan

2010-11-26T06:52:00.000-08:00

Hokkaido {北海道} is one of my "must go" places when I travel to Japan. Hokkaido formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yesso or Yeso. Hokkaido is an island in the northernmost of Japan and consist of the 22% of the total land area of the country yet only 5% of the population lives here. As an island, Hokkaido is currently being the 21th largest islands in the world. It's really hard to imagine the fact of it. There are many attractions in Hokkaido, including skiing, hiking, camping, motorcycling, biking, rafting, canoeing, fishing…even bird-watching. Hence, I'm going to bookmark a few places that you shouldn't be missed when travel to Hokkaido.

Furano Lavender Farm

In Furano Lavender Farm, you'll impress with the purple carpet of lavenders on the vast land of Hokkaido. Enjoy the flowers covering hills, mountains and the sky. Its magnificent view will definitely touches your heart.

Akan National Park

Akan National Park is protected and run by the government in Hokkaido. This expansive park (905 sq km) contains volcanic peaks, large caldera lakes and thick forests. The park's attractions are its three sparkling clear mountain lakes, the eponymous Lake Akan, Lake Mashū and Lake Kussharo. The volcanoes spawned from the lakes featured an amazing natural scenic landscape weaving together forests, lakes and volcanoes.

Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Spring

Noboribetsu-onsen attracts people by its various springs with nine different qualities. The three most popular hot springs that can beautify your skin are sulfur spring, ferruginous spring and alum spring. This is really a good experience for you to see beautiful scenery, and banish the fatigue of travel in the hot spring.

Niseko Ski/Snowboarding

If you ask skiers and snowboarders in Japan,“which ski and snowboarding slopes do you want to visit most in the country?”, then many of them will probably answer“Hokkaido's!”. The Hokkaido's slopes have the finest powder snow compared to other slopes in Japan. You will love the experience of skiing/snowboarding on the finest powder snow, plus snowboarding on the snowfield and banana-boat on the frozen lake are assures you to have great fun. And, Niseko is the most famous ski resort in Hokkaido.

Sapporo ~ Beautiful National Scenery

Every city in Hokkaido is designed in an articulate manner so that nature and the cities function harmoniously. Especially, Sapporo is the biggest city of all the cities in the Northern part of Japan after Tokyo whose population marks over 1.8 million. You will be surprised to learn its cutting-edge culture and to find many inspirations as well as plenty of nature in the heart of Sapporo city. Also, both Hakodate and Otaru, cities located in the South of Hokkaido and North of Sapporo, have a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere because of Western culture brought into the cities more than 100 years ago. Those two cities are definitely worth dropping by when you visit Hokkaido!

Interesting facts that you never knew in life... Trivia II

2010-11-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

Great interesting facts or knowledge that you never knew in life continue..... Enjoy the trivia II that I've gathered for you and..... me.

51. Wasps taste like pine nuts, beetles taste like an apple and best of all… if you run out of bacon for Sunday breakfast you can eat worms from the garden because they taste like bacon.

52. If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand 7 feet, 2 inches tall.

53. Most people are an inch taller at night.

54. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

55. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

56. The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.

57. Blueberry juice boosts memory

58. The flea can jump 350 times its body length.

59. Each year, about 500,000 detectable earthquakes occur in the world. About 100,000 of those can be felt and about 100 of them cause damage.

60. A queen bee lays 1500 eggs a day

61. The city of Portland in Oregon was named after a coin toss in 1844. Heads for Portland and tails for Boston.

62. The African cicada fly spends 17 years sleeping, then wakes up for two weeks, mates and then die.

63. The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.

64. The tongue is the only body muscle that is attached from one end only.

65. Starfish don't have brains.

66. Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

67. Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.

68. In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.

69. On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.

70. The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.

71. Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

72. Kangaroos can not walk backwards.

73. Most alcoholic beverages contain all 13 minerals necessary to sustain human life.

74. Non-dairy creamer is flammable.

75. The first domain name ever registered was Symbolics.com.

76. How does a shark find fish? It can hear their hearts beating.

77. Penguins can convert salt water into fresh water.

78. Avocados have more protein than any other fruit.

79. The average car produces a pound of pollution every 25 miles!

80. The most powerful electric eel is found in the rivers of Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, and Peru, and produces a shock of 400-650 volts.

81. Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.

82. When a giraffe's baby is born it falls from a height of six feet, normally without being hurt.

83.One of the ingredients in dynamite is peanuts.

84. If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.

85. The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

86. The ant can lift 50 times its own weight, can pull 30 times its own weight and always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

87. Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age or older.

88. Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

89. 23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts.

90. Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.

91. Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

92. Goldfish's memory lasts only three seconds.

93. The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

94. Cranberries are sorted for ripeness by bouncing them; a fully ripened cranberry can be dribbled like a basketball.

95. On average people fear spiders more than they do death.

96. 90% of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.

97. The dot over the letter “i” is called a tittle.

98. An Albatross can sleep while it is flying.

99. One-gallon of used motor oil can ruin about one million gallons of fresh water

100. The creator of the NIKE Swoosh symbol was paid only $35 for the design.

Interesting facts that you never knew in life... Trivia I

2010-11-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

The world is full of many interesting things/facts that never explore or even knew by us. Why does this happen? Because we never thought of it, never need to learn it, and never need to use it. Hence, I would love to share some of the interesting facts that you never knew in life... Trivia.... Enjoy....

1. A baby is born with 300 bones while an adult has only 206.

2. A cockroach can live about 9 days without it’s head.

3. The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma.

4. Elephants are the only animal in the world who can’t jump.

5. Butterfly tastes with their feet.

6. You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

7. Apples are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

8. Turtles can breathe through their butts.

9. The chicken is the closest relative to the T Rex.

10. If you sneeze too hard you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force they can pop out.

11. Your stomach must produce a new layer of mucus every 14 days so it doesn’t digest itself.

12. Another word for junk food is “Lubberwort.”

13. Coca Cola is actually green before coloring is added to it.

14. A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

15. Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.

16. The first condom was invented in the 1500’s and was made of linen.

17. In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.

18. More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.

19. Horses can't vomit.

20. A snail can sleep for three years.

21. An elastic band will last longer if it is refrigerated.

22. Pearls melt in vinegar.

23. The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.So did the first “Marlboro Man.”

24. Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

25. The full name for Los Angeles is, “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncul.

26. The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum.

27. The King of Hearts is the only king without a mustache.

28. Camel’s milk will never curdle.

29. The first local anesthetic ever used was Cocaine.

30. Humans shed about 600,000 particles or 150 pounds of skin in a lifetime.

31. When exiting a cave, bats always turn left.

32. Richard Millhouse Nixon was the first U.S. president whose name contains all the letters from the word “criminal.”

33. It is physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.

34. No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven times.

35. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

36. It is impossible to kill yourself by holding your breath.

37. A slug has 4 noses.

38. A Giraffe can clean it’s ears with it’s tongue.

39. TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.

40. "Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

41. Right handed people live an average of 9 years longer than lefties.

42. It's possible to lead a cow upstairs... but not downstairs.

43. One ounce of chocolate contains 6 mg of caffeine.

44. In ancient Egypt , priests plucked every hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.

45. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

46. 85% of the world’s foliage grows in the ocean.

47. A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

48. The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

49. No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH".

50. All polar bears are left handed.

I've gathered more interesting facts that you never knew in life.... Want to learn/know more? Stay tuned.....

50 Most Stunning & Impressive Reflection Photography

2010-11-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

Seeing stunning, remarkable and impressive photography can really spice up my day! I've been browsing through the internet to look for the hidden natural beauty ~ Reflection Photography. Reflection photography can be explored easily on reflective surfaces like glass, mirror, and water. However, it will only becomes a piece of great artwork when an expertise captured a perfect shot and displayed them in a newly creative perspective. I've featured some of the greatest reflection photography to inspire you.

Photography By William Albert Allard

Photography By Rayman Gehman

Photography By Macduff Everton

Photography By Joel Sartore

Photography By Raymond Gehman

Photography By Rick Rickman

Photography By Bates Littleholes

Photography By James Blair

Photography By Raymond Gehman

Photography By Antti-Jussi Liikala

Photography By Linda O'Dell

Photography By Philippe Sainte-Laude

Photography By Unknown

Photography By TSPfotos

Photography By Unknown

Photography By Incredi

Photography By John Dalkin

Photography By Amnon Eichelberg

Photography ByGilad

Photography By Richard0

Photography By mzkate

Photography By Taffmeister

Photography By Anto XIII

Photography By Roeselien Raimond

Photography By Anthony Lawlor

Photography By Otsego Amigo

Photography By Giess Monika

Photography By Shotbart

Photography By K.Barker

Photography By Ben Heine

Photography By Mikeyexists

Photography By Landahlauts

Photography By Takeite@sy

Photography By Believer_

Photography By Ete Stein

Old/Ancient Seven Wonders of the World

2010-11-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone of us might know the new seven wonders of the world. However, how many of us really know about the ancient seven wonders of the world? Today, let me unveil them to you...

The Lighthouse of Alexandra, Egypt

Illustration By DeAgostini

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

Color engraving By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

Color lithograph By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

Photograph By David Sutherland

The Temple of Artemis, Turkey

Color engraving By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

Color engraving By Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgman Art Library

The Mausoleum of Hallicarnassus, Turkey

Painting by the Bridgeman Art Library

Ancient Landmarks on Verge of Vanishing

2010-10-31T00:50:00.000-07:00

Do you know that some of the ancient landmarks on Earth are on verge of vanishing? May be we should start join the preservation group to protect, restore and develop these sites for generations.......

Cradle of Medieval Architecture, Turkey

Photograph by Umit Bektas

Damaged frescoes in the Church of St. Gregory of Tigran Honents tell a story of neglect in the medieval city of Ani, now part of Turkey. Settled by Armenians in the 10th and 11th centuries, Ani holds churches and other buildings that helped inspire the Gothic style across Europe. The city was abandoned in the 14th century, when all Armenians were forced to leave under Turkish rule. Today the unprotected ruins are prone to looting and vandalism.

Chersonesos, Ukraine

Photograph by Wojtek Buss

The recently restored Saint Volodymyr Cathedral {background} stands in contrast with the ruins of a basilica dating back to the sixth century A.D. in Chersonesos, Ukraine . The area, on the southwestern tip of the Crimean Peninsula, was settled as early as the sixth century B.C. Once famed for its wines and coinage, the carefully planned city of Chersonesos went on to become one of the richest Byzantine civilizations on the Black Sea. But Chersonesos is now being "loved to death" due to unmanaged tourism and the pressures of urban development.

Hisham's Palace, Palestinian

Photograph by David Silverman

The eighth-century Umayyad palace was still under construction when it was damaged and covered by sand during an earthquake around A.D. 747. The ruins lay forgotten until archaeologists rediscovered them in 1934. Today experts have a basic understanding of the historic site, but they fear much of the palace's surviving remains may disappear as Jericho continues to expand its urban and agricultural developments.

Swahili Settlement, Lamu, Kenya

Photograph by Bobby Haas

A mosaic of tightly clustered rooftops decorates an aerial view of Lamu, Kenya, one of the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the old town of Lamu dates back to the 12th century and still boasts many traditional architectural styles of Swahili culture. Major threats to the site include a proposed port project and infrastructure for the oil industry.

Mahasthangarh, Bangladesh

Photograph by Susan Liebold

Dating back to the third century B.C.,Mahasthangarh in Bangladesh is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites in South Asia. Parts of the ancient capital were in use until the 18th century A.D., and the site is still sacred to Hindus. But years of neglect, looting, vandalism, and lack of funding have damaged Mahasthangarh.

Chronicles of Nineveh, Iraq

Photograph by Randy Olson

The rebuilt gates and mud-brick walls around the ancient city of Nineveh, near modern-day Mosul, Iraq, are popular tourist attractions. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire from 705 to 612 B.C., but the city was reduced to rubble by attacks from Medes, Babylonians, and Susianians. Archaeologists found the "lost" city in the mid-19th century and began excavations and reconstructions.Still—like many of the sites on the Global Heritage Fund list—Nineveh suffers from the pressures of modern society.

Palace of San-Souci, Haiti

Photograph by James P. Blair

Sometimes called the Versailles of the Caribbean, Haiti's Palace of San-Souci was constructed in the early 19th century by freed slaves to be the royal residence of King Henri Christophe I. But the king's subjects revolted in 1820, forcing him into hiding in the palace, where he eventually committed suicide. Once elaborately furnished, the palace crumbled in an 1842 earthquake, and today the ruined structure is rapidly deteriorating due to poor drainage and neglect.

Mirador Basin, Guatemala

Photograph by George P. Mobley

The Mirador Basin in Guatemala, considered the cradle of Maya civilization, sits adjacent to the well-known Classical Maya ruins in Tikal National Park, including the Great Plaza of Tikal, seen above in an aerial picture. The four cities in the Mirador Basin predate Tikal by as much as 1,200 years, but the Mirador ruins continue to lie abandoned under 2,000 years' worth of jungle growth. Threats to the approximately million-acre {405,000-hectare} site include looting, slash-and-burn agriculture, and illegal logging.

Taxila, Pakistan

Photograph by James L. Stanfield

A complex of caves, monasteries, and mosques, the city of Taxila in Pakistan was a crossroads of industry in the ancient Middle East. Four distinct settlement sites—each belonging to different time periods—show the evolution of urban development over the course of five centuries, beginning in the sixth century B.C., according to the Global Heritage Fund. Today the ruins and nearby Taxila Museum suffer from insufficient management—some areas of the site serve as garbage dumps, for example. Other threats include looting, the toll of regional war, and uncontrolled mine blasts that shake excavated artifacts from museum shelves.

Famagusta, Cyprus

Photograph from Photolibrary

Above, the ruins of an ancient gymnasium stand inFamagusta, Cyprus, once considered among the richest cities in the world. Founded as early as the third century B.C., Famagusta served as a key trading port and a center for political relationships between the Middle East and Europe. Lack of attention, lack of funding, and gradual deterioration of the monuments in Famagusta are threatening the ancient city's potential for survival.

Fort Santiago, Philippines

Photograph by Joel Nito

Spanish settlers constructed the historic walled fortress of Fort Santiago in the district in the 16th century. Much of Intramuros was heavily damaged by U.S. Air Force bombings during World War II. Today the greatest threat to the restored site is modernization. International chains—including Starbucks and McDonald's—are found within Fort Santiago's walls, and developers in Manila seem eager for further expansion.

Maluti Temple, India

Photograph by Sourav De

Only 72 of the original 108 terra-cotta temples remain intact in the 18th-centuryvillage of Maluti, India. The temples were built during the Pala dynasty by devotees of the Hindu goddess Mowlakshi. Other temples at the site were dedicated to Shiva, Durga, Kali, and Vishnu. Today, neglect, poor drainage, and overgrown vegetation are taking a toll on the complex.

Life Quotes, the Philosophy of Life......

2010-10-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

What will you do during your spare time? For me, I'll hanging out with friends, watching "horror/ghost" movies, chatting over a cup of coffee, day dreaming, browsing through the internet looking for information that I love, reading etc. Looking for "Life quotes" is one of my favourites whenever I surf the internet. It's inspire/motivate/enlighten me to live my life to the fullest and to achieve my dreams. Life quotes that inspired me.....

When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

~ Sydney J. Harris

Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope.
~ Tom Head

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

~ Vincent van Gogh

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

~ Maria Robinson

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

~ Howard Thurman

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.
~ Lillian Dickson

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.

~ Oscar Wilde

If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.

~ Win Borden

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

~ Booker T. Washington

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.

~ Helen Keller

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

~ Buddha

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

~ Oprah Winfrey

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away.

~ Shing Xiong

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

~ Albert Einstein

Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.

~ Lou Holtz

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.
~ Unknown

Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit.

~ Gordon Parks

Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

~ Joshua J. Marine

To live your life to fullest, start taking more risks and doing the things you fear. Get good at being uncomfortable and stop walking the path of least resistance.

~ Robin Sharma

Three things are needed for a good life, good friends, good food, and good song.

~ Jason Zebehazy

30 Most Breathtaking & Beautiful Landscape Photography

2010-10-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

Most of us love to see beautiful, stunning and breathtaking landscape photography. However, what is landscape photography? Landscape photography is a genre intended to show different spaces within the world and it's usually attempt to convey an appreciation of the world. Therefore, today, I'm going to present you my "landscape photography" collection that will definitely make you feel "Wow".

Mount St. Helens Shadow

Photograph by Diane Cook and Len Jenshel

Lions Gate Bridge, Vancouver

Photograph by Matheieu Dupuis

Beach Grass, Scotland

Photograph by Jim Richardson

Bamboo Forest, Japan
Photograph by Kyle Merriman

Tasermiut Fjord, Greenland
Photograph by Peter Essick

Tundra Landscape, Russia
Photograph by Michael Melford

Painted Hills, Oregon Sunrise
Photograph by Glenn Traver

Storm Clouds, Grand Canyon National Park
Photograph by Michale Nichols

Horseshoe Crabs
Photograph by Sean Crane

Fly Geyser, Nevada
Photograph by Stephen Oachs

Lake of Moon, India
Photograph by Dhurjati Chatterjee

Hong Kong Cityscape, China
Photograph By Ghani Khan

Terraced Rice Field, China
Photograph by Thierry Bornier

Manarola, Italy
Photograph by Paul Hogie

Pantanal, Brazil
Photograph by Mike Bueno

Canyon Landscape, Utah
Photograph by Christopher Zimmer

Bearing Sea Sunset
Photograph by Christopher Zimmer

Stone-Marked Grave, Libya
Photograph by George Steinmetz

Waikawau Bay, New Zealand
Photograph by Steve Burling

Simonos Petras Monastery
Photograph by Travis Dove

Licancabur Volcano
Photograph by Hugo Machado

Rialto Bridge, Venice
Photograph by Peter Geller

Hanuman Temple, India
Photograph by Lorne Warburton

Spitfire Lake Reflection
Photograph by Will Forbes

Santa Monica Shore
Photograph by Steve Sieren

Haw Creek Falls, Arkansas
Photograph by Peter Essick

Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
Photograph by Robert B. Haas

Iguacu falls
Photograph by Frans Lanting

Meadows Park, Scotland
Photograph by Mike Bascombe

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Photograph by Jim Richardson

Top 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

2010-10-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

What came across your mind when you heard the word "Beach"? Bikini, sunbathing, surfing, holiday and much more.... Beach is a place for me to relax, indulge myself and recharge my energy. Everytime I feel exhausted, beach will be my first option! Therefore, I've done my research on beaches that worth to go and listed them here!

1. Bora Bora island, French Polynesia

Bora Bora island is a fairy-tale creation of jagged volcanic peaks juxtaposed against crystal-clear aqua lagoons. One of the world's most famous dream destinations.

2. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas

Pink Sands Beach, located on Harbour Island, part of the Out Islands of the Bahamas, is design for those desiring a sophisticated but relaxed beach holiday... Snooze on a secluded pink sanded beach, explore the unspoiled beauty of nearby Eleuthera Island or enjoy a wide array of water sports, including bone-fishing, reef fishing, deep sea fishing, snorkeling and much more! The sand is made up of tiny bits of coral, crushed shells and red-shelled of the foraminifera.

3. Punalu'u Beach, USA

Punalu'u's black-sand wonderland located on Hawaii Big Island has won a few ‘best beach’ awards in recent times, and it’s truly an astonishing sight: Punalu'u's startling blue waters lap up against the jetblack beach, which is backed by rows of deep-green coconut palms. The scenery demands your constant, supine contemplation – and you might even spot a hawksbill turtle wandering onto the sand to lay its eggs.

4. Boracay Island, Philippines

Boracay island is a beautiful small island surrounded by coral reefs. This palm-studded island of Boracay - with its white, talcum-fine beach, balmy weather and warm, crystalline waters - is like a hypnotic magnet that lures many to a lotus existence.Some experienced travelers claim it to be the "Finest Beach of All Asia".

5. Bryan Bay, Australia

Byron Bay is a place of mystery, myth and legend. Beaches are dotted with lighthouses and surrounded by bottlenose dolphins, rays, whales and sea turtles.

6. Cook Islands

Cook Islands is a castaway’s dream come true. If you’ve ever fantasized about escaping to a remote desert island, far from the hustle and hum of the modern world, then look no further than these 15 fascinating islands, where you’ll find a thousand years of Polynesian culture sitting side by side with some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the South Pacific. The jewel in the crown is Rarotonga, the largest island – a bewitching blend of craggy mountains, dense jungle and glorious bone-white beaches.

7. Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Isla Mujeres is an unpretentious island off shore from Cancún, just 7km long and barely 1km wide, is light years away from the glitzy mainland scene. Its tropical beaches make it a cult fave, with those on the south side known for calm turquoise waters. For get-on-down Caribbean fun, visit Playa Norte, a popular beach with waiters who’ll bring drinks to your spot on the sand.

8. Pulau Perhentian, Malaysia

The palm-fringed beaches of the Perhentian Islands, covered in tropical rainforest, are about as natural as they come: calm, hassle-free and with virtually no signs of commercialisation. Except for snorkelling, diving, frolicking, swimming, sunning your body.

9. Culebra, Puerto Rico

Culebra with its 23 offshore islands forms a miniature archipelago. Coral reefs in this area are considered some of the most spectacular of the entire Caribbean region. Culebra's rugged countryside, outrageous beaches and small-scale tourist industry make the 25-square-mile island a Caribbean treasure for travelers.

10. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

'You go to heaven if you want - I'd rather stay here in Bermuda.' So gushed Mark Twain in the 19th century, and Bermuda's promise of sun and sea still lures vacationers to its shores. Horseshoe bay's surrounding turquoise waters give snorkelers and divers reason to rejoice: The calm waters and preserved reefs of beaches like Church Bay and Daniel's Head Beach Park feature regular sightings of sergeant majors and parrot and angel fish.

Discover the New & Rare Species in the World

2010-10-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

The new and rare species in the world have been found by scientist lately in the island nation of Papua New Guinea ~ One of the Earth's least explored terrains. Thanks for their effort in letting us know the beauty of these species. Most of the species have yet to formally documented or even named! Therefore, each of them is having a "unique name/nickname". And, this is what I'm going to show you!

A Nose for Fruit

New Species Blends in

Feather-tailed Opossum

Rare Jewel

New Species Aims for the "Eyes"

Country Mouse

A "Most Exciting" Find

Huge Headed "Major" Ant

Tiny New Frog

Most Popular Halloween Costumes Trend in 2010

2010-10-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just around the corner! No inspiration for your Halloween costume yet? Let me give you some ideas/guides on your Halloween costumes selection based on my knowledge in fashion!

1. Alice in Wonderland Costumes ~ Movie Characters

Mad Hatter costumes

Alice costumes

White Queen costumes

Red Queen Costumes

2. Twilight Halloween Costumes ~ The modern day version of the vampire

3. Lady Gaga Costumes ~ Always give you the impression of "WOW"

4. Avatar Costumes ~ The Na'vi

5. The cast of the Jersey Shores Costumes

My lucky number: 97T7E7GQXUTC

Top 10 Travel Destinations in the World

2010-10-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a travel lover. To me, travel can open your mind and enrich your life! It's the opportunity to explore, learn and experience the culture, religion and ethnicity in different country! I'll share my list of top 10 travel destinations that you shouldn't miss!

1. Iceland

Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted and truly magical landscape. Its breathtaking landscape is an inspiration to artists and photographers. Explore Aurora Borealis, which is such a divine sight as if bestowed as a gift from Mother Nature. Taking city break in Iceland’s Reyjkavik. Will be a wonderful experience of holiday.

2. Greece

Greece today is a vibrant modern European country. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clamouring for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy.

3. Nepal

Nepal is not just a bungee-jumping, apple-pie eating Shangri-la. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage.

4. Maldives

Maldives is a place full of character, where its people have long spent their days languishing in the very essence of idyll living. Indeed, so superior are its beaches, so cobalt blue its waters and so warm its welcome that the country has become a byword for paradise whether it be for honeymooners, sun worshippers or divers.

5. Cambodia

Cambodia: beaches as beautiful as Thailand but without the tourist tide; wilds as remote as Laos but even less explored; cuisine as subtle as Vietnam but yet to be discovered; and temples that leave Burma and Indonesia in the shade. This is the heart of Southeast Asia, with everything the region has to offer packed into one bite-sized country.

6. Ireland

Ireland is one of the most rewarding experiences you can get as a traveler. Its vastness, wildness and unspoiled natural sights combine with hospitable locals, rich history, well-guarded tradition, and a pint of Guinness to guarantee loads of fun and relaxation.

7. New Zealand

New Zealand's checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it's easy to see why the natives are so chilled.

8. Argentina

The secret is out: with its gorgeous landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and lively culture, Argentina is a traveler’s paradise. You’ll be out shopping for designer clothes at affordable prices and eating the world’s best steaks every day while partying at nightclubs all night long.

9. Morocco

The country of scents and colors, wild desert, superb coast, fabulous mountain vistas and of course excellent food, Morocco is a paradise for traveler. The vibe of the country comes from a unique blend of Europe, Africa and the Middle East cultures.

10. India

India is simply fascinating and addictive. It is the country of contrasts and many dimensions. Among main attractions are the Taj Mahal mausoleum, beaches of Goa, Darjeeling hill station, Varanasi holy city of Shiva, and the Himalaya regions such as Ladakh and Leh. Although these are popular tourist tracks, the vibe, beauty and charm of these places is well worth experiencing.

Beautiful Creature that I've never seen!

2010-10-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

I've never seen such a beautiful creature in my life [I mean till now]. I was stunned to find these amazing shots and started to...... "wikipedia" them!

Van der Decken's Sifaka

Van der Decken's Sifaka (Propithecus deckenii) is a sifaka endemic to Madagascar.

Length: 92cm to 107cm of which 42cm - 48 centimeters are tail.

Habitat: Dry decidious forest, Western Madagascar.

Hamadryas Baboon/Sacred Baboon

Hamadryas Baboon/Sacred Baboon (Papio Hamadryas) is a baboon from the Old World Monkey family. It is the northernmost of all the baboons; its range extends from the Red Sea in Egypt to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Males: Silver-white colored and have a pronounced cape which they develop around the age of ten.
Females: Capeless and brown

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitanheron [family Ardeidae] found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones

Wingspan: 88cm -96cm

Lenghts: 46cm - 56cm

Weight: 270g -512g

Stunning Photography of Animals' Love

2010-09-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

I've selected a few stunning photographs of Animals' Love that I personally love it so much! Hope you enjoy these Animal album of "Can you Feel the Love" by me!

Pigs Africa Kopp ~ Mother & Piglet

Lion Brothers

Red Fox ~ Mother & Pup

Zebra Huddle

Elephant Seals ~ Mother & Cub

Giraffe ~ Mother & Calf

Macaque Family

Polar Bear ~ Mother & Cub

Lynx ~ Mother & Cub

Lowland Gorillas

Best Tourist Attraction in Taiwan ---- Yeliu 野柳

2010-09-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

What is your first impression of Taiwan? What are the tourist attractions? Well, let me introduce one of the most stunning & spectacular attractions you should not missed ~~~ Yeliu! Yeliu has be known as Geographic Park and is one of the amazing National Scenic areas in Taiwan.

Yeliu is famous for the curious shapes carved by sea erosion. A number of rock formations have been given imaginative names based on their shapes such as the,

Queen Head

Twin Rocks

Fairy shoe

Ginger Rocks

Sea Candles

You can see some rocks have a round hole on the ground everywhere as shown below . The hole usually contains some round stones and is filled with seawater.

So, don't miss this stunning tourist attraction when you have Taiwan tour! It's highly recommended by me --- the "half" Taiwanese [Grandparents are Taiwanese]!

Extreme Cute Baby Animals in the Womb

2010-09-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone of us learns the "human" baby's development in the womb during our school time. What about baby animal in the womb? Let me unveil the cuteness and the excitement of "a new life" to you!

Kangaroo

Penguin

Lemon Shark

Elephant

Dog

Dolphin

Wasp

Thanks for National Geographic in featuring state-of-the art visual effects, computer graphics and real-time, moving 4-D ultrasound imagery to take these remarkable pictures in the womb and open a window into fetal development in the animal kingdom, unlocking the mysteries of one of nature's most remarkable journey.

It's all about little Angel

2010-09-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

It's my first day to experience the life of being a mom. I've born a new lovely baby... my little angel's secret garden! In this little garden, I'll share everything about life, travel, photography.... everything that I love & experience with you.

Oops!! Let me briefly introduce myself. Angelina is the name given by my parents while "Angel" is my nickname. Most of my friends love to call me "Angelina Jolie", not because of I'm having a sexy figure like her but..... my name. And, I live in a lively city that doesn't seem to sleep... one of the Asian country!

All the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and man in his time plays many parts ~ William Shakespeare

Every man is a volume if you know how to read him ~ William Ellery Channing