tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495012050357748132014-01-06T10:57:47.268-08:00Nirmal Mainoreply@blogger.comBlogger2777125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-28724146233818012052014-01-06T10:55:00.001-08:002014-01-06T10:57:47.284-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">According to all the encyclopedias: The Bridge - This engineering structure created to crossing the pond or to overcome various heights in relief. But lately, with the light hand of modern designers and architects, some bridges have found another one, not typical for them, function: they serve as observation platform for exploring the most remarkable sites and phenomena.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zHlF8qMRU2Q/Usr4uBY7XTI/AAAAAAABVqs/XWuNbsGg-rY/s1600/Path_in_the_forest_by_tetsuo_kondo_009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Path in the Forest" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zHlF8qMRU2Q/Usr4uBY7XTI/AAAAAAABVqs/XWuNbsGg-rY/s1600/Path_in_the_forest_by_tetsuo_kondo_009.JPG" title="Path in the Forest"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of these structure is amazing bridge called &quot;Path in the Forest&quot;, built in 2011 in the city of Tallinn Kadriorg held here as part of the festival installations <a href="http://www.lift11.ee/installation/Path" target="_blank">LIFT11</a>. All other installations in LIFT11 were selected through a design competition, but Kondo was invited to create the Path. It was realized in partnership with the <a href="http://eu-japanfest.org/n-english/index.html" target="_blank">EU-Japan Fest Japan</a> Committee. According to the authors of the project, the Japanese architect <a href="http://www.tetsuokondo.jp/" target="_blank">Tetsuo Kondo</a>, this unusual design that gently meandered through the trees and stood a few meters above the ground, had to change the stereotype, stating that walk and enjoy the beauty of plants can only be at her level.<br></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/path-in-forest.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-22778873525097784682014-01-06T03:02:00.000-08:002014-01-06T03:05:01.494-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Speaking of the architectural landmarks of Brazil, the first thing that comes to mind - it&#39;s Christ the Redeemer statue towering over Rio. The second largest building, which is the national pride of the country - a grand stayed bridge Octavio Frias Oliveira, named after a popular local newspaper publisher who influenced to a large extent on the whole social life of Sao Paulo, which actually is a magnificent bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Octavio Frias de Oliveira bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in São Paulo, Brazil over the Pinheiros River, opened in May 2008. The bridge is 138 metres (453 ft) tall, and connects Marginal Pinheiros to Jornalista Roberto Marinho Avenue in the south area of the city. It is named after Octavio Frias de Oliveira. The bridge deck is unusual due to its form, which is similar to an &quot;X&quot;, crossing at the tower. The &quot;X&quot; is 76 meters wide at its base and 35.4 meters wide at the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju0OBLFoHS8/UsqGNSkdfWI/AAAAAAABVnU/11Yl2rcvl0w/s1600/Octavio+Frias+de+Oliveira+Bridge__001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge is unique in the form that it is the only bridge in the world that has two curved tracks supported by only one concrete mask." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju0OBLFoHS8/UsqGNSkdfWI/AAAAAAABVnU/11Yl2rcvl0w/s1600/Octavio+Frias+de+Oliveira+Bridge__001.jpg" title="The Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge in São Paulo¸ Brazil"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge is unique in the form that it is the only bridge in the world that has two curved tracks supported by only one concrete mask. Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/111950863@N04/11449641814/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">It is the only bridge in the world that has two curved tracks supported by a single concrete mast. The two curved tracks, one at an elevation of 12 meters and the other at an elevation of 24 meters, have approximate lengths of 900 meters each. At the end of December lights are put up on the cables and illuminated to create color effects like those on a Christmas tree. The bridge is also lit up on special occasions during the year and is often used for automobile advertisements on television.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/The-Octavio-Frias-de-Oliveira-Bridge-in-Sao-Paulo-Brazil.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-52587272656656469442014-01-05T19:52:00.001-08:002014-01-06T04:22:34.106-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Antirrhinum Majus are counted in the garden plants list since many years. They commonly known as “Snapdragon” that too for a charming reason, and also known as the dragon flower. The flower of these plants imitate the dragon head. The dragon flower actually resembles the dragon. When it is squeezed and released, it opens and closes its so called “dragon” mouth. But that’s not the only weird thing about this plant. When the flower collapse, it shows its more evil side. It appears as a dragon’s skull! <span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The Dragon&#39;s Skull: The Macabre Appearance Of Snapdragon Seed Pods.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zK5xYVXl07A/UsoZk5WIb6I/AAAAAAABVlk/_hTwyWxnjPI/s1600/Snapdragon_Seed_Pods_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nature is so mysterious it’s amazing how something that looks exactly like a human skull will show up on a flowers seedpod. " border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zK5xYVXl07A/UsoZk5WIb6I/AAAAAAABVlk/_hTwyWxnjPI/s1600/Snapdragon_Seed_Pods_001.jpg" title="The Antirrhinum¸ Dragon’s Skull ─ The Repulsive Complexion of Snapdragon Seed Pods"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nature is so mysterious it’s amazing how something that looks exactly like a human skull will show up on a flowers seedpod. Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laajala/461931815/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The bygone time reveals that snapdragon plant was thought to have paranormal powers. People believed that growing it in the garden will provide shed to the house from dirty dealings, curses and witchcraft&#39;s. There is another fable depicting that it gifts a lifelong beauty and youthfulness to any woman who consume it! But it was never found any witch ruining the gardens that were encouraging these plants.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/The-Antirrhinum-Dragons-Skull-The-Repulsive-Complexion-of-Snapdragon-Seed-Pods.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-43596555636151494542014-01-05T05:16:00.000-08:002014-01-05T05:17:23.645-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Among the masterpieces of sculpture around the world across a rather unusual work. Some of them wanders so many legends and rumors, that at times it seems that these statues are alive. In this collection you will get acquainted with the most bizarre and funny statues in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">01.</span> &quot;Dream&quot;, St Helens, United Kingdom</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMYwv23xSkE/UslN3wTR_GI/AAAAAAABVkE/zvoJ1_QvP14/s1600/01+The_dream%252C_Plensa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Author sculptures in the form of a huge white head - the popular Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The sculpture, entitled &quot;Dream&quot; height of about 20 m was built at the request of the city council the English city of St. Helens in 2009, the year, as explained by the representative of the city, &quot;to reflect the aspirations of the local community.&quot;" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMYwv23xSkE/UslN3wTR_GI/AAAAAAABVkE/zvoJ1_QvP14/s1600/01+The_dream%252C_Plensa.jpg" title="&quot;Dream&quot;, St Helens, United Kingdom"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_dream,_Plensa_1.jpg" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Author sculptures in the form of a huge white head - the popular Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The sculpture, entitled &quot;Dream&quot; height of about 20 m was built at the request of the city council the English city of St. Helens in 2009, the year, as explained by the representative of the city, &quot;to reflect the aspirations of the local community.&quot; &quot;Dream&quot;, St Helens, UK way, like a sculpture of a head of a 14-year-old girl with closed eyes, but slightly smaller than the statue in England, Jaume Plensa installed on one of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/10-most-unusual-statues-in-world.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-22470491449295035232014-01-05T03:49:00.000-08:002014-01-05T05:35:41.773-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A 92-year old Japanese woman has amazed the world with her spectacular collection of embroidered traditional Japanese temari hand balls. We might not ever have seen them if not for her granddaughter, Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanaakua/tags/temari/" target="_blank">NanaAkua</a>, who posted the pictures of the whole collection on her profile. The nimble-fingered grandmother learned the technique in the 60s and, since then, her collection of marvellous temari hand balls grew to nearly 500 unique pieces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHEiwp-uSSA/UslC65HxbII/AAAAAAABVfQ/swlVJSHyl48/s1600/Japanese_Temari_Hand_Balls_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A 92-year old Japanese woman has amazed the world with her spectacular collection of embroidered traditional Japanese temari hand balls. " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHEiwp-uSSA/UslC65HxbII/AAAAAAABVfQ/swlVJSHyl48/s1600/Japanese_Temari_Hand_Balls_002.jpg" title="Traditional Japanese Temari Embroided Balls By 92 Years Old Woman"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This Japanese craft originated in China and has been stitched by parents and grandparents as a traditional New Year’s gift since the 7th century. NanaAkua’s grandmother’s collection is impressive with its hyper-detailed patterns, interesting structural compositions and vivid colours.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/Traditional-Japanese-Temari-Embroided-Balls-By-92-Years-Old-Woman.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-16000480521233295012014-01-04T03:33:00.002-08:002014-01-04T03:38:56.933-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Museum of Islamic Art is a museum located in the Qatar capital Doha and designed by architect I. M. Pei. The museum&#39;s interior gallery spaces were designed by a team lead by JM Wilmotte of Wilmotte Associes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nziWa0p11lM/UsfnP-UEh-I/AAAAAAABVbQ/96xoaibig8I/s1600/The+Museum+of+Islamic+Art+Doha_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Museum of Islamic Art is a museum located in the Qatar capital Doha and designed by architect I. M. Pei. The museum&#39;s interior gallery spaces were designed by a team lead by JM Wilmotte of Wilmotte Associes." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nziWa0p11lM/UsfnP-UEh-I/AAAAAAABVbQ/96xoaibig8I/s1600/The+Museum+of+Islamic+Art+Doha_001.jpg" title="The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha ─ Qatar"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nida_s/5699091821/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">The museum draws much influence from ancient Islamic architecture, yet has a unique design. It was the first of its kind in Arab States of the Persian Gulf and has a very large collection of Islamic art, plus a study and a library. Facilities also include IDAM, a high class restaurant offering a dining experience of French Mediterranean cuisine with an Arabic twist. Sabiha Al Khemir served as the founding director of the museum from 2006-2008. The museum has a total area of 45,000 m2 and lies on the edge of Doha harbour at the south end of Doha Bay. Construction by Baytur Constr.Co. (Turkey) reached completion in 2006, but the museum&#39;s interior was subjected to a variety of changes thereafter. The museum celebrated its VIP opening on November 22, 2008, and opened to the general public on December 8, 2008.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-museum-of-islamic-art-in-doha-qatar.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-50712098357444444922014-01-02T09:51:00.000-08:002014-01-02T10:04:14.585-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It was built between July 1897 and October 1898 at the cost of £18,904. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, the viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdigiuIwuVs/UsWjf2ltz2I/AAAAAAABVZc/JgPTfAEJKOA/s1600/Glenfinnan_Viaduct_Oldest_Railway_Bridge_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Glenfinnan Viaduct has been used as a location in several films and television series, including Ring of Bright Water, Charlotte Gray, Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny, and three films of the Harry Potter film series." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdigiuIwuVs/UsWjf2ltz2I/AAAAAAABVZc/JgPTfAEJKOA/s1600/Glenfinnan_Viaduct_Oldest_Railway_Bridge_001.jpg" title="Glenfinnan Viaduct ─ The West Highland Line¸ Scotland"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenfinnan Viaduct has been used as a location in several films and television series, including Ring of Bright Water, Charlotte Gray, Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny, and three films of the Harry Potter film series<span style="font-size: x-small;">. Photo ─ <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alasdairmulhern/2369463172/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The 21-arch single track viaduct was one of the largest engineering undertakings using concrete without reinforcing when it was built by Sir Robert McAlpine. Glenfinnan Viaduct forms part of the Mallaig extension of the West Highland Railway which was constructed between 1897 and 1901. Built entirely of concrete, the viaduct consists of 21 arches, each spanning 15m and has a maximum height of 30m offering spectacular views down Lochaber’s Loch Shiel. According to myth, during construction a cart-horse and driver were killed when they fell into one of the piers while dumping their load, and were buried in the concrete. Recent research has shown that the incident happened at Loch Nan Uamh Viaduct, further down the line, near Arisaig, and the driver survived. Memorial plaques are at the latter viaduct and at Glenfinnan Station Museum.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/Glenfinnan-Viaduct-The-West-Highland-Line-Scotland.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-13961925846526463932014-01-02T00:26:00.001-08:002014-01-02T00:43:08.850-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In order to attract customers often come up with the hotel owners custom design solutions. A striking example of an embodiment of original ideas is a Danish hotel Can Sleep, located on the picturesque shores of Lake Skanderborg. What is the highlight of this hotel complex, its uniqueness and original . ograd? Lovely bath with pool gives everyone a health bath complex &quot;Brod&quot;. In addition to direct-bathing treatments, visitors can take advantage of a pool table and satellite TV. Those interested can also take a power shower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IlnAd07HfCU/UsUe6uFsAeI/AAAAAAABVYM/_TBk3i8yUFU/s1600/Can_Sleep_Skanderborg_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Can Sleep Hotel ─ Lake Skanderborg¸ Denmark " border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IlnAd07HfCU/UsUe6uFsAeI/AAAAAAABVYM/_TBk3i8yUFU/s1600/Can_Sleep_Skanderborg_001.jpg" title="Can Sleep Hotel ─ Lake Skanderborg¸ Denmark "></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.euhotelpinboard.com/component/socialpinboard/pin?pinid=87" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br>The fact that the architects design the building and decided to carry out all the rooms, and offer more 144 in the form of a beer CAN. Each maisonette can accommodate two people, with the height of this &quot;residential banks&#39; equals twelve meters. On the ground floor, visitors can relax in the living room, where the mini-bar is located on the second floor is also quite comfortable bedroom. An interesting design decision is the fact that the roof &quot;banks&quot; is made of glass, it enables travelers to enjoy the unique beauty of the night sky, sparkling constellations and falling meteorites.<br></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2014/01/can-sleep-hotel-lake-skanderborg-denmark.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-55247259459972582402013-12-31T00:05:00.000-08:002013-12-31T00:06:40.368-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Nanpu Bridge across Huangpu river is one of the main bridges in Shanghai, China, and the first cable stayed bridge with a span of over 400 meter in the country. The main bridge is 846 meters long with a main span length of 423 meter. Two “H”-shape reinforced concrete towers, each of 150m high, are set up on both banks, with 22 pairs of steel cables being arranged in fan pattern and to support main girders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One of the attractive characteristics of the bridge is the circular design that is implemented in order to reduce the gradient of the approach to the bridge while keeping land use at minimal. When viewed across the entire span, the Nanpu Bridge, with a total length of 8,346 meter, looks like a dragon lying across the Huangpu River, with its head and tail in a spiral shape linking the old city area of Puxi with Pudong Developing Zone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70_6C1Ze3v0/UsJ2O7V6FoI/AAAAAAABVWQ/XDuqcGkbgBQ/s1600/Nanpu_Bridge_In_Shanghai_China_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nanpu Bridge ─ A New Landmark Of Shanghai" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70_6C1Ze3v0/UsJ2O7V6FoI/AAAAAAABVWQ/XDuqcGkbgBQ/s1600/Nanpu_Bridge_In_Shanghai_China_001.jpg" title="Nanpu Bridge ─ A New Landmark Of Shanghai"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugociss/8499245971/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Before completion of the bridge in 1991, the only way to communicate between Puxi and Pudong was to take the ferry service. After the bridge opened to the public, 14,000 to 17,000 vehicles started piling on the bridge each day, which increased to 120,000 vehicles per day as recorded in the year 2006.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/nanpu-bridge-new-landmark-of-shanghai.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-87468266256802463572013-12-30T01:07:00.000-08:002013-12-30T01:08:50.662-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Sudd, a fast expanse of bogs and swamps, has inhibited the travel along the Nile for centuries. The Nile forms the Sudd because it enters a land of almost absolute flatness. The average slope from south to north along 400km of the Sudd is only 0.01%. The water has no real gradient to follow and no defined basin to pool into like in the Lakes of Albert, Edward, and Victoria. It is located in southern Sudan and hinders travel along the White Nile. Explorers dating back even to the Romans who were trying to find the source of the Nile found a hard and almost always insurmountable barrier in the Sudd. The Sudd is thick with reeds, grasses, water hyacinth, and other water loving plants. These can form massive blocks of vegetation that can shift position and block navigable channels creating an ever-changing network of water. Sometimes there is no channel a boat can travel on that will lead through the bog. Boats carry saws and chains to clear the floating islands of plants from the channel when the way through the area becomes lost. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRpKMvwJnfc/UsExNClFPtI/AAAAAAABVUk/iGTi7AX7a2c/s1600/Sudd_In_Southern_Sudan_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Sudd, also known as the Bahr al Jabal, As Sudd or Al Sudd, is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRpKMvwJnfc/UsExNClFPtI/AAAAAAABVUk/iGTi7AX7a2c/s1600/Sudd_In_Southern_Sudan_001.jpg" title="The Sudd ▬ The White Nile in Southern Sudan"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sudd, also known as the Bahr al Jabal, As Sudd or Al Sudd, is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">In the rainy season the Sudd can expand to an area the size of all of England. In addition to the abundant plant life, there are a wide variety of animals that live in the marsh including many types of birds, fish, hippos, and of course mosquitoes which thrive in the warm, saturated air. The high water saturation in the air and fast expanse of marsh means that by the time the Nile exits the Sudd, it has slowed tremendously in speed and has lost a large amount of water to evaporation. There have been plans proposed in the past to create a channel for the Nile that bypasses the Sudd and allowing more water to make it to the river downstream in the deserts of northern Sudan and especially to Egypt. This would mean, however, the loss of habitat for the rich abundance of plant life in the area as well as the way of life for the tribes who live along and amongst the reeds and need the animals, plants, and water to survive. Civil war in Sudan, however, has stopped any and all building plans for water diversion from the Sudd. </div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-sudd-white-nile-in-southern-sudan.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-38420875149991304522013-12-30T00:34:00.000-08:002013-12-30T00:35:23.192-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Uluru visitors will not find the Red Center quite what they expected at the moment after heavy rain across the region have transformed one of Australia&#39;s most famous icons. More than 50 millimetres of rain fell in the Uluru Kata-Tjuta Park in Central Australia, creating waterfalls off the famous monolith. The park&#39;s manager, Christine Burke, says the area is coming alive in a rare treat for people travelling to the area outside the traditional tourist season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRuL2_FPKrE/UsEqO0Ot2wI/AAAAAAABVSc/lyHnovPb8O8/s1600/Uluru_Waterfalls_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRuL2_FPKrE/UsEqO0Ot2wI/AAAAAAABVSc/lyHnovPb8O8/s1600/Uluru_Waterfalls_001.jpg" title="Uluru Waterfalls ─ Australia"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom-mcshane/5819694327/sizes/l/" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Link</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">&quot;It&#39;s something that a lot of people actually wouldn&#39;t experience, seeing the park at this time of year when it is green and the plants are really shooting and the flowers are coming out,&quot; He said.  &quot;So it is a very exciting time for people to come out to the park.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The park is looking absolutely spectacular. The Spinifex has turned very green and what you can see now is all the trees and the plants are starting to shoot and grow new growth so the flowers are starting to come out. &quot;It&#39;s a very exciting time at the park now to see what happens after we have a good rain and it looks beautiful.&quot; The heavy rains cut off many parts of the region this week and some roads are only now starting to dry out.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/uluru-waterfalls-australia.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-31985635731393077142013-12-27T00:27:00.002-08:002013-12-27T00:29:09.903-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">The Jokhang also called the Qokang Monastery, Jokang, Jokhang Temple, Jokhang Monastery or Zuglagkang, is located on Barkhor Square in Lhasa. For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It is in some regards pan-sectarian, but is controlled by the Gelug school. The temple&#39;s architectural style is a mixture of Indian vihara design, Chinese Tang Dynasty design, and Nepalese design.</div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txTjVS5x4JA/Ur0yqXh9sfI/AAAAAAABVM4/Oz6TPwHNwyo/s1600/Jokhang_Temple_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Jokhang Temple Lhasa — Tibet¸ China" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txTjVS5x4JA/Ur0yqXh9sfI/AAAAAAABVM4/Oz6TPwHNwyo/s1600/Jokhang_Temple_001.jpg" title="The Jokhang Temple Lhasa — Tibet¸ China"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jokhang Temple Lhasa — Tibet¸ China [<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gunthermoons/2902965314/sizes/o/in/photostream/" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Link</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">It was founded during the reign of king Songsten Gampo. According to tradition, the temple was built for the two brides of the king, Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. Both wives are said to have brought important Buddhist statues and images from China and Nepal to Tibet as part of their dowries, and they were housed here. Many Nepalese artists worked to construct this temple.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the Bon period of Tibet the temple was (and sometimes still is), called the Zuglagkang (House of Religious Science or House of Wisdom). The term zuglag refers to the &#39;sciences&#39; such as geomancy, astrology, and divination which formed part of the Pre-Buddhist shamanistic religion now referred to as Bon. It is more commonly known today as the Jokhang, which means the &#39;House of the Buddha&#39;. Along with the <a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2009/06/potala-palace.html" target="_blank">Potala Palace</a>, it is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Lhasa. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site &quot;Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace,&quot; and a spiritual center of Lhasa.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-jokhang-temple-lhasa-tibet-china.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-62848148119955712542013-12-24T06:21:00.000-08:002013-12-24T06:22:32.974-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The holidays are always steeped in tradition, but these two brothers from Holliston, Mass. have taken sitting on Santa’s lap to a lifelong level. “We’re stuck,” the younger brother, Martin Gray, now 30, told GoodMorningAmerica.com of their annual photo opp. “We don’t really have a choice at this point.” It innocently began in 1980 with older brother, Mike, as a simple, seasonal snapshot organized by their mom, and has snowballed into a full-grown holiday mission with both brothers throughout the years. “My mom always did it and we never gave it much thought,” said Gray, but “it came to the point where we can’t really stop this since we’ve done it for 12 years.” Year after year, no matter where they were located, the brothers always made it a point to get together to quickly pose with the jolly big man. “Sometimes my brother had to scramble to come home from college and I’d just have to meet him at some random mall,” said Gray. Now, 34 years later, the Santa photo-taking torch has been passed onto a whole new generation of kids. “This will be their problem to deal with,” Gray laughed, adding, “Our mom thinks it’s hysterical, and it’s all about making mom happy.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMnO-0E6NNw/UrmVzBqEXkI/AAAAAAABVHM/ke88qVYg6xM/s1600/Brothers+Smile+With+Santa+for+34+Years+Straight_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two Brothers Smile With Santa for 34 Years" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMnO-0E6NNw/UrmVzBqEXkI/AAAAAAABVHM/ke88qVYg6xM/s1600/Brothers+Smile+With+Santa+for+34+Years+Straight_001.jpg" title="Two Brothers Smile With Santa for 34 Years"></a></div><br></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/Two-Brothers-And-Santa-for-34-Years.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-36131626750517629982013-12-20T06:30:00.002-08:002013-12-20T06:31:55.509-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is a large bronze statue of a Buddha Amoghasiddhi, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. It is a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and is also a popular tourist attraction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTDclSSIwps/UrRRRvkyo-I/AAAAAAABVFo/3jaLYmX8WkE/s1600/Tian_Tan_Buddha_Hong_Kong_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tian Tan Buddha ↔ Ngong Ping, Hong Kong" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTDclSSIwps/UrRRRvkyo-I/AAAAAAABVFo/3jaLYmX8WkE/s1600/Tian_Tan_Buddha_Hong_Kong_001.jpg" title="Tian Tan Buddha ↔ Ngong Ping, Hong Kong"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpwchi/6880617869/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">The statue is named Tian Tan Buddha because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits on a lotus[disambiguation needed] throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by six smaller bronze statues known as &quot;The Offering of the Six Devas&quot; and are posed offering flowers, incense, lamp, ointment, fruit, and music to the Buddha. These offerings symbolize charity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom, all of which are necessary to enter into nirvana.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/tian-tan-buddha-ngong-ping-hong-kong.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-9049942842421300672013-12-20T06:14:00.001-08:002013-12-20T06:37:37.096-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The island of Bali, with its exquisite carving women in the tradition of their ancestors, contemporaries were maintained. The island of Bali, with its exquisite carving women in the tradition of their ancestors, contemporaries were maintained. They capture their women behave like works of art.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeJUdDoXVP0/UrRO5oy6-xI/AAAAAAABVEQ/nHqSmcI_dak/s1600/Carving_On_Animal_Skulls_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bali Artwork — Skull Carvings" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeJUdDoXVP0/UrRO5oy6-xI/AAAAAAABVEQ/nHqSmcI_dak/s1600/Carving_On_Animal_Skulls_001.jpg" title="Bali Artwork — Skull Carvings"></a></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">The basic material was and remains cows and bulls in women. The reason for the current masters of words, natural beauty, environmental friendliness and reliability trumps. [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BaliOrganicArts" target="_blank">FB Page</a>] Tourists often buy such works. And to be able to remain calm, that no animals were harmed in the samples. </div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/Bali-Organic-Arts-Skull-Carvings.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-21817942146650272812013-12-19T11:02:00.000-08:002013-12-19T11:02:57.406-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. The museum was inaugurated on 18 October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Cantabrian Sea. The Guggenheim is one of several museums belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. The museum features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMjmgguRU9o/UrM_rfkUNLI/AAAAAAABVCY/znAAn5-oj_Q/s1600/Guggenheim_Mseum_Bilbao_Spain_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. The museum was inaugurated on 18 October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMjmgguRU9o/UrM_rfkUNLI/AAAAAAABVCY/znAAn5-oj_Q/s1600/Guggenheim_Mseum_Bilbao_Spain_001.jpg" title="Guggenheim Museum Bilbao — Spain"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekainte/2634744046/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the most admired works of contemporary architecture, the building has been hailed as a &quot;signal moment in the architectural culture&quot;, because it represents &quot;one of those rare moments when critics, academics, and the general public were all completely united about something.&quot; The museum was the building most frequently named as one of the most important works completed since 1980 in the 2010 World Architecture Survey among architecture experts.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/guggenheim-museum-bilbao-spain.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-36617551040586786762013-12-19T10:44:00.000-08:002013-12-19T11:03:16.746-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Cubic Houses are a curious and magnificent architectural wonder located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. They were conceived and constructed by architect Piet Blom in the 1970s. Blom was asked by Rotterdam town planners to solve the dilemma of building houses on top of a pedestrian bridge, and, having built similar houses earlier in another town, Blom chose to repeat the design in Rotterdam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Structurally, the cubes sit tilted on a hexagonal pole. They are made up of concrete floors, concrete pillars and wooden framing. Inside, the houses are divided into three levels accessed via a narrow staircase. The lower level is a triangular area used as the living room. The middle level houses the sleeping and bathing area, and the highest level is a spare area used either as a second bedroom or another living area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atYkggj-CDY/UrM7l0N2F3I/AAAAAAABVAU/gbd0v7ozIW8/s1600/Rotterdam_Cube_Houses_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Cubic Houses are a curious and magnificent architectural wonder located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. " border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atYkggj-CDY/UrM7l0N2F3I/AAAAAAABVAU/gbd0v7ozIW8/s1600/Rotterdam_Cube_Houses_001.jpg" title="Rotterdam Cube Houses — Holland"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_snow/3889813975/sizes/o/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Completing the tilted design, the walls and windows are all angled at 54.7 degrees, providing excellent views of the surrounding area. The only drawback – aside from claustrophobia is that despite a total area of 100 square meters, the angled structure means only a quarter of that space is actually usable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aside from the uniqueness of the asymmetrical design, the cubic houses are meant to represent an abstract forest. According to Blom, the triangular top of each individual house is supposed to represent an abstract tree, which, when connected with its neighbor, becomes a sea of trees in a yellow, manufactured forest.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/rotterdam-cube-houses-holland.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-77217427921457373102013-12-19T05:18:00.000-08:002013-12-19T05:26:43.825-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPgevrq7-kI/UrLvqKeFN9I/AAAAAAABU-0/qpQ_l6r9u7E/s1600/Christmas_Tree_Falls_In_Chiapas_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Tree Falls — Arbol de Navidad" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPgevrq7-kI/UrLvqKeFN9I/AAAAAAABU-0/qpQ_l6r9u7E/s1600/Christmas_Tree_Falls_In_Chiapas_001.jpg" title="Christmas Tree Falls — Arbol de Navidad"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.geolocation.ws/v/P/74251646/christmas-tree-falls/en" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">The shores of the river that you just can’t see from the top, and the 1 kilometer high steep canyon walls feel much more impressive when you raise your head and look at the peaks of the mountain walls surrounding you. Sumidero Canyon is dotted with waterfalls (many of which are not visible from the viewpoints along the road) but Christmas Tree (Arbol de Navidad) is a waterfall unlike any other. The water spills from a hole above into moss-layered, green rocks that are shaped like the branches of a Christmas tree. The picture with the boat shows how big the waterfall actually is.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-tree-falls-arbol-de-navidad.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-91423409749072597602013-12-18T01:46:00.000-08:002013-12-18T01:46:55.347-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Jacob&#39;s Well is a perennial karstic spring in the Texas Hill Country flowing from the bed of Cypress Creek, located northwest of Wimberley, Texas. The twelve foot (four meter) diameter mouth of the spring serves as a popular swimming spot for the local land owners whose properties adjoin Cypress Creek. From the opening in the creek bed, Jacob&#39;s Well cave descends vertically for about thirty feet (ten meters), then continues downward at an angle through a series of silted chambers separated by narrow restrictions, finally reaching a depth of one hundred and twenty feet (forty meters). Until the modern era, the Trinity Aquifer-fed natural artesian spring gushed water from the mouth of the cave, with a measured flow in 1924 of one hundred and seventy gallons per second (six hundred and forty liters per second) discharging six feet (two meters) into the air. The spring is the greatest source of water recharging the Edwards Aquifer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MC4-JV-i2s/UrFsFe2CubI/AAAAAAABU84/LN7ozyWoiD0/s1600/Jacobs_Well_Texas_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jacob’s Well — Wimberley, Texas" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9MC4-JV-i2s/UrFsFe2CubI/AAAAAAABU84/LN7ozyWoiD0/s1600/Jacobs_Well_Texas_001.jpg" title="Jacob’s Well — Wimberley, Texas"></a></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Due to development in the area, the level of the Trinity Aquifer has dropped affecting the flow of water through Jacob&#39;s Well. In the modern era, what remains visible of the spring is a faint ripple on the surface of Cypress Creek. The spring ceased flowing for the first time in recorded history in 2000, again ceasing to flow in 2008. This resulted in now ongoing measures to address local water conservation and quality. Hays County purchased fifty acres (202000 square meters) of land around Jacob&#39;s Well in 2010, in an attempt to protect the spring from development. An additional thirty-one acres was transferred to the county from the neighboring Jacob’s Well Natural Area (administered by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA)), the new, eighty-acre (323000 square meter) named the Westridge Tract. With the general decrease in water flow through the cave system, divers were for the first time able to descend directly to the first chamber.</div></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/jacobs-well-wimberley-texas.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-42858885000363306972013-12-18T00:51:00.000-08:002013-12-18T00:52:50.995-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Liechtensteinklamm or Liechtenstein Gorge, is a particularly narrow gorge with walls up to 300m high, located in the Austrian Alps 50km south of Salzburg. It is around 4km long and named after Johann II of Liechtenstein who had the walkways installed in 1875.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9dAvUUnZRY/UrFde7diXJI/AAAAAAABU6I/KLshtOw-hsE/s1600/Liechtensteinklamm_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Liechtenstein Gorge" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9dAvUUnZRY/UrFde7diXJI/AAAAAAABU6I/KLshtOw-hsE/s1600/Liechtensteinklamm_001.jpg" title="Liechtensteinklamm — The Most Beautiful Gorge"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cytonick/3526583149/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the deepest and longest ravines in the Alps, the Liechtensteinklamm is off the beaten track but well worth the detour. The jaw-dropping chasm was carved out during the last Ice Age and takes its name from Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, who poured plenty of money into making the gorge accessible in the 19th century. Following raging waters flanked by vertical 300m-high cliffs, the footpath crosses bridges and passes through tunnels gouged into slate cliffs veined with white granite. The mossy boulders and crags glisten with spray from the water, which is at its most striking in the late afternoon when the sunlight turns it opal blue. The trail culminates at a spectacular 50m waterfall. Allow at least an hour to walk the gorge.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/liechtensteinklamm-most-beautiful-gorge.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-63708496164187346162013-12-18T00:27:00.000-08:002013-12-18T00:30:22.308-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Butterfly Valley near Fethiye is a hidden gem of Turkeys Turquoise Coast. Deep, steep and accessible only by boat or via the Lycian Way walking trail, which is advised against. The Valley has only been visited in the last twenty or so years before that it was reletively untouched and unknown. Luckily due to the valley being inaccessable it has kept intact and pure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHKtvsPUAaM/UrFXkI6wHlI/AAAAAAABU3k/e0SMjyF4rdg/s1600/Butterfly_Valley_Faralya_Turkey_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Butterfly Valley — Faralya, Turkey" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHKtvsPUAaM/UrFXkI6wHlI/AAAAAAABU3k/e0SMjyF4rdg/s1600/Butterfly_Valley_Faralya_Turkey_001.jpg" title="Butterfly Valley — Faralya, Turkey"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31510321@N02/6222173077/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The valley is located at the base of Babadag mountain and is protected by the World Heritage Foundation. It gets it\&#39;s name from the unique butterfly species, who have up until recently been the only residents in the valley for thousands of years. There are over 60 different species of butterfly in the valley some appearing in the day time and others only venturing out at night. There are many rare butterflies and for those who are entusiasts there is a small museum located in the valley dedicated to giving more in depth information about the species that can be found there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/butterfly-valley-faralya-turkey.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-23657895628341111972013-12-16T03:30:00.001-08:002013-12-16T03:31:13.749-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of Osoyoos in British Columbia in Canada. It is located near the city of Osoyoos, beside Highway 3, near the U.S. border, Spotted Lake is known for its “leopard” landscapes. Local water saturated with mineral salts, has a huge concentration of magnesium sulfate, calcium, sodium, silver and titanium. Due to the high density of minerals in the water body can only survive microorganisms, fish is not found. Such natural anomaly and is the cause of colored tanks. Most saturated colors typical for the summer months when the spot formed on the surface of the lake, painted in yellow and green colors. At other times, the predominant color is graphite gray.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RkCw04up3Rs/Uq7gWChApRI/AAAAAAABU1g/xEeRHnPSqVo/s1600/Spotted_Lake_Canada_The_Leopard_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of Osoyoos in British Columbia in Canada. It is located near the city of Osoyoos, beside Highway 3, near the U.S. border, Spotted Lake is known for its “leopard” landscapes" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RkCw04up3Rs/Uq7gWChApRI/AAAAAAABU1g/xEeRHnPSqVo/s1600/Spotted_Lake_Canada_The_Leopard_001.jpg" title="Spotted Lake — Osoyoos, Canada"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wayfaring/7333635946/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">According to legend, Spotted Lake stop a long war between the tribes of Canadian Indians Okanagan. While crossing his warriors mineral water washed their wounds, which immediately healed. Healing properties of reservoir reminded Indians that it makes no sense to wound, which is so easy to be tightened – and the peace talks have replaced the decisive bloody battle. Now near the lake in nearby Osoyoos, lives the same name Indian community.</div></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/spotted-lake-osoyoos-canada.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-77742505175330790902013-12-16T03:06:00.000-08:002013-12-16T03:11:24.281-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Tbilisi pedestrian Peace Bridge, which runs over the Mtkvari River which total length is 156 meters, hit the Top-13 most unusual bridges in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Pedestrian Bridge World, connecting Old Tbilisi with new neighborhoods - one of the most significant buildings of the Georgian capital. Bridge with a roof of glass panels in the spirit of Norman Foster designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi with French designer- illuminator Philippe Martineau.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3hIhn2JnPf0/Uq7aFLC0izI/AAAAAAABUzM/Pw-hZ2kSAko/s1600/Bridge_Of_Peace_Tbilisi_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Bridge of Peace is a bow-shaped pedestrian bridge over the Kura River in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3hIhn2JnPf0/Uq7aFLC0izI/AAAAAAABUzM/Pw-hZ2kSAko/s1600/Bridge_Of_Peace_Tbilisi_001.jpg" title="The Bridge of Peace — Tbilisi, Georgia"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bridge of Peace is a bow-shaped pedestrian bridge over the Kura River in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62045504@N08/6171223787/sizes/l/in/photostream/" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Link</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">In the design of the bridge built in an interesting system of illumination: in the evening and night time every hour 30,000 bulbs translate Morse code message, visible to both of parapets of the bridge. It is composed of the names of the periodic table of elements of Mendeleev from which a human body consists. According to the architect,&quot; this message -is the anthem of life and peace among people and nations&quot;. Many compared the construction of this bridge to the construction the Eiffel Tower, which connected at one time high-tech architecture and monuments and thus change the architectural appearance of the whole of Paris.</div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-bridge-of-peace-tbilisi-georgia.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-28140693403607882832013-12-15T11:16:00.000-08:002013-12-15T11:16:35.767-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">McWay Falls is an incredibly scenic waterfall. McWay Creek drops 84 ft. off a cliff onto the beach nestled in a pretty little cove. The overlook view of the cove where the waterfall drops, is stunning to say the least. Unfortunately, you cannot get down onto the scenic beach (legally), as the cliffs are too crumbly and dangerous to descend (and if you try it, be prepared to receive a very hefty fine). I think, though, if it were possible to get down to the beach, this waterfall would lose something of its grandeur and mystique. The view is stunning, and the waterfall is alluring and out of reach. It adds to the beauty in my opinion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B4LxMPmDSus/Uq363Pld74I/AAAAAAABUxY/6bBOnscsjeM/s1600/Julia_Pfeiffer_Burns_State_Park001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a state park of California, United States, on the Big Sur coast. A main feature of the park is McWay Falls, which drops over a cliff 80 feet (24 m) into the Pacific Ocean." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B4LxMPmDSus/Uq363Pld74I/AAAAAAABUxY/6bBOnscsjeM/s1600/Julia_Pfeiffer_Burns_State_Park001.jpg" title="Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park — McWay Falls, California"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathan_y/4614140066/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">The great thing about McWay Falls is that it flows year-round. The waterfall is fed from underground springs on McWay Creek, and the waterfall thus has constant flow throughout the year (though of course, the flow is stronger in the spring).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The path continues past the waterfall a short distance to some ruins of an old stone &quot;waterfall house&quot;, owned by Lathrop and Helen Hooper Brown in the 1940s. Not much is left of the house, but it is an interesting site. The park was named after Browns friend, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, who was a pioneer and cattle ranch owner in the Big Sur area. There is also an awesome view of the Big Sur coastline in the other direction. The entire Big Sur coastline is outstanding. The best photo opportunities of McWay Falls and the coastline are at sunset. I highly recommend being at McWay Falls at sunset, though it is a popular place for other photographers and sunset gawkers. </div></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/Julia-Pfeiffer-Burns-State-Park-McWay-Falls-California.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-849501205035774813.post-9240043955768724582013-12-14T11:29:00.000-08:002013-12-14T11:30:23.773-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Ancient Siam formerly known as Ancient City — Mueang Boran is a park constructed under the patronage of Lek Viriyaphant and spreading over 200 acres (0.81 km2) in the shape of Thailand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The founder&#39;s original idea was to create a golf course with miniatures of Thailand&#39;s historically significant structures spread around the course. During his research he found most structures being severely damaged over time and decided instead of creating new miniatures to save the original structures when possible or re-creating them full size or scaled down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uvl8z3e71Js/Uqyof0qLF2I/AAAAAAABUuE/7Qm5WMGYIS8/s1600/Muang_Boran_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ancient Siam formerly known as Ancient City — Mueang Boran is a park constructed under the patronage of Lek Viriyaphant and spreading over 200 acres (0.81 km2) in the shape of Thailand. The founder&#39;s original idea was to create a golf course with miniatures of Thailand&#39;s historically significant structures spread around the course." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uvl8z3e71Js/Uqyof0qLF2I/AAAAAAABUuE/7Qm5WMGYIS8/s1600/Muang_Boran_001.jpg" title="Ancient Siam — Mueang Boran Park"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo — <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightmeister/10537295795/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Link</a></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;">After the post <a href="http://www.ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/05/10-most-unusual-parks-in-world.html" target="_blank">10 Most unusual Parks in the world</a> Ancient Siam is dubbed as the world&#39;s <a href="http://www.ritemail.blogspot.com/search/label/Largest" target="_blank">largest</a> outdoor museum. Situated close to the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan province, the 320-hectare city features 116 structures of Thailand&#39;s famous monuments and architectural attractions. The grounds of Ancient Siam correspond roughly to the shape of the Kingdom, with each of the monuments lying at their correct places geographically. Some of the buildings are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled down.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The replicas were constructed with the assistance of experts from the National Museum to ensure historical accuracy. Outstanding works include the former Grand Palace of Ayutthaya (destroyed in the Burmese invasion of 1767), Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Wat Khao Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border.</div></div></div><a href="http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2013/12/Ancient-City-Mueang-Boran-Park-Thailand.html#more">Continue Reading.......</a>Nirmal Maihttps://plus.google.com/107318895781069099675noreply@blogger.com0