Pictures

The Most Weird And Wonderful Hotels

arslion — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:10:00 +0000

Around the world, there are accommodation options to suit the needs of everyone.
From cheap hostels in which a bathroom needs to be shared, to luxury resorts where the staff cater to your every need, the following selection of hotels are considered to be some of the most weird and wonderful anywhere in the world.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Situated in central-west Turkey, Cappadocia dates back to the 6th century B.C and whilst once a popular Turkish settlement, is now a massively popular tourist attraction in the country.

The uniqueness about Cappadocia is that from a distance, it looks like a vast, mountainous region. When close up, however, it is apparent that there are homes and rooms all over the region, many of which are some of the most peculiar but well adored hotel rooms in the world.

Capsule Hotels, Japan

Japan is known for its craziness and quirkiness and the capsule hotels that are relatively popular throughout the country are one of the oddest creations to date.

With two primary hotels, one in Fukuoka and one in Asakusa, the idea of capsule hotels is to offer nothing more than a comfortable bed in a quiet area. With no particular amenities or regular hotel comforts, capsule hotels are cheap, cheerful and serve their purpose perfectly.

Utter Inn, Sweden

The Utter Inn (pronounced Otter) is a mixture of contemporary art and accomodation and was created by Mikael Genberg.

Situated on Lake Malaren in Sweden, the sleeping area of accommodation is the bottom section and is completely underwater when on the lake, whilst the living quarters are above water, in the style of tradition red house.

Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica

Walking through Costa Rica to the Hotel Costa Verde, you would be forgiven for thinking that an aeroplane has crash landed into part of the hotel.

In fact, this aeroplane, a 1965 Boeing 727, is a fully functioning room with absolutely spectacular views and as strange as the hotel may be, nothing can detract from the breathtaking view that is offered.

Hostel Celica, Slovenia

Once a youth hostel, Hostel Celica has been transformed and is now an extremely popular youth hostel.

Ideally located close to many amenities and travel options, each of the ‘cells’ has been designed and influenced by an individual artist, giving the Hostel Celica a very unique feel, both inside and out.

Hotel De Glace, Quebec, Canada

The first of what is now several ice hotels across the globe, Hotel De Glace in Quebec City opened on New Year’s Day 1998 and remains as popular as ever.

As it is made solely of ice, it has to be rebuilt each and every year, meaning that each and every stay in Hotel De Glace will be different from the past.

Propeller Island City, Berlin, Germany

The Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin is an extremely interesting and intriguing place to rest your head at night, primarily because each and everyone of the rooms in the hotel are considered to be pieces of art and are completely different.

Considered to be extremely weird by some and wonderfully beautiful by others, the general concensus on this hotel is that is nothing short of startling – whichever way you look at it.

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7 Weird Animals That You can Travel to See

arslion — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:08:28 +0000

Weird Animals: Aye-aye

Tired of seeing run-of-the-mill lions, tigers, and bears? Then say “oh my!” to these oddball creatures at zoos and sanctuaries worldwide. Aye-aye Weirdness factor: Where to start? The aye-aye is a kind of lemur, with large round ears that rotate independently. How does it eat? There are no woodpeckers in Madagascar, but the aye-aye has evolved to feed like one, using its long middle finger to scoop out grubs in tree bark. See it in: Madagascar (and the Bristol Zoo Gardens).

Weird Animals: Proboscis monkey

Weirdness factor: The male proboscis monkey has a pendulous nose that is thought to amplify his calls to females (and his warnings to big-nosed rivals). The most dominant male usually has the biggest nose and can collect a harem of five to eight females. See it in: Borneo (and the Singapore Zoo).

Weird Animals: Naked mole rat

Weirdness factor: Almost totally blind, the naked mole rat is one of only two species of mammals that live in colonies with a caste system, like termites or ants. There’s one queen and sometimes hundreds of workers and soldiers — which are expected to sacrifice themselves in battle should a snake appear (and not lose its appetite). See it in: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia (and Zoo Atlanta and the National Zoo).

Weird Animals: Philippine tarsier

Weirdness factor: The tiny tarsier’s eyes are about twice the size of a human’s and have no peripheral vision. Tarsiers pounce on prey with their vulnerable eyes shut tight, for protection (because who wants a cricket stuck in their eye?). See it in: The southern Philippine islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao (and the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bohol).

Weird Animals: Emperor tamarin

Weirdness factor: Named for the last emperor of Germany, this tamarin’s wildly eccentric moustache (strikingly similar to Mr. Monopoly’s) is something of a mystery. Experts think it might be a unique identifier, as a fingerprint is for humans. See it in: Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru (and the Paignton Zoo, in Devon, England).

Weird Animals: Matamata turtle

Weirdness factor: The knobby, gnarled matamata uses its huge mouth to suck in unsuspecting food sources as they pass by. In Spanish, matamata means “it kills, it kills.” See it in: The Amazon River in Brazil, and in parts of Trinidad and Guyana (and the Honolulu Zoo and San Diego Zoo).

Weird Animals: Gelada baboon

Weirdness factor: This primate’s fangy yawn is actually a display of aggression to show off its canine teeth. The red patch of skin on the female’s chest gets brighter as her hormone levels increase. As a natural design feature, it’s probably a little too much information. See it in: Eritrea and Ethiopia (and the Bronx Zoo).

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Vertical Scrolling

arslion — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:52:13 +0000

Scrolling wheel workout for your computer mouse
+ visual feast for your eyes

Yet another “computer specific” (or rather “monitor-specific”) art-form is emerging on the net - images designed for viewing by scrolling down, and down, and down - to marvel at the VERTICALLY unfolding vistas. It also can be a bit disorienting… Have a look at these examples:

Art by Dinyctis, “Space Lane”

The Dizzying Bridge

You may have seen this image circulating in emails around a year ago. This photograph is probably responsible for starting it all, and certainly works very well (especially if you keep scrolling up and down, creating the swinging effect)

(image source Mighty Optical Illusions - original unknown, please help)

Into the Forest

Tony Karp at Techno Impressionist Museum makes pictures that are too large for your browser window. They are often eclectic, but always seemless and intriguing. Here is an example, see more at his site.

Scrolling through the spiritual realm

A 39-foot long scroll created by Naxi people of Yunnan Province, China (around a year 1500) depicts the spiritual realms through which the deceased soul has to travel on its way to paradise. It has 103 sections and serves as a bridge for the soul to “reach the realm of the gods” (according to certain elements of Tibetian and Indian Tantric religions)

Here is the lower resolution version, showing only a part of this incredibly long scroll, but on this page you can view it complete and at “high res”!

(Image courtesy: Library of Congress, collected by Joseph Rock)

Scrolling into outer space

Found on Pruned via BldgBlog, here is a stupendous scrolling across the Jupiter’s landscape (a cylindrical projection, stitched from the photos taken by Cassini spacecraft):

(Image courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Some interesting HORIZONTAL scrolling can be found hereSimilar Posts:

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Lightning Storms

arslion — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:55:48 +0000

Collection of hair-raising electrical storms

Most visually effective lightnings occur over city skylines, somehow. That must be due to the added element of danger; they might strike a building or wreak havoc on the city’s energy grid.

Various skylines featured here belong to Toronto, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore; other backdrops to heavenly unrest include the Arizona desert, Bryce Canyon, Baltic Sea, Madeira island or a nameless field in Wilmington, North Carolina. In every case, the display of electrical storm lights is both humbling and exhilarating.

(image courtesy: Ben Bishop)

(image courtesy: Bernd W. Schüttke)

(image courtesy: Sam Javanrouh)

(image courtesy: Roger Taylor)

(image courtesy: Dark Matter)

(image courtesy: Louis Vest)

(image courtesy: joepomata)

Kakadu National park, Australia

(image courtesy: Ty Siscoe)

Thunder lightning captured from Garajau (Madeira, Portugal)
Picture taken by Rob Dekker, courtesy: Madeira)Similar Posts:

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18 Great Graffiti Illusions

arslion — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:37:24 +0000

What is it about graffiti that separate it from all other art forms? First, it’s done outside. The element of danger adds to the piece, making us appreciate the elusive artist’s work even more. Next, it’s usually done in a specific place - carefully selected, so that the context becomes just as relevant as the piece. Finally, when you add in an illusion, it takes on a three dimensional view. We experience the art on a deeper level.

Banksy

Ghost Patrol

ROA

Sam3

Adres

Carnation Revolution, Portugal

Zilda

El Crudo

ABOVE

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Fantastic Paintings by Tomasz Maronski

arslion — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:00:35 +0000

Very Intricate, Surreal and Engrossing Work

Tomasz Maronski paints fascinating forms, which seem to originate from some smoky subconscious realm, then morph into entirely different kingdoms and realities and surround the viewer with the sultry and somewhat dangerous ambiance. They remind me of some “Pan’s Labyrinth” movie concept art. See for yourself. With the artist’s personal permission, here are some of the highlights of his exceptional work :

His Words

I paint on the canvas for almost 10 years. During this time I always improve my work expression and technics, searching for the right, unique ways of expressing either my personality or ideas, fantasy visions hidden inside of me. My adventure with computer graphic has started when I possessed the oil painting skills, but unfortunately I didn’t have time for that. My paintings concern merely the fantasy themes getting inspirations from world surrounded me every day. I focus on the landscapes subject. One of five works becoming very spontaneous but usually after the pre-painting or drawing I specify the aim. At the beginning I always define and describe the color pallet which I’d like to use in my work. I like using one dominating color which accents the main subject. My works consist the subject of some history I invented. Those ideas which I haven’t used yet will be a great part of my masterpieces in near future. The inspiration is everywhere for me. Therefore I can make painting with reference to every subject, but my attitude is various, so my painting world would be changed definitely providing me more constructive ideas.

“Underworld”

“Guardian”

“Beauty and the Beast”

“The Journey Begins”
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The Second World War (WWII) Motorcycles

arslion — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:13 +0000

These motorcycles are from different countries and all date from WWII.

Germany

Germany

U.S.A.

France

Spain

U.S.A.

Germany

France

U.S.A.

Russia

U.S.A.

England

Germany
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Making of AVATAR Using Advance Motion Capture Technology

arslion — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:08:02 +0000

Avatar’s new performance capture technology could revolutionize the way directors, actors and animators collaborate to create whole new worlds on screen.

Director James Cameron explains the process.

See How It Works

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Silly and Funny Animals

arslion — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:05:24 +0000

Batch of funny animals

(image credit: thanks to Farlion)

(image credit: Bonusov.net)

Note the backdrop for this “photo session”:

(image credit: Duncan C)

Source: Alexander Natrushkin, Reuters

(image credit: Alexey Vorobyov)

(image credit: Rachael Hale)

Rare Golden Tabby Tiger:

(image credit: Todd Eagle via Big Cat Simba)

(image credit: Lantern)

———————–
Now on to the “UGLY ANIMAL” contest:

(image credit: PuffinArt)

———————–
Animals Chilling Out… Peace, man

No, thanks… now if you would kindly get lost.

(image credit: WayOdd)

“You got a problem with that?”

Who am I… No, really?

Dirt therapy.

Massage therapy.

some not only chill, but are definitely getting drunk:

…might even end up in your salad.

This creature is visible only to sufficiently intoxicated:

and, please - mind your alligators (and crocodiles)

(image credit: Karaul)Similar Posts:

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Dry Valleys of Antarctica

arslion — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:30:26 +0000

Journey Through the Otherworldly Landscape

The Dry Valleys of Antarctica (located within Victoria Land west of McMurdo Sound) get almost no snowfall, and except for a few steep rocks they are the only continental part of Antarctica devoid of ice. The terrain looks like something not of this Earth; the valley floor occasionally contains a perennially frozen lake with ice several meters thick. Under the ice, in the extremely salty water live mysterious simple organisms, a subject of on-going research.

Victoria Valley, Wright Valley and Taylor Valley.

Image credit: Peter West, National Science Foundation

Recent Washington Post interactive presentation
(featuring photography by George Steinmetz) reveals this stark but beautiful terrain like never before - in some places weirdly similar to Martian landscape:

Looking like something out of Lovecraft’s (”Mountains of Madness”) imagination, this is actually a dried skeleton of a seal.

Lake Vanda in Wright Valley, with extremely salty water underneath thick layer of incredibly clear ice:

Taylor Valley: Powerful “katabatic” winds erode the rocks on the bottom of the valley into marvelous shapes. Such wind-sculpted rocks are called “ventifacts”:

Photos by George Steinmetz

Compare the above image with Easter Island Statues:

(thanks to m3ch for pointing this out)

For more images , click here

Another good article shows more wind-carved “ventifacts”:

Photo by Kristan Hutchison

Canada Glacier on the edge of Lake Fryxell:

Photo by Joe Mastroianni

Volcanic Fumaroles of Mount Erebus

Lenticular clouds hover over Mount Erebus volcano (US Coast Guard photo)

Mount Erebus (3,794 meters), Ross Island, is the most active volcano in Antarctica, which also contains “persistent” lava lake, one of a very few long-lived lava lakes in the world - clearly visible from space:

Steaming ice “fumaroles” (volcanic gas vents) surround the crater, in time turning into surreal ice towers:

Photo courtesy of Rich Esser

Photo by George Steinmetz

Blue light inside a fumarole turns it into a work of art:

Photo by Paul Doherty

Mount Erebus ice caves merit their own exploration:

Photo by Jessie CrainSimilar Posts:

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