FunKingdom

Indonesia's Amazing Tri-Colored Lakes

2015-03-12T20:00:00.000+05:30

Indonesia is one of the world’s most geologically active countries. Given its combination of active volcanism and tropical climate, it is home to several volcanoes which exemplify the type of dynamic interactions between the forces of the endosphere and exosphere that are characteristic of volcanic lake environments. Of all the volcanos in Indonesia, Keli Mutu on the island of Flores appears to have the most exotic lakes. In fact, its lakes are so brightly colored that they are featured on the 5,000 rupiah bill and thought of as a national treasure by the people of Indonesia.

The three lakes all have different names and local people have for centuries believed that the lakes are the spiritual resting place of their ancestors. It is said the lakes change color according to the mood of the spirit – and if that is the case then the souls’ moods are constantly restless.

The Lake of Old People (Tiwu Ata Mbupu) at the western point of the volcano is typically blue. Lying apart from the other two crater, this is where it is said the spirits of the old who have led righteous lives go to rest. The two other lakes share a crater wall. The Lake of Young Men and Maidens (Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai) is characteristically green. The third, the Enchanted Lake (Tiwu Ata Polo) can often be blood red but in the pictures here appears an olive color. This is the one where the bad people go, young, old, male or female. Kelimutu itself means Boiling Lake and often visitors can see wreathes of steam rise from the surface of the lakes.

Although no extensive scientific survey has ever been undertaken below the surface of the lakes it is assumed that the color deviations are due to underwater fumaroles. These are openings in the planet’s surface which let out gas and steam – sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and sulfide as well as carbon dioxide. This creates an upwelling (normally an oceanographic term) which drives denser nutrient-rich (and so colored) water upwards to the surface, driving that which had been on top downwards, so changing its appearance.

Volvo Develops The No Death Car

2015-03-12T19:38:00.000+05:30

Car giant Volvo is developing 'no death' cars that drive themselves and are impossible to crash – ready for launch in showrooms within eight years.

The computerised vehicles will be fitted with high-tech sensors and will 'refuse to be steered' into other objects.
Volvo says they will be on sale to customers by 2020, but that some of the life-saving technology will be incorporated into its vehicles even earlier – from 2014 – it says.

The car will be fitted with dozens of sensors allowing it to monitor both pedestrians and other traffic, and take action to avoid collisions. Volvo claims by 2020 it can eradicate accidents and deaths in its vehicles.

Sensors will also work at high speeds, ensuring the car is a safe distance from surrounding vehicles.

Volvo's head of government affairs Anders Eugensson said: ‘Our vision is that no one is killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020.’
Swedish-basedVolvo - now owned by China's Geely group - said the first versions of its crash-free cars would meant for driving in towns at a maximum speed of 31mph.

It is part of the race by leading car manufacturers including Volvo, FordMercedes-Benz, BMW, Vauxhall and even Google to build fully automomous ‘Robo-cars’ that can drive themselves – like the one which actor Will Smith drove in the sci-fi movie ‘I, Robot.’Thebiggest hurdle is not the technology which is largely developed – but public acceptance of it and and issues of who would be liable if a crashproof car did actually crash: the driver or the manufacturer?

Volvo’sMr Eugensson said;’We have tested prototypes on thousands of miles of test drives on public roads in Spain and on the company's test track in western Sweden.

‘The car of the future will be like the farmer's horse.' 'The farmer can steer the horse and carriage but if he falls asleep the horse will refuse to walk into a tree or off a cliff.’

Pura Tanah - A Sea Temple in Bali

2015-03-12T19:35:00.000+05:30

What to See

The temple of Tanah Lot stands on a rocky island just off the southwest coast of Bali. One of Bali's most sacred sea temples, Tanah Lot is dedicated to the guardian spirits of the sea. The temple itself is said to be guarded from evil by the sea snakes that inhabit the caves below.

The temple itself is not accessible to visitors, but magnificent views can be had from a variety of points nearby. Crowds especially gather on the terraces nearby to watch the glow of the sunset behind the temple. Naturally, there are plenty of souvenir shops and cafes with a view to keep you well-supplied while doing so.

Quick Facts

Names: Pura Tanah Lot; Tanah Lot Temple; Temple of the Land in the Middle of the Sea; "Sunset Temple"

Type of site: Temple
Faith: Balinese Hinduism
Status: Active
Dates: c.16th century
Location: SW Bali, Indonesia
Hours: Not open to visitors.

Amazing Architectural Vardzia Caves Monastery

2015-03-12T19:34:00.000+05:30

Vardzia Cave Monastery Complex, XII-XIII centuries in southern Georgia, Javakheti. An outstanding monument of medieval Georgian architecture. Located in the province Aspindza district of Samtskhe-Javakheti, in the valley of the Kura River (Mtkvari), about 100 km south of the town of Borjomi, near the village of the same name.

Top 10 Coolest Aquariums

2015-03-12T19:31:00.000+05:30

1. World's Smallest Aquarium

This is the world's smallest working aquarium, which holds just two tea spoons of water. The miniature wonder, which is made of glass and measures just 30 mm. wide by 24 mm. high and 14 mm. deep, can be held in the palm of your hand. It is so small there is only room for these tiny zebra fish.

2. Dance floor Aquarium

There are many bars around the world that are built around an aquarium, but not so many where the dance floor is a giant fish tank. In Austin, Texas, this cocktail lounge is called QUA Bottle Lounge. The dance floor is filled with sharks.

3. iMac Aquariums

MacAquariums and iMacquariums are created for Apple fans around the world. Jake Harms transforms old Apple computers into eye-catching aquariums. Recycled iMac cases are fitted with custom designed fish tanks, bright lights, and high quality filters in place of the screen.

Each Macquarium is ready to use right out of the box. Simply decorate it however you wish and add water and fish! It makes an original and eye catching home or office conversation piece.

4. World Trip Aquarium

“World Trip is a glass goldfish basin which has the shape of the world map. You can enjoy a world wide trip and adventure with goldfishes.” (Designer: Takuro Yamamoto)

5. Labyrinth Aquarium

The Labyrinth Aquarium is the gerbil cage of aquariums. It is, without a doubt, very cool. However, with a price tag of $6,500, it seems as if it should come with a person to clean this opulent aquarium. Just the same, it's pretty neat to look at the fish swimming freely throughout the entire fish tank.

6. Aquarium Bed

The aquarium bed is one of the most extravagant headboards on the face of the planet and probably comes pretty close to resembling where the mighty Poseidon slumbers. The bed is made from top quality materials and offers an unparalleled view of the enormous 650 gallon aquarium and its diverse marine life. Simply put, the aquarium bed raises the bar for all other home aquariums.

7. Bus Stop Aquarium

Wouldn't it be nice, while waiting for the bus, to have an aquarium full of fish to look at? At least for those first few days, until they die, at which point it'd get depressing. This bus stop is a real design coming out of Brazil, dubbed "AqurioMania."

Such marketing strategies may prove too expensive to deploy real aquariums on a large scale, but they definitely give a cool, lively look to the place we visit more than once everyday.

8. Frozen Aquarium

This is a very cool aquarium. So cool, in fact, that it's frozen! This crazy tourist attraction is a frozen aquarium located at Kesennnuma Port in northern Japan.

Octopus, crab and other fish are flash frozen and displayed in large, clear blocks of ice. Aquarium-goers can observe over 450 marine specimens contained in about 50 ice cubes at the aquarium, where room temperature is kept at a very chilly negative 20 degrees Celsius.

9. Pipeline Fish Tank

This is a guy who is truly a fan of fish and aquariums. He made this awesome pipeline fish tank which is all over this cafe. You can take a seat, relax and watch fish swim in those pipes. It is very unusual but you must give him a mark for creativity. Fish can move from one aquarium to another because of those pipelines which connect them.

10. Coffee Table Aquarium

Now, not only can you stand and watch the fish and aqua-scapes of your aquarium , but you can also lay down and enjoy them from your sofa, relaxing away the tension and pressure from work with this creative coffee table aquarium.

11. Nike Aquarium

The W+K Tokyo Lab is known for their out-of-the-box thinking and progressive campaigns, so it comes as no surprise that they reworked the classic Nike sneaker into a fish tank. Complete with three gold fish and a faux tree, the shoes feature a fully visible water unit sole and were crafted for the Nike 78 project. The Nike 78 project set out to pay respect to the Swoosh Company by crafting their sneaker models into other works of art as a nod to Nike's innovation.

12. Bathroom Sink Aquarium

There is something calming about watching tropical fish swimming, and the tank is a great focal piece. You usually see the tank in living and family rooms, but what about the bathroom? Intalbrass' Moody Aquarium Sink will liven up boring routines like washing hands and brushing teeth.

Amazing Foggy Nature Pictures

2015-03-12T19:30:00.000+05:30

Many attractive gardens, moss can be seen in Kyoto - the ancient capital of Japan, where the mountains surrounding the city provide a constant moisture content, and length of the summer rainy season create favorable conditions for growth and survival of mosses. Perhaps the most famous of all "kokedera" or moss temple - the temple Koinzan Sayhodzhi (Koinzan Saihoji), located at the foot of the mountains in the west Koinzan Kyoto.

Molecular Gastronomy Photography

2015-03-12T19:27:00.000+05:30

The Underwater Photography Competition

2015-03-12T19:25:00.000+05:30

This image of a harbor seal was taken in a kelp forest at Cortes bank near San Diego in California by Kyle McBurnie. It was the overall winning image submitted to the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science’s (RSMAS) underwater photography competition in Miami

This shot of anemone shrimp was taken in Puerto Galera in the Philippines by Beth Watson from Missouri. It was the winning picture in the RSMAS macro category. Most anemone shrimp live, and are totally dependent, on sea anemones. They are vulnerable to predators when they are not attached to their hosts and some lie parallel to the anemone’s tentacles to camouflage themselves further

The second place macro picture was this image of an emperor shrimp sat on top of two nudibranch molluscs. It was taken at Dinah’s Beach in Papua New Guinea by Douglas Good from Pennsylvania. The nudibranches resemble the worms in 1986 film, Labyrinth. The word ‘nudibranch’ comes from the Latin nudus for naked, and the Greek, brankhia, which means gills

The third place in the macro category of the RSMAS underwater photography competition went to Italian photographer Frederica Bambi. It shows a porcelain crab on an anemone at Pescador Island, Cebu in the Philippines. This porcelain crab’s official name is Neopetrolisthes maculatus. The porcelain crab gets its nickname because of its delicate shell. They are typically less than 15 mm wide and readily lose limbs when attacked

A photographer from Bournemouth took this winning shot of a lionfish on the Thistlegorm wreck in the Red Sea. Alex Tattersall took the shot during a trip to Egypt and it won first place in the wide-angle category. The SS Thistlegorm was a British naval ship built in 1940 in England. She was sunk on 6 October 1941 near Ras Muhammad in the north African country and is now a well known diving site

Second place in the wide-angle category went to Joseph Tepper, from New York. It shows spinner dolphins swimming in a small inlet off the Kona coast of Hawaii. Dolphins work as a team to capture fish but they also hunt individually. They search for prey using echolocation, which is similar to sonar

Pietro Cremone from Itlay won third place in the wide-angle category. His entry shows a Raccoon butterfly fish and angelfish on a reef in the Red Sea near Sharm el Sheik in Egypt. Raccoon butterfly fish are also known as crescent-masked butterfly fish because of their patterns. They grow up to eight inches and can live for seven years

First place in the fish or marine animal portrait category was won by Steven Kovacs. This juvenile lionfish was shot during a night dive in Roatan in Honduras. Lionfish, also known as pterois, have red, white, creamy, or black bands to warn off predators such as moray eels and bluespotted cornetfish. They also have pectoral fins and venomous spiky fin rays

This greater blue-ringed octopus was photographed near Malapascua island in the Philippines. The image won second place in the fish or marine animal portrait category and was taken by Marcello DiFrancesco from Italy. The octopus is one of three species of venomous blue-ringed octopuses that produce venom in its salivary glands. The venom called tetrodotoxin causes paralysis and respiratory arrest and can lead to heart attacks in victims due to a lack of oxygen

Third place in the fish or marine animal portrait category was taken by Judy Townsend. It shows a male dusky jawfish protecting his eggs inside his mouth. The image was taken at the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach in Florida. Jawfishes are called mouthbrooders, which meaning their eggs hatch in their mouths in a bid to protect them from predators. The eggs are typically kept in the fishes’ mouths for between eight to 10 days before hatching

The best student entry in the RSMAS underwater photography competition was won by Laura Rock from Florida. It shows a goliath grouper fish, official name, Epinephelus itajara, during the annual spawning event in Jupiter in Florida. Goliath groupers mainly eat mostly small, slow-moving fish and crustaceans. They can live to their 60s and begin to spawn when they reach about four feet long. They will travel long distances ¿ as much as 180 miles ¿ to reach summer spawning sites

Laura Rock from Florida also won second place in the student category with this shot of a great hammerhead shark in Bimini in Bahamas. The average great hammerhead grows to around 20 feet long. The great hammerhead rarely attacks humans but will defend itself when hunted for large fins. The fins are valuable in Asia as the main ingredient of shark fin soup

This photo of an oceanic white tip shark was taken by third place student winner Austin Gallagher, from Florida. He took the image near Cat Island in the Bahamas. Renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau labelled the white tips as ‘the most dangerous of all sharks’. In 1945, after the torpedoing of the USS Indianapolis, whitetips were thought to be responsible for the deaths of up to 800 sailors

Top 10 Most Spoken Languages In The World

2015-03-12T19:24:00.000+05:30

Although there are over 6,000 languages in existence today, the vast majority of the world speaks less than 150. Of those 150, the usual suspects are all there, however there are a few that may surprise you; English drops to third place and Portuguese overtakes Bengali. Enough teasing, let’s get started.01. Chinese (Mandarin) – 935 Million Native Speakers

Of the more than 6.6 billion people in the world, 14.1% of them speak Mandarin Chinese. China has many dialects, but Mandarin Chinese is the most common and widely accepted of them all. It is the native language of roughly 935 million Chinese.

02. Spanish – 387 Million Native Speakers

Saying “Hola” at spot number two is Spanish with 387 million speakers. This accounts for about 5.85% of the world getting the big bien venido upon entering this world. Also a common second language, for Americans and others, Spanish is quickly gaining ground as a world language partly due to it being widely thought of as the easiest language to learn.[livingbilingual.com/2013/06/11/learning-a-language-the-easiest-language-to-learn] While it has quite a ways to go before it overtakes Chinese, it’s already overtaken number #3… English.

03. English – 365 Million Native Speakers

If you’re reading this, you speak English to some degree (or you are really confused.) While behind Spanish, English is still the lingua franca of the world. It dominates business, trade, and America’s currency, the dollar, is still used on a global scale. Hollywood helps spread our lovely language throughout the world and helps it maintain it as a status language.

04. Hindi – 295 Million Native Speakers

Hindi is the big-hitter in India. India has over 122 languages with 22 of them recognized by the constitution of India as official languages. Of them, Hindi has emerged as the big dog; the one everyone wants to play with. It is essentially a lingua franca in parts of, if not all of, India. Most Indians can speak or understand it to some degree. India has a lot of people, therefore a lot of people speak Hindi. Logical.

05. Arabic – 280 Million Native Speakers

Obviously, as astute as you all are, you know this statistic is a bit skewed. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the common language used for news broadcasts and official stuff, however most Arabic-speaking folk speak a dialect of Arabic; Egyptian Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, Algerian Arabic, etc. If these were fragmented off, none of them would easily make the top 10, however, luckily for Arabic, they are all lumped together for official purposes. You got lucky this time, Arabic. Arabic is also one of the hardest languages to learn for English speakers.

06. Portuguese – 204 Million Native Speakers

From Brazil to Portugal, the Portuguese know how to party. They also know how to multiply. From a relatively smaller number of countries, this rabbit-like mammals get it done when it comes to producing little Portuguese speakers.

07. Bengali – 202 Million Native Speakers

I bet you didn’t see Bengali coming… in fact, I bet you don’t know what Bengali is. Let me educate you. Bengali is the language native to the southeastern region of Asia known as Bengal. Think Bangladesh. While numbers vary for the ‘native speakers’ of this language, it’s still in a solid place among the top 10 most spoken languages in the world.

08. Russian – 160 Million Native Speakers

Russian, or Russki as I like to call it (I don’t know why) is a Slavic language that gives me fits when I try to learn it. Written in the Cyrillic alphabet, it looks and sounds foreign to most English speakers. The Russians know how to be cold and decline words. And be tough. And intimidating.

09. Japanese – 127 Million Native Speakers

Perhaps the most polite language on the top 10, Japanese is famous for it’s difficulty in addressing various levels of people with regards to their status and respect level. Seemingly two different languages are used for addressing elders and people of authority vs. that annoying kid down the street. With it’s unique writing system, it appears to be really foreign to a large portion of the world. However, to 127 million people, it’s pure comfort.

10. Punjabi – 96-130 Million Native Speakers

Ahh Punjabi, what would a top 10 list be without you? Punjabi “…is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 130 million (2013 estimate) native speakers worldwide making it the 10th most widely spoken language in the world.”

It’s clear to see that the vast majority of languages are comprised of only the top fraction of a percent. Of the 6,000+ languages spoken today, this list of 10 makes up for roughly 45% or so of the total population of the earth. As the world becomes smaller, we lose a lot of the underrepresented languages out there. Whether you consider this a natural part of civilization, or a tragedy, it is happening. There are large efforts out there to support and help preserve near-extinct languages, but it will remain an uphill battle as more and more people jump on the bandwagon to speak one of the more ‘common’ languages

Internet Browsers Transformed Into Fashion Models

2015-03-12T19:23:00.000+05:30

In this series, California-based photographer Viktorija Pashuta transformed a variety of web browser icons into trendy fashion statements. The Latvian fashion photographer has always wondered What if girls were internet browsers?, and so, the project brings that vision to life through a creative interpretation of the notable logos. To develop the project, Pashuta envisioned each browser with certain characteristics based on the styles of the popular symbols. She developed ensembles based off of these personifications and chose models Kaylen Dao, Brittany Ryan, Clancy McClain, Tracy Acholonu, and Polina Frantsena to don the inventive garb.

To describe each concept, Pashuta quotes a friend who states that "Internet Explorer is all flashy, Firefox is sexy, Opera is elegant, Chrome is utilitarian, and Safari is trendy/h!p." In addition to the clothing, the accessories, props, and models' poses successfully convey the applied dispositions. With incredible flair, the final collection visually reflects the vibrant colors and individual style of each well-known logo design.

World's Largest Light Installation In Japan

2015-03-12T19:22:00.000+05:30

November 3 in Japan on the island of Nagashima opened the world's largest light installation. Called it "Winter Light." The central part of the installation was the tunnel of light. Several tens of thousands of lights lit up hundreds of meters into the tunnels leading to the delight of tourists visiting.

Most Expensive House in Canada

2015-03-12T19:21:00.000+05:30

A Mansion In Canada This is the most expensive house in Toronto, Canada. It is currently listed at $269,800,000. It has a large atrium, multiple kitchens, a tennis court, an indoor pool, a bowling alley, a theater, spiral staircases, and a 4,000 Sq, Ft. master bedroom. Also, its grounds are kept immaculate.

The Making Of A Cricket Ball

2015-03-12T19:20:00.000+05:30

The Tallest Bicycle In The World

2015-03-12T19:19:00.000+05:30

It's hard to believe, but someone came up with the idea to build the world's tallest bike. And this one was the designer Richie Trimble. In the stories have already been attempts to build the longest or the most eco-friendly bike, but until now no one and had no idea. The unique 4.5-meter-long bike was designed specifically for the annual event CicLAvia VI, which constantly collects in Los Angeles, a lot of people, especially cycling enthusiasts.

Ride a bike, though this is not very convenient, but still it is quite possible, moreover, can be seen all around, as the palm. The only thing preventing hanging lights and signs, on which you can accidentally hit his head. Most importantly, time to bend his head to dodge the metal signage, etc.

Designer and at the same time devotee of cycling and veloprogulok only took 12 hours to bring his idea into reality and build the world's tallest bike. Surprised residents of Los Angeles, not to mention the police, in amazement and mouth wide open eyes when he saw a similar design on the roads of the city.

10 Most Famous Diamonds In The World

2015-03-12T19:18:00.000+05:30

1. The Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond is not only one of the most famous gems in the world, but it is also one of the largest blue diamonds (4th�largest). It's physical value might be estimated but it's historical importance is priceless. It is so old that no one knows exactly when it was discovered. However, it already had an owner in 1668, in the person of an Indian slave who claimed that the 112 carats stone (which he believed to be a sapphire) came from the eye of an idol. Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a traveler and a gem merchant bought it and sold it afterwards to King Louis XIV of France. Its price today is estimated at $250 million. The legend says that this diamond was�cursed�by the Hindu priests of the temple from where it was stolen.

2. The Golden Jubilee

The Golden Jubilee is holding the title of the world's largest faceted diamond in the world, measuring 545,67 carats. It was discovered in 1985, in the Premier mine of South Africa. At first, it was considered an ugly brown diamond. Gabriel Tolkowsky received the diamond, which was supposed to be used at testing some new tools and cutting methods. The result astonished everyone. It turned out that the Unnamed Brown was actually a very beautiful yellow-brown diamond. It remained unnamed until it was presented to the king of Thailand in 1997, for the 50th�anniversary of his coronation (thus, its name).

3. The Cullinan I

One of the most famous diamonds in the world, Cullingam I was justly considered the largest diamond in the world up to the discovery of the Golden Jubilee. Also known as The star of Africa, the pear-shaped stone is the largest of the 9 diamonds cut from the largest rough diamond ever, the Cullinan diamond(3106,75 carats). Currently, it is the head of St. Edward's scepter, one of the British Crown Jewels but it can be removed and worn as a brooch.

4. The Idol's Eye

The idol's eye is one of the most mysterious diamonds in the world. Its entire history is unknown; we have no idea where it came from, when it was discovered or who owned it. The only clue is its name, The Idol's Eye. It appeared in a note, at Christie's when it was described as a flawless large diamond. It was bought by an anonymous buyer and disappeared again for some years. Its owners changed several times afterwards and was bought in 1979 by Mr. Laurence Graff, who sold it again in 1983, to an anonymous buyer who is believed to own the diamond today.

5. The Spirit of de Grisogono

This is one of the famous diamonds in the world. It is also known as the largest cut black diamond, and it measures 312, 24carats. This beautiful diamond was named after the Swiss jeweler who cut it, using the old Mogul style. The result was the jewel you see in the picture and it is the work of an entire year. Currently, it is owned by a private client, who must be a very fortunate person.

6. Koh-I-Noor /Mountain of light

Apparently, this is one of the oldest diamonds known to man. According to the legend, this diamond is more than 2000 years old, from before the birth of Christ. However, a much more documented hypothesis is that it was discovered in the early 1300s. The earliest recorded mention of the diamond is in the memories of Babur (Baburnama), the first Mogul ruler of India. It then passed through many hands and its long, complex history cannot be told here. It suffices to say that the diamond arrived to England in the 19thcentury and entered the possession of Queen Victoria. Not satisfied with its cutting, which caused it to shine less than it should have, the queen had it recut, which meant a loss of weight of almost 43%. It was then set in the queen's crown,in frontal position. India did not give up one of its most precious gems easily. The Indian government continued to ask the return of the diamond, with no success.

7. The Orlov

The Orlov is one of the most intriguing diamonds in the world. It has a blurry past and it is said that it was stolen from an idol, where the stone stood as one of the eyes of the statue. However, many questions remain: First, if this is true, what happened to the other eye? Could it have been the above mentioned Koh-I-Noor? Another theory is that the Orlov diamond is actually the legendary stone called the Great Mogul, which was only described by Jean Baptiste Tavernier and it was lost forever centuries ago. Whatever the truth, The Orlov diamond is now in the possession of the Russian government and it is set in the Imperial scepter. It is estimated at 189 carats but its historical value cannot be priced.

8. The Florentine

The Florentine is an enigmatic diamond which is believed to have a light yellow color, with a green overtone and an estimated 137 carats. Its known history starts with the duke of Burgundy in the 15th�century. Apparently, he died in battle while wearing the diamond. The stone was stolen from him by a peasant who sold it for a florin, because he thought it was mere glass. It then changed owners several times, for small amounts of money. In the 17th�century, we find the Florentine in the possession of the Medici familly. When the last Medici died, the diamond arrived in Vienna, and became one of the Habsburg Crown Jewels. After the World War I, it was stolen and never found again, though a particular diamond was believed to be the lost one, because of its similarities with the Florentine.

9. The Heart of Eternity

The diamond which bears such a romantic name is measuring 27,64 carats . It was found in a mine in South Africa and it has a fancy vivid blue color, making it an extremely rare diamond. Apparently, the blue color is given by impurities of boron and most of the gems are not entirely blue. The stone was an impressive 777 carats when found and caused a rush among diggers, who started to dig like crazy, trying to find another one. However, experts estimate that such a discovery is not likely to occur in the next several hundred years.

10. The Moussaieff Red

This gem is of an amazing beauty and it is estimated at 5, 11 carats. It has a triangular brilliant cut (it features numerous facets, which offer it great brilliance). Its amazing color was established to be fancy red by the Gemological Institute of America. One of the most famous diamonds in the world, the Moussaieff Red was first discovered by a Brazilian digger in the Abaetezinho River in 1990 and it is believed to have had 13.9 carats.

Top 10 Fascinating Deserts on the World

2015-03-12T19:17:00.000+05:30

World’s 10 most fascinating deserts: snow-covered desert, desert with salt lakes, world’s largest salt-lake desert, desert with salt lakes, white desert,driest desert, desert with elephants, red desert, black stone desert, world’s driest but most humid desert and largest desert in the world.

1. Taklamakan Desert (Xinjiang, China), the snow-covered desert

2. Lencois Maranhenses National Park (Brazil), the desert with salt lakes

Every year from July to September, heavy rainfall creates thousands of ponds in the desert. The white sand dunes mixed with blue lakes will leave you wondering if you’re in a desert or by the sea

3. Uyuni Desert (Bolivia), the world’s largest salt-lake desert

As the world’s largest salt lake, Uyuni has 65 billion tons of salt, with many salt beds spanning more than 10 meters. The surface of the lake reflects the sun’s light like a mirror, and the body of the lake is colorful because of the mineral deposits at the bottom. But with an altitude of 3,700 meters and 10,000 square kilometers of uninhabited lake area, it can be difficult to reach it.

4. Farfara Desert (Egypt), the white desert

In contrast to the yellow deserts in most other places, this desert 45 kilometers north of Farafara, Egypt, is a creamy white.

5. Atacama Desert (Chile), the driest desert

According to the “Guinness Book of World Records”, the Atacama Desert is the driest in the world. A 400-year drought recorded here lasted from the late 16th century to 1971.

7. Simpson Desert (Australia), the red desert

Simpson Desert is famous for its red color, caused by ferric oxide rust covering the sand and then turning to powder and mixing with the sand.

8. Black Desert (Egypt), the black stone desert

Located in an area formed by volcano eruptions that is just 100 kilometers northeast of the Farafara white desert, the Black Desert is littered with small black stones.

9. Antarctica, the world’s driest but most humid desert

The average rainfall in Antarctica is less than 5 millimeters, but at the same time, 98 percent of the land is covered with ice and snow. The result of these extreme weather conditions is dryness, humidity and cold temperatures that make Antarctica uninhabitable for humans.

10. Sahara, the largest desert in the world

At over 9 million square kilometers, the Sahara covers most of North Africa and is home to a number of peoples and languages. The desert stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the Atlantic Ocean.

Amazing Water Towns And Villages

2015-03-12T19:11:00.000+05:30

Water villages are settlements that are usually built on the water. Houses often float on the water or are located on stilts and rarely on small islands. This is a list of water villages, which are becoming increasingly popular tourist destinations.

01. Ko Panyi, Thailand

Ko Panyi is a fishing village in Phang Nga Province, Thailand notable for being built on stilts by Indonesian fishermen. The population consists of roughly 200 families or between 1,500 and 2,000 people descended from 2 seafaring Muslim families from Java.

The village has a Muslim school which is attended by both males and females in the mornings. Despite the recent rise in tourism, life in Ko Panyi is still primarily based around the fishing industry as tourists only visit in significant numbers during the dry season. The village includes a floating soccer field. Inspired by the 1986 FIFA World Cup, children built the pitch from old scraps of wood and fishing rafts.

02. Halong Bay Floating Village, Vietnam

A village of about 600 inhabitants built on the water can be found in Halong Bay. It is a magically calm place, an escape from the hustle of Vietnam streets. The village is a true waterworld, rising and falling with the tides, sheltered amidst limestone towers.

Locals live mainly from the sea. Most of the rock islands in the area are too poor to be cultivated. Halong Bay is very rich in fish and sea food. In this picture you can see some floating houses. Locals live in these houses and every morning they go fishing. They sell their catches to bigger boats, that bring the fresh fish to markets in the continent.

03. Giethoorn, Netherland

Giethoorn is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. This village is called the Venice of the Netherlands for about 7.5 km (4.5 mi) of canals run through the little village. It was founded around 1230 when fugitives coming from the Mediterranian regions settled there.

All traffic has to go over the water, and it is done in so-called "punters", they are 'whisper-boats' for they are driven by an electric motor, so they practically do not disturb the peace and quiet in this scenic little village. Many houses have been built on islands and they can only be reached by the wooden bridges. Some 50 little wooden bridges span the canals, which are only 1 meter (3 ft) deep. Giethoorn has 2620 inhabitants.

04. Uros Floating Village, Peru

The Uros are a pre-Incan people who live on forty-two self-fashioned floating islands in Lake Titicaca, Peru. These islands are hand-made from a native species of reed (totora) that abounds in the shallows of the lake. Uros people build temporary houses that float atop the water surface. The tide washes over their houses at times, so new layers of reed need to be laid every 2 weeks for better resistance.

The larger and most visited islands appear to many travellers as floating souvenirs, and to some extent these indeed are tourist-traps, their inhabitants having succeed in living off tourism. However, most of the smaller islands remain isolated from visitors and still practice a traditional way of life that includes old-technique fishing, bird-trapping, and relying on totora for housing and transportation.

05. Wuzhen, China

Wuzhen is one of China’s ancient water towns, where waterways thread their way through the flagstone streets and alleys. Covering an area of 71.19 square kilometres (27.49 sq mi), Wuzhen has a total population is 60,000 of which 12,000 are permanent residents.

Wuzhen displays its two-thousand-year history in its ancient stone bridges floating on mild water, its stone pathways between the mottled walls and its delicate wood carvings. Also, setting it apart from other towns, it gives a unique experience through its profound cultural background.

06. Kampong Ayer, Brunei

Kampong Ayer is an area of Brunei's capital city Bandar Seri Begawan that is situated after the Brunei Bay. 39,000 people live in the Water Village. This represents roughly ten percent of the nation's total population. All of the Water Village buildings are constructed on stilts above the Brunei River. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at night (the mosque is built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer)

Built on stilts and linked by bridges the water village is also served by water taxis and has its own schools, hospitals, restaurants, shops, mosques and petrol station. From a distance, although many of the dwellings look neglected and run-down, they actually have all the modern amenities including air conditioning, satellite television, Internet access, plumbing, and electricity. People have lived in this village for over 1300 years and some of them keep potted plants and chickens.

07. Zhouzhuang, China

Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, is situated only 30 kilometers southeast of Suzhou City. It is a enchanting place. This village features crisscrossing water lanes, ancient bridges and buildings built on and over the rivers. In an area of half a square kilometer, 60 percent of the Zhouzhuang's structures were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

It is noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. Zhouzhuang has been called the "Venice of the East".

08. Ganvie, Benin

Ganvie, also known as the Venice of Africa, is a lake village in Benin, lying in Lake Nokoué, near Cotonou. With a population of around 20,000 people, it is probably the largest lake village in Africa and as such is very popular with tourists.

The village of Ganvie was established in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries by the Tofinu people, when Dahomeyan warriors raided their countryside for captives to sell to the European slave traders. Originally based on farming, the village's main industries other than tourism are now fishing and fish farming.

09. Kay Lar Ywa, Myanmar

Kay Lar Ywa is water village located on Inle lake. Residents of this village are Intha people, which are members of a Tibet-Burman ethnic group. They support themselves through the tending of vegetable farms on floating gardens. Also, the Intha are known for their leg-rowing techniques.

A floating tomato garden on Inle Lake

The lake weed of Inle is collected by the Intha people to create floating gardens, which are anchored to the lake bed with bamboo poles. These floating gardens, called kyun-hmaw,which are built-up from strips of water hyacinth and mud, dredged from the lake bed, which breaks down into a rich humus; it take 50 years to produce a layer 1 m thick. The floating allotments are anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Land is also reclaimed in this way, and parts of the lake have been reduced to a maze of canals around these plots. Most of the produce grown on the lake gardens is vegetables - mainly tomatoes and beans

10. Tongli, China

Tongli, alternately Tong-Li, is a town in Wujiang county, on the outskirts of Suzhou. It is known for a system of canals. Tongli is half an hour away from Suzhou city. The place retains many of the features of an ancient Chinese town.

Tongli enjoys fame across China for its beautiful canals, historic bridges and opulent court yard homes. Tongli has 49 stone bridges and many gardens, temples. Because of the landscape, almost all of the buildings are constructed along the waterfront. The water also creates reflections of the town's arched roofs, lofty gables and stone bridges while green willows also line the banks can

Sleep With Fish In Underwater Bedroom At Floating Hotel

2015-03-12T19:09:00.000+05:30

The Manta Resort’s new room on Pemba Island in Zanzibar is a tropical island hotel room like any other – except that it floats anchored above a shallow coastal coral reef.The bedroom, which was opened just this month, is located in a room below deck that has large viewing glasses offering guests a view of the colorful aquatic world outside. Above deck, a three-story structure gives guests all the amenities of a regular hotel room, albeit with an incredible view.

By day, tropical fish and other sea organisms float and swim by the window. At night, lights illuminate the water outside the windows, attracting squids and other otherwise shy sea creatures. The whole thing is anchored about 250m from the coast. Can you imagine being rocked to sleep by gentle waves, waking up in the morning and diving in to swim with tropical fish? If so, you also better imagine shelling out $1,500 USD a night for two or $900 USD for a single occupant.

Underwater accommodations seem to have become a trend among hotels in recent years. The Manta Resort is now putting a unique spin on this concept. The underwater room has been revealed recently, a three-floor suite that floats beside a thriving coral reef and boasts a submerged master bedroom surrounded by windows to view the local sea life.

At The Manta Resort in Zanzibar, tourists can sleep in a unique self-contained hotel room that drifts on the sea, three meters down into the Indian Ocean. The giant windows of the underwater hotel room let guests peer outside into the wondrous world of the sea. For those who like to sunbath there is a top deck on the roof of the floating hotel room.

The large windows are giving an almost total 360-degree view of the water around it. Unfortunately the price per night is very high due to the exclusiveness and unique characteristics and not reachable for many people.

Located on the tropical Pemba Island in Zanzibar, the resort’s most standout feature is the natural coral reef lying just a few meters off its private beach, which attracts numerous divers and snorkelers to its villas. To construct an enticing off-shore suite though, the owners enlisted the help of Genberg Underwater Hotels, a Swedish company that previously erected a similar structure on a lake in Sweden. The unusual new underwater room floats almost 250 m (820 ft) away from the coastline and is held in place by several anchoring lines leading to the ocean floor.

The guests can dine on a lounge deck at water level and sunbath on the upper deck. By night, they’ll then dive into the sea to access their hotel room, where they nod off among-st the fishes and their marine surroundings. For an ethereal effect, the under water suite, which is built four meters below the surface, is lit by underwater spotlights to provide an amazing back lit projection of the Indian Ocean’s tropical sanctuary.

Hidden Faces In Everyday Things

2015-03-12T19:08:00.000+05:30

image: http://warmpics.com/files/funzug/imgs/unusual/hidden_faces_things_01.jpg

Cute Angel's Under Water

2015-03-12T19:05:00.000+05:30

Underwater photographer Lucy Ray, 33, from Greenwich, was a Fleet Street news photographer before embarking on her new career taking photos of children swimming

The baby is submerged, let go for a second while Lucy takes the photos then brought straight back up

Lucy first started to dabble with underwater photography at University when she learned to scuba dive Lucy, 33, who founded her brand new company Starfish Underwater Photography, takes pictures of the confident waterbabies, capturing a brief moment as they explore an underwater world.
The babies have been attending swimming lessons for a while before the shoot in order to get comfortable with swimming and being submerged.

'At the shoot, the parents says the baby's name, then says 'ready, swim!' and then the baby is submerged,' says Lucy.
'They are let go for a couple of seconds while I take the photos then brought straight back up.'
'It doesn't give me very long to take the pictures but I only need a few seconds as my camera can take six frames per second.'

Lucy says the older children especially love dressing up for their photo shoot

The babies aren't underwater for very long but it looks that way as Lucy freezes that split second in time

Lucy takes the pictures very quickly, she only needs a few seconds as her camera takes 6 frames per second 'I ask that babies have done a term of baby swimming lessons that include submersions.
'This means they gradually over a few months, build up to going under the water. It starts with splashing on the head, then face, and builds up to a full submersion.
'So in reality the babies aren't underwater for very long at all. It just looks that way as we freeze that split second in time.
Lucy, from Greenwich, London, first started to dabble with underwater photography at University when she learned to scuba dive.
'I have continued experimenting with it for over a decade and have invested heavily in the equipment. My previous work is in stark contrast to the underwater portraiture.'
Lucy, who now travels across the UK, including Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Leeds, Maidstone to carry out her underwater snaps, worked as a news photographer for more than a decade.
'It often involved waiting outside in the cold, whereas baby swimming pools are kept at a nice warm 30 degrees,' she says.

Eleanor, 6 months, looks serene in her underwater photo by Strafish Underwater Photography

Lucy trained to be a baby and pre-school swimming teacher too so she can teach babies to swim herself

She just decided to take the plunge and see what happens if she devotes all her efforts to a business 'Also, a lot of the time in news photography, you have to photograph people who don't want their picture taking, like people leaving court, but the babies don't complain, mostly.
'I will certainly miss the adrenaline rush of news photography: getting a call telling you to catch the next flight to Budapest, or get to the hospital, The Dutchess of Cambridge is in labour!
'But I love the creativity of underwater photography and the unusual images you can capture.'
'I've always had an entrepreneurial streak but having worked full time for newspapers my entire working life I haven't had the time to pursue any of my ideas fully.
'I've had a few failed businesses that I ran on the side such as strawberry wine, painted glass and ceramic gargoyles. The underwater photography seems quite sensible in comparison. I just decided to take the plunge and see what happens if I devote all my efforts to a business.
'It feels like every picture you can conceive on land has already been taken, because photography is so popular now, but with underwater, it's a whole new angle.
'I trained to be a baby and pre-school swimming teacher too so I can teach the babies to swim myself as safety is very important. So this really is quite a career change.
'I'm not a mum yet myself but if I have one, it's sure to be the most photographed swimming baby around.'
Prices start at £30 for half an hour in the pool with up to five other children. Customers get free use of costumes provided and up to six submersions.
Pictures are then paid for separately if they choose to buy any, starting at £30.

Famous Cricket Players And Their Kids

2015-03-12T19:03:00.000+05:30

A montage of the special ones in the lives of these special cricketers.

Adam Gilchrist

Saurav Ganguly

Inzaman UL Haque

Steve Waugh

Glenn McGrath

Bradd Haddin

LONDON - SEPTEMBER 13: Andrew Flintoff with his daughter Holly and captain Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen pose for a photograph aboard the parade bus on the way to Trafalgar Square as part of the Ashes victory celebration, September 13, 2005 in London. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

Denis Lillee wit the son Adam Lillee

Shane Warne With son Jackson

CALCUTTA, INDIA: Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (R) walks across the field with his young son Ibtecam (C), team-mate Abdul Razzaq, (L) before a practice session in Calcutta, 11 November 2004.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 25: Matthew Hayden of Australia kisses daughter Grace while out on the pitch during training at the MCG on December 25, 2004 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

KARACHI, PAKISTAN: Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria and his wife Dharmeta pose for photographs with their newly born daughter at a hospital in Karachi, 26 February 2005.

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN - DECEMBER 19: Former Pakistan cricket team captain Imran Khan and his sons Qasim and Suleiman Khan watch the action during the fourth one day international match between Pakistan and England at The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on December 19, 2005 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

MAthew Hyeden

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 28: Former cricketer Merv Hughes and son Scott participate in the "Merv's walk to the G" event from Federation Square to the MCG before day three of the Second Test between Australia and South Africa played at the MCG on December 28, 2005 in Melbourne, Australia.

Bangalore, INDIA: Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, with his son Mayas Kumble, arrives for a press conference to announce his retirement from one-day international (ODI) cricket during a press conference in Bangalore, 30 March 2007

Glenn McGrath

ENGLAND - JUNE 1983: Viv Richards of the West Indies with his daughter during the World Cup 1983 held in June 1983 in England. (Photo by Getty Images)

Ice Bars

2015-03-12T19:01:00.000+05:30

A fast-growing movement in the competitive world of nightlife entertainment is providing people with a unique and cool experience—quite literally. Entrepreneurs in many countries are raking in customers—and profits—with the expanding popularity of novelty drinking establishments fashioned completely out of ice; walls and all.

Often found in hotels or resorts, ice bars have become a popular tourist destination, especially for those who find themselves vacationing in the middle of a hot climate. Inside temperatures are typically kept at 23 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and with tables and seating sculpted from solid ice, some bars offer the comfort of large furs on the seating areas, which add padding and a barrier between the patron and the frozen furniture.

Amongst the expected oddities: customers are allotted certain time slots in which they are able to occupy the bar, and the employees work in short shifts. Clerks usually offer a parka or heavy coat to patrons at the door. The number of overall people is also limited (and closely monitored) to ensure that the combined body heat doesn’t begin to melt the establishment. Devices that emit heat and endanger the frigid atmosphere, like a cell phone, must be kept in lockers just outside the entrance.
Most often decorated with ice sculptures and lit with multi-colored LED lights (which produce much less heat than standard light sources), these frozen clubs are amazing to look at, even if you happen to be shivering the entire time while sipping on a popular, vodka-based drink served in a shot glass made from ice.
The Minus 5 Ice Bars, found in Las Vegas, Nevada and Midtown West, New York

The “Icebarcelona” in Barcelona, Spain
Ice Bars Barcelona Castle

The Frost Ice Bar in Boston, Massachusetts
Ice Bars Boston Swan Statue

IceBar Stockholm by ICEHOTEL (formerly known as the Absolut Ice Bar)

ICEBAR London by ICEHOTEL

Reasons Why Women Live Longer Than Men

2015-03-12T19:00:00.000+05:30

The Worlds First Inflatable Concert Hall

2015-03-12T18:58:00.000+05:30

"Ark Nova," the world’s first large-scale inflatable concert hall, is almost complete. Conceived by sculptor Anish Kapoor, architect Arata Isozaki and the Lucerne Festival, Ark Nova will travel the Tohoku region of Japan, an area devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The mobile concert hall will make its public debut in the city of Matsushima early next month, hosting concerts, workshops, and other events.

Beautiful Murinsel River Bridge In Austria

2015-03-12T18:57:00.000+05:30

Like a giant turtle shell or inverted in the midst of the river Mur in Graz is a unique bridge-island that so called - Murinsel, Mur Island.

The Murinsel — German, literally Mur island, in Graz, Austria, is actually not an island at all, but an artificial floating platform in the middle of the Mur river. This landmark of Graz was designed by New York artist Vito Acconci on the occasion of Graz becoming the 2003 European Capital of Culture.

The building is in the form of a giant sea shell and measures 47 m (154 ft) in length, about 350 people here who can spend time with children, spectate neighborhood, with this structure, they look totally different angle. Two footbridges connect it with both banks of the Mur. The center of the platform forms an amphitheatre. Below a twisted round dome there is a café and a playground.

Island platform anchors secured to the bottom of the river resembles a sink with two uniform zones: open and closed. In one part of the shell-bridge, under glass, there is a cafe-bar in the other, under a clear sky - amphitheater. Between children's playground and a maze of ropes.

With two different coasts of the platform are metal ladders in the overall picture obtained bridge island. In the evening the lights gives an unusual sight, bridge island is revealed on the other hand, wrapped in a mysterious mystery. Bridge Murinzel became the new pride of the city. It was built temporarily for a period of celebration, but the locals have left him forever, as another cultural heritage of a new era.