Amazing Pictures and Views

Amazing pictures and views

Dolphin Play Bubble Rings

When you spend your life in the water, I guess you tend to develop a good intuition for its subtleties. Dolphins have been observed to create bubble rings by exhaling air... More» carefully in the middle of the vortices caused by the motion of their fins through the water, among other techniques. Besides being nice to look at (and a neat demonstration of fluid mechanics), this phenomenon also might throw some light on dolphin cognition, since the skill to create the rings is a bit subtle and tends to be taught from one dolphin to the next via careful observation and practice. I'm also intrigued by the report that they seem to be using sonar to locate the vortex in the water, since that would be a fairly amazing bit of audio analysis. This video is dedicated to the best employee at Sea World.

Can You Drive Here

An image collection of the most dangerous and difficult to pass roads in the world

Angel Falls

The "Salto del Angel" (Angel Falls) is the world's highest waterfall at 3,212 ft with an uninterrupted drop of 2,648 ft. It is located in the Canaima National Park, in Venezuela

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is , for many, the quintessential romantic island destination. A honeymoon at The Cook Islands will include romantic moments spent at heavenly beaches, basking in the sum and swimming in warm, clear lagoons. If your image of the perfect romantic getaway, honeymoon, or couple's holiday has always been one that includes gorgeous beaches and palm fronds swishing in the breeze, then the Cook Islands might be what you have been seeking. Many a couple have not only chosen a Cook Islands honeymoon, but also decided to get married with a Destination Wedding at The Cook Islands. The Cook Islands are situated 2,200 miles northeast of New Zealand and 600 miles southwest of Tahiti in the South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia. The islands fall into two groups: the scattered Northern Group are all coral atolls while the Southern Group is of volcanic origin. Most of the larger islands include lagoons surrounded by small areas of fertile land above which rise volcanic hills. Unsurprisingly, given their beauty, the Cook Islands have been used as the setting for several films, the best known being Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.



There are 15 islands altogether – here is some information about the most popular, the most unusual and the least populated. Rarotonga - This is the capital of the Cooks with the highest population at 12,000 people. Tall lush peaks are surrounded by breathtaking beaches, a stunning clear lagoon and encircling coral reef. The main town of Avarua is on the north side of the island, and has many cafes and souvenir shops with a great array of gifts like pareu (sarongs), carvings, the famous black pearls and local art work. There is a main road encompassing the whole island, making it easy to get around and explore the other villages, and visit the many beaches on the western side of the island to watch the glorious sunset whilst sipping a happy hour cocktail. Aitutaki –Its said to be one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, and reachable by a 50 minute plane trip with Air Rarotonga.
The other 13 islands are beautiful, and more remote with fewer tourists. You can reach some by plane from Rarotonga, the rest by boat and are well worth a visit if you have plenty of time. The outer islands include Atiu, a raised coral island 133 miles from Raro, famous for its caves which house the Kopeka bird, a swallow unique to Atui. Suwarrow, which is inhabited only by a caretaker and his family, is considered a sanctuary for many endangered species, especially sea birds, and is also steeped in history of buried treasure. Palmerston is an unusual gem in the South Pacific. Settled in 1863 by Englishman William Marsters with his three Cook Islands wives, he and his descendents have populated this small group of motus. It is said that the locals still talk with a Gloucestershire twang!
On Rarotonga, we enjoy a slow pace of life, so if you're looking for a stressful trip, don't comehere! Apart from just relaxing, lying on the palm fringed beaches, there are, however, a wide range of other things to do. If you're a bit of a night-owl, there’s plenty of fun to be had! Dancing is an important part of Cook Islands culture, and a visit to an Island Night is a must while you are here. You'll be amazed by the energetic drumming and vibrant exotic dancing in the unforgettable shows. If you just want to party, there are plenty of bars in which to try the local beer.

The Seychelles Islands (Travel)

The Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean . The Seychelles are definitely one of the world's most beautiful tropical island destinations. The islands archipelago consists of 115 islands with a total land area of 442 sq. km, spread over 1.2 million square kilometers of the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. About half of the islands are granitic in origin, with narrow coastal strips and central ranges of hills rising to 900 m.

This isolated island paradise offers fine beaches, turquoise seas and warm weather. As a result of their extraordinary, isolated history, the Seychelles are also rich in rare plants which flourish nowhere else on the planet. No less than 81 species are unique survivors from the luxuriant tropical forests that covered the islands until humanity's belated arrival two centuries ago. Outstanding amongst these is the coco-de-mer (sea coconut), native to Praslin, which grows in the Vallée de Mai. Its seed is the largest in nature, and gave rise to many legends when it was washed ashore on the coasts of Africa, India and Indonesia. Since the islands were unknown, the nuts were thought to have grown under the sea - hence the name.

The Seychelles are also a major attraction for birdwatchers. Millions of terns nest on the islands - among them that most beautiful of seabirds, the fairy tern. Up to two million sooty terns nest on Bird Island, and on Aride can be found the world's largest colonies of lesser noddies, roseate terns and other tropical birds. It was only some 30 years ago that active conservation of endangered species began in the Seychelles. Since then, with the establishment of island sanctuaries and nature reserves, much has been done to make the Seychelles a paradise for birds - and for those who love to watch them.

The first recorded sighting of the Seychelles was by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1756, French planters claimed Mahé and seven other islands for France. The islands, until then known as the Amirantes (Admiral da Gama had named them after himself), were re-named in honour of the French king’s accountant, Vicomte Moreau de Séchelles. The Seychelles, annexed by Britain in 1794, were placed under the administration of Mauritius. Over the course of the 19th century, administration was handled by ‘old India hands’ – men and women with some experience of the tropics.

For the next 150 years, isolated from the rest of the world and all but ignored by the major European powers, the Seychelles developed their own traditions, language and culture. The islands became a Crown Colony in 1903. Internal self-government was granted in 1975 and independence a year later. Despite several coup attempts, multi-party democracy was restored in the Seychelles in 1991 under pressure from the country's main aid donors, particularly France and Britain.

The Galapagos Islands (Travel)

The archipelago is a little world within itself, or rather a satellite attached to America, whence it has derived a few stray colonists, and has received the general character of its indigenous productions. Considering the small size of these islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings, and at their confined range. Seeing every height crowned with its crater, and the boundaries of most of the lava-streams still distinct, we are led to believe that within a period, geologically recent, the unbroken ocean was here spread out. Hence, in both space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat nearer to that great fact--that mystery of mysteries--the first appearance of new beings on this earth


Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle



The Galapagos Archipelago is a unique world heritage. Situated on the equator some 600 miles off the coast of South America, this remote volcanic archipelago remains much as it was millions of years ago. Over the course of centuries, animal and plant life from the Americas reached the islands and gradually evolved into new forms. Many of its species are found nowhere else on earth. Each of the archipelago's islands has its own character and unique qualities. For example, Santa Cruz Island supports one of the largest human populations of the five islands. Some 4,000 residents are distributed among the cattle communities in the lush highlands and the coastal town of Puerto Ayora. Here you can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the land tortoises, or galapagos, which once greeted Darwin so peacefully. Espanola (Hood) Island is one of the oldest of the islands. It small and flat, with no volcanic crater or vent. Gardner Bay on the eastern shore offers the islands most magnificent beach. It is used by a transient colony of sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Since Darwin's famous voyage, the archipelago's marine and terrestrial ecosystems have provided a wealth of information and a source of inspiration for people throughout the world. The "Enchanted Islands" continue to play an important role in our understanding of life on earth. The Galapagos experience offers world travelers a way to step back in time, to visit an isolated, relatively untouched place on earth.

The Galapagos also offer some of the world's best scuba diving. Dive boats that tour the islands can be reserved on the mainland. Devil's Crown, an atoll near Floreana Island, is a submarine wonderland that shouldn't be missed. The shallows of this sunken volcano are burgeoning with an incredible myriad of corals and fish. Giant tortoises hover over the reef like living balloons, and sharks can sometimes be found, harmless and asleep on the sandy bottom. The flight from Guayaquil takes about an hour and a half, and visitors can land on either Baltra or San Cristobal. Upon reaching the Galapagos, the only way to tour the islands is to do it the way Darwin did, by boat. Due to the biologically sensitive nature of the islands, trips ashore must be taken in the presence of a licensed guide. They come with the boat.

Iceland (Travel)

Iceland is a stunningly beautiful place with strange and desolate landscapes, lava fields, lava tubes, plains of fractured rock, ice, fire, and steam. In a land of Earthly beauty, one natural wonder stands above the rest, Iceland’s beloved Gullfoss, or “Golden Falls”. With a 105-foot double-cascade, Gullfoss is by far Europe’s most powerful waterfall. On a sunlit day, the mist clouds surrounding the hammering falls are filled with dozens of rainbows, providing an unparalleled spectacle of color and motion.
Gullfoss is perhaps the most famous waterfall in Iceland, capturing the imagination of 19th-century and modern-day travellers alike. This first painting of Gullfoss comes from Mrs. Disney Leith’s Peeps At Many Lands. The Gullfoss is often described as one of the most spectacular sights or natural wonders of the world. The wide White River rushes southward. About a kilometer above the falls it turns sharply to the left and flows down a wide curved three step “staircase” and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m and 21 m) into a crevice 32 m deep. The crevice, about 20 m wide, and 2.5 km in length, is at right angles to the flow of the river.

The average of water running down this waterfall is by 100 – 180 m/s in the summertime and 50 – 110 m/s in the wintertime. The highest flood measured was 2000 m. The watershed of the river region covers some 6100 square kilometres, or about one seventeenth of the entire area of Iceland. With each passing second they empty some 440 cubic metres of fresh water into the ocean, amounting to a total daily flow of 38 million tons. Many people received a soaking, others were even drowned, and there were people who claimed that mysterious monsters dwelt in these streams. Today the waters still flow from the mountains to the sea, a continuing source of wonder and mystery. Iceland boasts many waterfalls, but somehow you never stop gasping at the sight of yet another one.

During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about utilizing Gullfoss to create electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by its owners to foreign investors; however, the investors attempts were unsuccessful, partly due to lack of money. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland. Even after it was sold, there were plans to utilize, which would have changed the waterfall forever. This was not done, and later the waterfall was conserved.

Bali (Travel)

There is a legend told of an island east of Java. It was a beautiful island, but its fertile plains and palm fringed shores rocked and were unsteady. The gods conferred. There decided the answer lay in placing a mountain upon the island, to balance, calm and soothe it. And so they did.
Happiness then reigned on the island and all was at peace. The mountain was called Great Mountain - GUNUNG AGUNG - and the island is BALI,
"The Morning of the World", a magical island full of legends and mystical tales set amid the thousands of islands that are INDONESIA.
Bali is one of the 17,508 islands which make up of the archipelagic Republic of Indonesia. It is easily one of Indonesia's most popular tourist destinations known throughout the world as a paradise isle set in the southern seas with its story-book setting of sun-drenched beahes, rooling surf, rustic villages, fertile plains and sculptured rice terraces. Bali is also graced by colourful temple festivals accompanied by spritely music and dance watched by the local populace, tourists, and the unseen gods from their dwelling places perched on majestic mountains. Located near the eastern-most tip of Java island across the narrow Straits of Bali, this 'Isle of the Gods' is peopled by the friendly Balinese who are more exposed to international tourists than many people in other parts of Indonesia.



There are three coastal areas on the tourist map for accommodation - Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua.

Kuta, on the west, is brash and lively, over commercialise, but with great surf. It is the cheaper end of the market and has some good value accommodation.

Nusa Dua is in the south, and is effectively a large resort complex, aimed upmarket, filled with five star quality hotels. The area is landscaped and pretty, but too sanitised for our liking - there is nothing Balinese about the area. However, it would make an excellent base for exploring the island.

Sanur, where we stayed, is somewhere between the two. It is quieter than Kuta, and prettier. The tourist industry here is less pushy and the area has a more Balinese feel, especially if you venture away from the main resort area.