vaibhav1971’s blog

Socotra Island, you’d be inclined to think you were transported to another planet - or traveled to another era of Earth’s history.

This island, which is part of a group of 4 islands, has been geographically isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years. Like the Galapagos Islands, this island is teeming with 700 extremely rare species of flora and fauna, a full 1/3 of which are endemic, i.e. found nowhere else on Earth.

The climate is harsh, hot and dry, and yet - the most amazing plant life thrives there. Situated in the Indian Ocean 250 km from Somalia and 340 km from Yemen, the wide sandy beaches rise to limestone plateaus full of caves (some 7 kilometers in length) and mountains up to 1525 meters high.



The name Socotra is derived from a Sanscrit name, meaning “The Island of Bliss”…

Is it the beaches? The isolation and quiet? or the strange and crazy botanical allure?

Alien-looking plants: H. P. Lovecraft’s secret inspiration?

Was the famous Chtulhu myths creator aware of these forbidding mountains with their hauntingly weird flora (think of plant mutations from his “The Color out of Space”) ? We almost tempted to call Socotra the other “Mountains of Madness” - the trees and plants of this island were preserved thru the long geological isolation, some varieties being 20 million years old… We begin with the dracena cinnibaris or Dragon’s Blood Tree, the source of valuable resin for varnishes, dyes, and “cure-all” medicine; also (predictably) used in medieval ritual magic and alchemy -



The branches spread out into the sky and from below appear to hover over the landscape like so many flying saucers… and from above they have a distinct mushroom look:There is also the Desert Rose (adenium obesium) which looks like nothing so much as a blooming elephant leg:Dorstenia gigas - apparently does not require any soil and sinks roots straightIt also has a distinct personality and likes to smile for the camera:



Somewhat similar to the weird Dorstenia gigas, is this “bucha” vegetable, found as far north as CroatiH.hope it’s not pregnant with anything malignant inside this sack. John Wyndham (with his “The Day of the Triffids”) would’ve loved it:



Getting around can be a challenge, as there are almost no roads. Despite the fact that this island has around 40,000 inhabitants, the Yemeni govenment put in the first roads just 2 years ago - after negotiations with UNESCO, which has declared this island a World Natural Heritage Site. I would prefer a camel ride to what is bound to be a bumpy and slow 4×4 ride… It is a quiet and peaceful enclave in an otherwise troubled world. If you decide to visit there, you can forget about beachfront hotels and restaurants; this island is geared towards eco-tourism and sustaining the local economy and way of life.Socotra warbler, sunbird, starling, bunting, sparrow and cisticola are among the ones found here. There are also Socotra Cormorants:

 

Want to see some fairy-tale (and possibly haunted) shipwrecks? There are diving tours available…Socotra’s and Yemen’s in general totally unique architecture, check out this place located on the mainland:Al Hajarah, Yemen - Walled city in the mist

The Dubai Metro Red Line was launched on 09/09/09 at 09:09 AM. As announced, Dubai's Red Line made its first trip with passengers. Dubai Metro will have a total of 79 trains which will run on the Red and the Green Lines to carry around 27,000 passengers per hour per direction once the metro is fully operational in March next year.

Taj Mahal,Agra, India


According to legend, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan wanted to build the most beautiful mausoleum on earth to express his love for his favorite wife. Or, perhaps he was simply asserting his political power. The Taj Mahal may have been designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, an Indian architect of Persian descent. Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic elements combine in the great white marble tomb. The Taj Mahal is just one of many architectural wonders in a land of majestic tombs and erotic temples.

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, and the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.

The Millenium Dome

The Millennium Dome, designed by Sir Richard Rogers, 1996'99. The Millennium Dome was one of the UK’s most controversial public projects.The new millennium officially started in Greenwich, England on 1st January 2001; The World’s biggest dome was built on the Meridian Line (The Prime Meridian of the World) in Greenwich to celebrate this historic event.

Burj-Al-Arab Hotel ,Dubai

Considered one of the world’s most luxurious hotels from the day it opened, The Burj Al Arab is a futuristic architectural marvel towering over the Gulf.
Its design is stunning (see photo) - the Burj Al Arab is shaped like a billowing spinnaker sail. Its height is staggering - the hotel measures 332 meters (1053 feet), making it one of the world’s highest buildings.
The Burj Al Arab (means “The Arabian Tower” in Arabic) is built on a tiny man-made sea island, a mere football kick from the Dubai mainland. A short causeway (see photo) links the hotel to the Dubai mainland.
The skyscraping Burj Al Arab is firmly rooted. Its foundation pillars reach 40 meters (120 feet) underneath the seabed.

Istanbul Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)

Famous for its impressive size, remarkable architecture and beautiful mosaics and frescoes, the massive ochre-coloured domed structure known as Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul’s most popular attractions. It was commissioned as a cathedral in the 6th century and remained the most important church in Christianity for over 900 years. In the 15th century Mehmet II conquered the city and converted it into a mosque, adding the minarets and fountains. It functioned as such for the next 481 years until the founding of the secular Turkish Republic in 1934 when it was declared a museum. Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest Byzantine buildings in the world, and the vast interior, with its huge soaring dome, is extraordinary. The interior contains different features from its time as a cathedral and then as a mosque, including incredible Byzantine mosaics, icons and marble columns, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions on the dome from the Ottoman period

Worlds Largest Passenger Cruise Ship - Royal Caribbean "Freedom of the Seas"

M/S Freedom of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship. The world's largest passenger vessel, she can accommodate over 4,300 passengers on her fifteen passenger decks, served by over 1300 crew.

She is about 229 ft. longer, about 108,000 gross tons larger, and can accommodate 2,147 more passengers than RMS Titanic. Her operating costs are $1 million per day. Rooms for the maiden voyage were priced from $1,900 to $22,000 for the week. As routine service continues, starting room rates are expected to descend as low as $700 for cruises scheduled in the autumn of 2007. The ship consumes approximately 28,000 gallons of fuel per hour.

Facilities - The ship features three swimming areas; an interactive water park, a dedicated adult pool and the main pool. There are 2 whirlpools cantilevered out from the ship's sides. The Royal Promenade sports a coffee shop, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Ben and Jerry's ice-cream shop, Vintage's winery, the Bull and Bear Irish pub, and many Duty-free shops. The 13th deck features a sports area with amenities such as a rock climbing wall, the FlowRider (an onboard wave generator for surfing), a miniature golf course and a full size basketball court. Other items include an ice skating rink, a casino, a Johnny Rockets, Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the ship, flat panel televisions in all staterooms, and cell phone connectivity.

SUMATRAN TIGER

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tiger found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500 animals, occurring predominantly in the island’s national parks.Sumatran male tigers average 8 feet in length (2.4 meters) from head to tail and weigh about 265 pounds (120 kilograms). Females average 7 feet in length (2.2 meters) and weigh about 200 pounds (90 kilograms).

The smaller size of the Sumatran tiger makes it easier to move quickly through the jungle. Also, their stripes are narrower than other tiger species. The tiger’s patterned coloring is an adaptation for camouflage in their natural habitat, which is often tall grass. The males, especially, have a more bearded and maned appearance ? neck and cheek hair are well developed.

This is the best known destination in Ratchaburi where timeless lifestyle of native Thai people can be observed along the canals. The Floating Market, approximately 400 metres from the Damonen Saduak District Office, operates every morning till noon. Boats can be hired for observing close-up canal side villages and boat vendors.

In floating market you can rent a boat to go around the canal. The price is not fixed, it’s around 300-400 baht per boat.

A lot of stuff is being sold on the boat everyday. Most of it is food, fruits, vegetables and souvenirs.

Most of the tourists in the early morning are Thai people. The boats go along the canals and you can ask your oarsman to stop to buy some stuff.