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Bridges that GROW themselves out of tropical roots and vines crossing rivers

Bridges that GROW themselves out of tropical roots and vines crossing rivers
By Daily Mail Reporter Updated: 15:35 GMT, 10 September 2011 Deep in the rainforests of the Indian state of Meghalaya, bridges are not built, they’re grown. Ancient vines and roots of trees stretch horizontally across rivers and streams, creating a solid latticework structure strong enough to be used as a bridge. Ancient solution: The 'double decker' living tree root bridge in the village of Nongriat in Meghalaya, India. Locals have been using the bridges for over 500 years Some of the bridges are over a hundred feet long and can support the weight of fifty or more people. The Cherrapunji region is one of the wettest places in the world with many fast-flowing rivers and streams, making these bridges invaluable to those who live in the region. Nature's incredible engineering: Some of the bridges can hold more than 50 people at a time. Interwoven: A close up of the solid lattice work that makes the bridges so strong. In time, a sturdy living bridge is produced.

Green Lake - An Austrian Lake That Is Used for Hiking A rare natural phenomenon turns one of Austria’s most beautiful hiking trails into a 10 meter-deep lake, for half the year. Located at the foot of the Hochschwab Mountains, in Tragoess, Styria, Green Lake is one of the most bizarre natural phenomena in the world. During the cold winter months, this place is almost completely dry, and used as a country park where hikers love to come and spend some time away from urban chaos. Water levels go from one-two meters at most, to over 10 meters, in the early summer. Take a look at the amazing images of the Green Lake, shot during the summer season: via Daily Mail Reddit Stumble

Hotel Puri Bambu Bali - HotelTravel.com hotel discounts, reviews and info. A HotelTravel.com Member from Macedonia stayed in a Deluxe for 6 days. Really very great stay at the Puri Bambu. But i did my best to spend the least time in the hotel...Very clean hotel, excellent gardens, good for a couple, maybe not so good for families with kids. Relaxing kind of spot. Mystical, Magical & Magnificent Monasteries in Meteora (20 Pics) The caves in Meteora, Greece, had inhabitants for fifty millennia, but due to raids, “hermit monks” moved to the safety of sandstone rock pinnacles in the 9th century and began building monasteries. More monks and nuns came, building more monasteries perched high upon the cliffs. Wikipedia reports, “Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders lashed together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. This required quite a leap of faith — the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only ‘when the Lord let them break.’” UNESCO World Heritage says, “The net in which intrepid pilgrims were hoisted up vertically alongside the 1,224 ft. cliff where the Varlaam monastery dominates the valley symbolizes the fragility of a traditional way of life that is threatened with extinction.” A view of Meteora monasteries in Greece. The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery in Meteora, Greece.

Still Looking For Paradise? Maldives - justpaste.it Double chain of twenty-six atolls… The Republic of Maldives, or simply the Maldives, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometers long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Crystal clear waters, beautiful white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and fabulous dive sites – that’s why the Maldives, is known for being one of the best tropical holiday destinations in the world. ...and no need to climb ;) With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the lowest country on the planet. Summer never ends ... Crystal clear waters and azure blue lagoons... Resorts in the Maldives

Old Garage turned Mini Dream Home! | Hello there! It’s been a busy week with a trip to Seattle for the Picasso exhibition and a drive out to the coast but I knew I had to share this amazing remodel with you before the week came to a close. Everyone loves good makeovers and the ones involving tiny spaces, creative design and ingenious solutions are my all time favorites! Check out how Seattle artist, designer and welder, Michelle de la Vega, created this beautiful little 250 sq. ft. haven… The before… This lonely little detached garage is just begging for some love. The after! A cozy, light filled sleeping loft is so perfect for the space. The kitchen is well organized and accessible with open storage solutions. The rustic wood burning stove becomes sculptural in this room along with Michelle’s own art installations. The glass boxes housing pillow forms are actually a tribute to Michelle’s father. You know I am a big fan of great bathroom design and this one delivers. How many of us have garages that only house our junk!?

22 Incredible Photos of Faraway Places Thailand Chances are you already know Steve McCurry as the man who took one of the most iconic photos of our time. It was of a 12-year-old Afghan refugee girl who's piercing green eyes told us her harrowing story. The image itself was named "the most recognized photograph" in the history of the National Geographic magazine and her face became famous as the cover photograph on their June 1985 issue. Beyond just that one photo, McCurry has shot over a million images spanning 35 years. Looking through his large body of work, we get to experience fantastic faraway places we can only dream about visiting. Afghanistan Sri Lanka Yemen Tibet Cambodia India Burma Eastman Kodak let McCurry shoot the last ever produced roll of Kodachrome transparency film. Steve McCurry More Incredible Photos:Capturing a Country's CultureBreathtaking Visions of EarthTragic Portraits of America's Endangered SpeciesIncredible Wildlife Shots by Rob Kroenert

25 Mind-Blowing Aerial Photographs Around the World Rano Kau volcano in Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile – Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND For me, the allure of aerial photography is the unique perspective it gives. The world feels so different when viewed from above. It always gives me a newfound appreciation for this pale blue dot we call home. In my opinion, there is no better aerial photographer than Yann Arthus Bertrand. His volume of work is incomparable, and he has an incredible eye for the interesting and provocative. 2. Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND 3. 4. 5. Born in Paris, France on March 13, 1946, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a world-renowned photographer specializing in aerial photography. Upon his return to France, he published in 1981 his first book Lions, first release of a series of 80 books. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND continued… In the 90s, under the patronage of UNESCO, Yann embarked upon his most ambitious project: creating an image bank of the Earth seen from above. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

The First Underwater Hotel Suite - All That Is Interesting A former Cement Factory is now the workspace and residence of Ricardo Bofill | Yatzer™ Image Courtesy of Ricardo Bofill Architect: Ricardo BofillProgram: Architectural offices /archives /model laboratory /exhibition space /Bofill's-apartment /guest rooms /gardensLocation: Barcelona, SpainTotal floor area: 3,100 square meters and gardensHouse area: 500 square metersDate Completed: 1975 There is nothing as good as an aged bottle of wine; and in this case the aged bottle of wine is a project which was completed in 1975, but is still worth mentioning! The Cement Factory was discovered in 1973, it was an abandoned cement factory and partially in ruins, comprised of over 30 silos, underground galleries and huge engine rooms; Ricardo Bofill bought it and began renovation works. Bofill imagined the future spaces and created a layout according to the different aesthetic and plastic predispositions that had developed since WWI and were present within the factory. sources: Room Service , Ricardo Bofill

Hong Kong in Pictures Hong Kong by limaoscarjuliet, on Flickr Josh Aggars of flip flops city shares his experience and photos trying to navigate his way around the wonders of Hong Kong. Full of street food restaurants and market stalls. Temple Street Market, 8.30pm (1 hour after touchdown) I bought an Octopus Card for 5 day travel around the city – Metro, buses, ferries and trams – and retired to bed exhausted but full of anticipation at the road ahead. Peak Tower at Victoria Peak Hong Kong Island & Kowloon Day 1: On my first morning I set off for the Peak Tower at Victoria Peak and caught the Peak Tram up to the top (notice an imaginative naming theme anywhere?). Panorama of Hong Kong Island In the foreground are the Hong Kong Island skyscrapers. I came down from the peak by bus and captured these images of residential towers. Hong Kong by Georgio, on Flickr Hong Kong Tramways Hong Kong Trams When we got to the bottom I caught one of the original old local trams to the Star Ferry Terminal. Star Ferry Hong Kong St.

The marble cathedral of Chile: Natural wonder could be world's most beautiful cave network By Daily Mail Reporter Updated: 14:27 GMT, 1 August 2011 Welcome to the Marble Cathedral - a natural wonder that could be the world's most beautiful cave network. An azure temple created by nature, the walls of this network of water-filled marble caverns show just how magnificent the precious geography of our planet can be. Visitors to the water-sculpted blue caverns see light reflected off the turquoise waters of South America's second largest freshwater lake, General Carrera in Patagonia, Chile. Azure temple: Lake General Carrera in Patagonia, Chile, could be the world's most beautiful cave network Ancient: The caves have been formed by flowing water over thousands of years Light bounces into the caverns and strikes the carved marble walls, creating this enchanting lightshow. The incredible set of pictures has been captured by landscape photographer and environmentalist, Linde Waidehofer, 67, from Colorado, USA. 'These waters are magic.' Linde Waidehofer, photographer

The Luxury Dhigu Resort, Maldives « Luxury Furniture, Property, Travel & Interior Design The luxury Dhigu Resort, Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa is encircled by mystic lagoons and unspoilt crystal shores, the resort is a heavenly sanctuary on a secluded paradise island, offering barefoot elegance in one of the world’s most celebrated tropical havens. Here the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean offer an endless horizon of aquatic allure and the evocative location is matched by a tranquil island design style. Anantara Dhigu is a luxurious five-star resort hidden on tropical terrain on Dhigufinolhu Island in the Maldives’ South Male Atoll, a mere 35 minute speedboat journey from the island nation’s international airport, or a scenic five minutes by private chartered seaplane. Male-based architect Mohamed Shafeeq from Group X Design Associates and Thailand-based interior design company, Abacus, headed by John Lightbody, have styled the resort’s distinctive environment as a creative complement to the natural beauty of the island. Anantara Dhigu, P.O.

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