Deep in the the Atacama desert in Chile emerges a giant sculpture of a hand. A popular photo spot for tourist visiting the Atacama. The hand was constructed at an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level. The work has a base of iron and cement, and stands 11 meters tall. The sculpture was inaugurated on March 28, 1992. The sculpture is located about 70 kilometers to the south of Antofagasta, Chile. The artist behind Mano de Desierto, The Hand of the Desert is the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal. 

The Door to Hell, is situated near the small town of Darvaz in Turkmenistan.  Thirty-five years ago, geologists were drilling for gas when then encountered a very large cavern underground filled with a poisonous gas.  They ignited the gas expecting it to burn off in a few hours.  Thirty-five years later, the gas is still burning.Its 60 meters in diameter and 20 meters depth have not been caused by volcanic activity or a meteorite impact.This crater was created sometime in the 50’s when the Soviets were prospecting for natural gas in this area and it’s been burning since then.

 

 

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Photographer John H. Bradley has more amazing photos of the Darvaz Burning Gas Crater: Link

Valencia, Spain
La Despertà the beginning of Fallas 2009 -The last Sunday in February boasts one amazingly loud display making this one of the most dramatic festivals in the world. Firecrackers in the hands of thousands of people 7:30 am on a Sunday morning. The aftermath is a cloud of smoke and ringing ears.

“The last Sunday in February is a huge, busy day in the city. Not all Sundays are like this. And in Valencia, the last Sunday in February manages to achieve the polar opposite. It’s 7:30 in the morning, and you’re on the streets, in the middle of World War III.

The Despertà is Valencia’s annual wake-up call for Fallas — the region’s most important festival and one of the biggest in the world. At 7am, thousands of people belonging to organized groups (Fallas Commissions) gather at Parterre Park (location) to collect their ammunition bags for an assault on the city’s sleeping populace. And at 7:30am sharp, all hell breaks loose.”

 

“These freaks just start throwing firecrackers everywhere.
And I’m not talking cute
cherry bombs. This is the real shit. 15 seconds into the “parade”, a piece of shrapnel caught me just under the eye. An ugly, fat kid laughed at me before throwing a mini-grenade under my feet. A zombie-eyed homeless guy snuck up behind me, then offered me a firecracker. I think I screamed, I’m not sure, my ears were reverberating, reality seemed skewed.”source link

The Banpo Bridge  spans the Han River in Seoul, Korea.  Work began last March on the design of water fountains that shoots out from the bridge, in sync with an amazing light display specially designed to attract more tourists. 

The water fountain  falls gracefully from the Banpo Bridge, much like a waterfall. The water dance to music in 100 different configurations. At night an amazing light show creates an even more fantastical scene. 

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The San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, on Chile ’s southern coast has a pool so large that resort guests use can use kayaks and small boats to get around. At over 1,000 yards long, covering more 20 acres, with an astounding  115-foot deep end, and holding 66 million gallons of water.  This pool is now also the deepest in the world trumping the Nemo 33 pool at 108 feet.

According to a 2008 article on News.com.au

At one-kilometre in length, the resort’s tropical blue lagoon has received the nod from the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest swimming pool.

The lagoon, cost an estimated $US1.5 billion ($1.74 billion) to build, covers an area of eight hectares and the 2.5 million litres of water needed to fill it is drawn from the Pacific Ocean.

The Guinness Book of Records has named the vast pool beside the sea in Chile as the biggest in the world. This manmade marvel took 5 years to complete.Chile’s monster pool uses a computer-controlled suction and filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation, drawing it in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other.

 

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thanks to http://www.BlahaLife.com

 

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Located in Downtown Pyongyang Near the Kim Il Sung Stadium and in the west side of Moran Hill is the abandoned  Kaeson Youth Park.

“It turns out there are three funfairs in Pyongyang in various states of disrepair, the largest being the Kaeson Youth Park.Opened in 1984, it was built to project an image of progress and the ingenuity of its citizens. Backed by Russia and China when they were heavily funding the DPRK’s growth, the Kaeson Youth Park is the largest of three funfairs still in operation in the greater Pyongyang area.”  Source

Meisho Amusement Machines Built the “roller coaster of death” for this fun fair that was originally named ” Kwansong Tancha”. According to the Roller coasters database this rusty steel coaster first opened in 1984 with opening of the park.

Here are some images of what the park looked like when it was open.

Image source: Lucaskt 

 

Image source: NKeconWatch

 

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Image source: NKeconWatch

The Roller Coaster of Death, Kaeson Youth Park.

Also Check out  Pyonyang’a infamous Ryugyong Hotel

source via:By:Dahlia Rideout @ divinecaroline 

 

Check it out on Google Earth

For Bob Burnquist and the 75 foot high ramp he built to be the largest skateboard ramp in the world, the sky is the limit. Bob built this mega ramp on his property just East of Oceanside, CA.

“…Speeding down a 180-foot-long roll-in to a ramp that launches them across a 70-foot gap with trapeze netting below. Landing on a 27-foot sloped section, they then boost up to 50 feet above the ground from a 30-foot quarterpipe. A shorter route begins with a 55-foot-tall platform leading to a 50-foot gap, and the 30-foot quarterpipe.”

“That mind-set helps on the Mega Ramp, where skaters reach speeds of up to 55 miles an hour and soar like stuntmen.”

 

 Sources: NYTimes by by Matt Higgins, Neatorama

Every October in Town of Windsor, Nova Scotia, Lake Pesaquid becomes a spectacle with giant decorated pumpkins sailing across its waters. Along with other Pumpkin related contests the Pumpkin Regatta has become a huge hit in the community. Individuals go to great lengths to carve and decorate their vessels.

 

 

 

“In the first year of the event, 1999, The Pumpkin Regatta, with an operating budget of $50.00, attracted about 2,000 skeptical spectators who turned out to watch five brave – and no doubt equally skeptical – participants attempt to manoeuvre their hollowed-out giant pumpkins across Lake Pesaquid.

So novel was the idea of racing giant pumpkins that local merchants and local media were quick to get on-side. The 1^st Annual Pumpkin Regatta attracted national attention, and Windsor – “The Little Town of Big Firsts” – could now claim another first – Giant Pumpkin Racing!”

 

This years race took place on October 12th.

 

 

More information on the Big Pumpkin Regatta can be found at The official Town of Windsor Big Pumpkin Website

The sport of shin kicking has been around since the 17th Century. First established by Robert Dover in 1612. Shin kicking unfortunately died out in the early 1900’s, although I can’t imagine why? It was reborn in 1951 at Chipping Camden, England. Although the games are not quite as brutal as the earlier versions, I’m sure players are secretly rejoicing that they now prohibit iron capped boots. Players use to prepare for the games by smashing hammers into their shins.

“According to the rule book, only in mid-kick can a player attempt to bring his opposition to the ground, with a ‘stickler’ on hand to make sure a shin is hit before a fall can be scored. Each round features a best of three battle before winners go on to fight other winners – until only two remain.”

The games are held every year on May 31st in Chipping Camden.

 

 Even though the games have safer guidelines, the video outlines a barbaric ritual that appears to have many spectators. Congratulations to this years Barbarian, Steve ‘The Bull Dog’ Williams the British Shin Kicking Champion of 2008.

source via Sogloss

The Kayabukiya tavern, north of Tokyo in Japan, has two interesting employees. The two Japanese Macaque monkeys working for tips are on two hour a day shifts. The new waiters serve customers hot towels and drinks, and are given generous tips in the form of soya beans. The two uniformed monkeys are family pets of the owners that have been allowed to help in the bar. Many patrons insist that the new servers are actually better than their human competition. The tavern is a traditional sake house owned an operated by Kaoru Otsuka. The tavern has been monitored by animal rights regulators to insure that they are cared for properly.  Mr.Otsuka is beginning to train new staff to handle the flood of curious customers. Three baby monkeys are already learning the trade and will soon be ready to join the ranks.

 

 

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