Along the Omo River

Traveling through this amazing country, you quickly realize that many North Americans have a pre-conceived image of Ethiopia; one that’s molded by frequent news stories about drought and hunger along with the crushing poverty that exists in some places.

But while these remain serious issues (particularly in the country’s north), Ethiopia is also a land with an intriguing history, many diverse and unique landscapes, and stunning, centuries-old monuments.

The country’s south-western sector, bisected by the Omo River, is also widely known as one of Africa’s most unique and intact cultural landscapes.

Feel Cuban Cigars Aroma

  Cuba has a big cigar production and a lot of world famous cigar fabrics, for example, Cohiba factory. But after the economical embargo put on Cuba, a part of this production moved to the Dominican Republic, including this famous factory, Romeo y Julieta.

The factory has huge areas and thousand of workers.

Crocus Festival In Germany

Krokusblütenfest is Crocus Festival in Husum city, Germany.

To enjoy sakura blossom people go to Japan, to enjoy all the beauty of crocuses blossom they go to a little city Husum, in the north of Germany.

Lesson In a Cambodian School

Now we are going to an ordinary village school to see how works the educational system in the poorest country of Southeast Asia.

World’s Top 5 Largest Mosques

5. The Hassan II Mosque

Located in Casablanca is the largest mosque in Morocco  and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Designed by the French architect  Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues.[1]  It stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque’s adjoining grounds for a total of 105,000 worshippers present at any given time at the Hassan II mosque. Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 m (689 ft).
4. Istiqlal Mosque

The Indian Ancient Observatory

  The old observatory "Jantar Minar" was found by the rajah of Jaipur. Some very ancient instruments for the sun and stars observation remained here. With their help astronomers can even predict eclipses.

The way to the observatory.

Technical Museum Of Berlin

The German Technical Museum is the youngest museum of Berlin. It is located in the bulding of the former railway station Anhalt. The museum is divided into main zones - devoted to aeronautics, shipbuilding, railway transport and -TV and - photo industry. Each department, in its turn, reveals many related sections: chemical industry, heavy industry, transport, computer technologies, automatization etc.

Hens' Destiny In Iraq

It's the post of hens' truth, tough hens' truth. And for the truth we go to the hens' market of Iraq.

The "goods" are brought on special hens' vans and discharged on the ground. In order birds don't escape they are put in such cages.

Hens' Fate In Morocco

  We've already seen how hens live and die in Iraq and what about Morocco? It it the same? The following pictures are exactly not for animal lovers or for nervous people, there will be blood, poor hens and rabbits. But it not so terrible indeed.

It seems that all towns in Morocco are just big markets where tourists can not only buy exotic food but also have a good time or find new friends without knowing the Arabic language.

Chocolate Festival In London

Let us see the best masterpieces of British and foreign chocolate masters who gathered for Chocolate Festival in London.

Poor Life in Slums of China

This part of China is never visited by tourists. It's always dark here, even in daylight. Its residents are poor but hardworking. They earn their lives trading... The place we're talking about is the slums of Guangzhou.

Top 5 World’s Largest Sports Stadiums

5. Beaver Stadium

Beaver Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. Beaver Stadium has an official seating capacity of 107,282, making it currently the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the 5th largest in the world.
4. Michigan Stadium

World’s Top 5 Unique Structures

5. Aqua Tower USA

Aqua is an 82-story mixed-use residential skyscraper under construction in the Lakeshore East development in downtown Chicago. The name “Aqua” is in keeping with the nautical theme most of the buildings in the Lakeshore East development have: The Tides, The Shoreham, The Regatta, etc. It is currently topped-out at 819 ft (250 m), and will include six levels of parking below ground. The building’s eight-story, 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) base will be topped by a 82,550 sq ft (7,669 m2) terrace with gardens, gazebos, pools, hot tubs, a walking/running track and fire pit. Each floor will cover approximately 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m2).
4. Chicago Spire, USA

Radio Museum of Bellingham

This museum is one of the best of such kind nearby.  Though it's thematic it's interesting both for adults and kids.

Saying Cheese - Mean Holland, Saying Mills - Mean Holland ...

Near Amsterdam in a little village Zaanse Schans there is an ethnographic museum where we can know more about traditional Dutch symbols: mills, cheese and klomps that we have already written about. In a good weather it's especially pleasant to walk here.  

History of Computer Games In One Place

  Everybody likes playing games that may be for children or for adults, intellectual or sports, hazardous or not. After the computer appearance, games came into our lives to stay forever. Nowadays millions of people play them.They gave the possibility to abstract from problems and stress, to have a good time or even to earn a million dollars. May be that world is really better than ours.

Somebody divides the notions "computer" and "video" games. And it is reasonably to say that there is no serious matter how to call them. Only one distinction: computer gamers use computers, video gamers play special TV devices. But when did this nonproductive activity appear? When did it start to attract millions of people making them waste time? This museum of computer games in Berlin will certainly tell us.

Idling at the Flea Market of Hamburg

Ahead of Easter in all the districts of Hamburg people arrange flea markets. Near Kampnagel there is a market where many old things can be found. However Germans willingly buy secondhand items. Sometimes really worthy things may be bought inexpensively.

Cyprus Carnival 2011

Carnival of Cyprus will never be better than Brazililian Carnival with its posh Venetian masks, but here, in Cyprus, it's a huge event that is worth seeing.

Top 5 Tallest Buildings Of The World

5. Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur)

The Petronas Twin Towers (also known as the Petronas Towers or just Twin Towers), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are twin towers and were the world’s tallest buildings, before being surpassed by Taipei 101. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. They were the world’s tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 if measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural top, the original height reference used by the US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat from 1969 (three additional height categories were introduced as the tower neared completion in 1996).
4. International Commerce Centre (Hong Kong)

Unique Trams of Hong Kong

Trams of Hong Kong are unique. The tram system of this city is one of the three world systems where on a permanent basis doubledack trams are used. Besides it is the only system that uses only (!) doubledack trams. Opened in 1904 the tram line is one of the oldest types of Hong Kong transport. 

Ancient and Beautiful Montparnasse Cemetery

Paris has many cemeteries. One of the most famous is Montparnasse. Comparing with Père Lachaise it seems to be quite different. It's smaller, there are less green trees and tombs of famous people but, as well as Lachaise, it's definitely worth seeing.

The Blue Town Of Morocco

Shefshauen is a little town located on the slopes of Reef Mountains in the north-west of Morocco. First of all the town is famous for its ancient part, where almost all houses are painted various tints of blue. Besides, nearly the half of all Moroccan grass is grown here.

Around the Waters of the Indian Ocean

To come to India and not to see the Indian Ocean - is absolutely wrong. In this post - photographs from the eastern coast of India, Puri city.

Beautiful Houses of Lisbon

In order the evicted houses of Lisbon wouldn't be settled by squatters in Portugal all the windows are bricked. While the houses wait for reconstruction they are given to street artists who may do whatever they like. What turns out of that is rather beautiful! It's much better than to use the evicted houses for advertising banners.

Crazy Funeral of Nepal

In Nepal, like in India, the dead are to be burnt and the ashes to be scattered over the holy river. Such holy river is the river Bagmati that flows into the Gang.

Cremation is not a thing to shock you, right? But when cremation is made people live and do ordinary things right there, in the same water. See yourself...

Production of Syrian Saucepans

  Central streets in Damascus are like big markets: crowds of people buy or sell something, or just bargain with each other. Practically all goods sold here are made no far away. Let's visit one workshop where ordinary men make ordinary saucepans. All the more everyone has an opportunity to peep in such workshops.

The work lasts almost all the day and almost without rest.

Modern Berlin: Reminding of the Past

Berlin is not only the capital of Germany but a huge city with a great history. Its eastern and western parts greatly differ from each other. So let's explore both of them.

Top 5 Most Haunted Cities in the U.S.

5. Salem, Massachusetts

In 1692, Salem, Mass. became the sight of a series of infamous trials after three local women were accused of using witchcraft to terrorize a trio of young girls. The trials soon escalated into mass hysteria, with townspeople vehemently accusing neighbors and acquaintances, almost all of them unmarried women, of being witches. Over 150 people were arrested and charged, and as may as 19 were eventually executed by hanging. Today, the town of Salem encourages its reputation as “Witch City, USA” and has one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the country. Alongside the tourist shops and museums, though, stand several infamous ghost stories related to the witch trials. One in particular concerns Gallows Hill, the site of several hangings, which is said to be haunted by the spirits of the 19 people lynched for being witches.
Most Haunted Place: Joshua Ward House
Known as one of the most haunted houses in America, Joshua Ward House is built on the foundation of the home of George Corwin, the man who served as Sheriff during the Salem witch trials. Corwin is infamous for his role in the death of Giles Corey, a local man who was charged with witchcraft. When Corey refused to enter a plea in court, Corwin used an old English legal precedent and placed him under a board piled with rocks in order to coerce him into talking. Corey never relented, and was eventually crushed to death under the massive weight. To this day, many claim that Corey and Corwin, who is rumored to be buried beneath the foundation of his old home, haunt the Joshua Ward House.
4. Chicago, Illinois

Telephone History Museum: Call Me In So Many Ways!

The main precondition for this museum became a private collection of General Director of one Moscow telecommunication company. Today the museum is closed for detached visitors and welcomes only mass-media and some special guests. Only the collection of telephones is exposed today, but everything now is being done to make a comprehensive museum of it. In summer 2011 they promise to open the doors of the museum in St. Petersburg for all who want to visit it.

Well, let us look at the phones themselves.

Blossoming Tulips of Skegit Valley

In 1940s in the marchy valley Skegit there settled a family of immigrants from Holland. The bog of Skeget occupied a huge territory. And why tulips aren't boggy flowers? The company http://tulips.com/  opened by that family calls itself the biggest producer of tulips. 

And in our days, each year, approximately all population of state Washington and British Columbia come to the little village in the valley to see the wonderful tulips. Very many wonderful tulips.

The tulips blossom in industrial scale, but it's not quite clear why. Only those tulips whose glomes haven't opened yet can be sold to stores, but on the other hand, tourists wouldn't come to see at such tulips that don't blossom. One has to pay to enter the territory, but not much and not everywhere.

A Lesson In Nepal

  We've already seen a lesson in Cambodia, now let's move to Nepal and discover what spiritual values pupils have there.

This is a little village Gandruk hidden among the Himalayas.

Porto - the Majestic City of Bridges And Portwine

Porto - a city in Portugal with the second large population located in the north of the country, on the right bank of the Doura river. It is the former capital of the Portugal and the large port of the country famous for its portwine. The settlement on the territory of modern Porto existed long before the Roman arrival. They called this city Portus Cale. Later this name transformed into Portucale. In its turn it gave a name to Condado Portucalense county that finally gave the name to the whole country - Portugal.

The city is sometimes called the northern capital of the country.

Viewing Berlin From The Radio Tower

The Berlin 146 m high radio tower Funkturm was erected in the end of the 1990s. It's located on the territory of the international exhibition center Messe Berlin. On the height of 120 m there is a small restaurant and a viewing point from where the German capital is rather well observed.

Chinese Cuisine: Not The Post For the Hungry!

The cuisine of one or another country is one of its major attractions. The Chinese cuisine is quite "friendly" until you read the menu carefully and chew the food thoroughly.

When you are in Hong Kong, it's often easier, cheaper and certainly more interesting to go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner, than to cook at home. The food in its cafes and restaurants is not a luxury, but a very common thing. In the picture you can see a queau of the hungry and thirsty to one of the Chinese canteens in late Sunday's morning.

People go to the canteens, cafes and restaurants to eat, rather than to discuss the latest gossips while having a cup of coffee. Such long queues are quite normal during meal time. The longer queue, the better cafe.

Usual breakfasts. 

Museum of Pharmacy in Riga

Riga has the wonderful Museum of Pharmacy. Let's make a short tour along such an interesting place.

The Beatles Museum in Liverpool

  Liverpool is the seaport where previously ships were repaired. What is the most famous thing about Liverpool? Probably many people say The Beatles and will be right.

Happy Birthday, the Queen of the Netherlands!

The 30th of April is the day when Holland celebrates its favourite holiday - Queen's Birthday (Konninginnedag).

Queen Beatrix has been rulling the country more than 20 years already and her influence on the political life of the Netherlands is enormous. In 2000 it was 110 years of the continuous governing of Holland by queens. Though this "tradition" cost the Netherlands the crown of the Luxemburg dukedom where accoding to the law, throne succession in the female line was forbidden. Its own royal dynasty appeared in the Netherlands only in 1815. Three Wilhelms had changed on the throne before 1890. And then came the turn of women.

After the queen dowager Emma's mother the throne was taken by Wilhelmina who reigned during the two world wars. In 1948 she gave the crown to her daughter Juliana who agreed to recognise the independance of Indonesia and Surinam who afterwards abdecated the throne giving it to Beatrix.

The 30th of April is the birthday of Juliana, but not Beatrix, who was born in January, 31st. For 32 years of Queen Juliana's governing the Dutch got used to celebrate her birthday in April, 30th and when her daughter Beatrix became a queen she didn't change the date of the holiday.

Frighten Off the Evil Spirits

Auckland War Memorial Museum - quite an intersting place, it's not the Hermitage or the National Museum of Egypt, but it also has something to show and to tell. Its main exposition is devoted to all wars of the XX th century where New Zealanders took part, and they took part almost in all wars cause they always followed Great Britain... However, this time we are not going to discuss wars.

On the first floor of the museum there is an exposition of the ancient everyday life of close islanders (nearly all islands from New Zealand to the equator).  Their statuettes, sculptures, masks are all interesting. Maori (famous aboriginals) decorated doors of their houses with such masks, deterrent and creepy, that had to scare evil spirits or enemies away.

Monaco: Rich Without Gold And Oil

Monaco resembles a seabirds colony who settled on the coastal rocks. The city literally sinks its teeth into the rock, and the density of its population is about 20 thousand people per 1 km2.