Scariest places on earth

This time is the one time of year when the macabre is most appealing. We can watch our favorite killers in horror movies, or read about the most notorious from the non-fiction realm. We can probe into the paranormal, and hold our breath for what may, or may not, happen. Whether you believe in ghosts and ghouls, or wave them aside as the fictional fables of bygone centuries, some places on this planet still strike a spooky chord. They are the places that inspire nightmares, panic attacks and revisits. And, with any luck, you may just find something otherworldly. Enjoy the list!

Resurrection Cemetery

Chicago, United States

We have all heard stories about ghostly hitchhikers. But have you heard of the most famous one? I’m speaking about Resurrection Mary. In 1934, sixteen-year-old Mary was a regular at the O’Henry Ballroom, which still stands today (although it is now the Willow-brook). She got into an argument with her boyfriend on the dance floor, and left the ballroom. She was walking home along Archer Avenue, and right about the time she was passing Resurrection Cemetery, a car swerved out of control, and struck and killed her. Her family was heartbroken and had her buried in the cemetery she lost her life in front of, still in her dancing gown and shoes. And that is how this story ends. Until five years later, at least….

It was now 1939, and Jerry Palus was yet another regular at the O’Henry. He spotted a beautiful blonde girl across the room, and asked her to dance. They danced the entire night, with the young lady barely uttering a word. He offered her a ride home when the night was through, and she accepted. When they were passing Resurrection Cemetery, she quickly told him to stop and let her out there, instead of taking her to the address she had given him. She disappeared at the gates.

Most stunning castles

Fairytales, princes, princesses and Disney movies of childhood and even as we get older, the appeal of the castle remains at least partly because they so regularly serve as backdrops in video games, movies and books.

Unless you happen to find that you had a long lost great great grandfather who left you an international conglomerate in mining and shipping then, unfortunately, you’ll probably never get the chance to live in such grandeur. Luckily there are a lot of absolutely stunning castles around the world that are open to the public, some are even converted into hotels where you can stay if only for a night.

Schonbrunn Palace, Austria

Schonbrunn Palace: Anyone who knows much about European history knows about the important influence of the Hapsburg family. The aesthetic preferences of that family are displayed here in the palaces and gardens that make up this amazing castle in the heart of modern Vienna. One outstanding feature is a ‘Roman Ruin’ which

Oldest paintings in caves

A newly discovered mural is one of many in 12 of Afghanistan’s famed Bamian caves that show evidence of an oil-based binder. The binder was used to dry paint and help it adhere to rocky surfaces.
The murals—and the remains of two giant, destroyed Buddhas—include the world’s oldest known oil-based paint, predating European uses of the substance by at least a hundred years, scientists announced late last month.
Researchers made the discovery while conducting a chemical analysis as part of preservation and restoration efforts at Bamian, which lies about 145 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Seen in a 2005 photo, a towering alcove in Afghanistan’s Bamian Valley cliffs shows the former home of a giant Buddha statue. Dating to between the fifth and ninth centuries A.D., the statue was one of a pair destroyed by Taliban officials in 2001.

Coldest places in the world

Verkhoyansk

Verkhoyansk, in the Yakutia region of Siberia, lies within the Arctic Circle, an eight-day drive from Yakutsk. But you can only drive there in the winter, when the lakes are frozen, because there are no land roads! 1,300 people live in Verkhoyansk, the biggest part of whom make their living herding reindeer and fur hunting. The area has abundant natural resources, including gold, but is too cold to develop profitable mining. The picture above was taken at the Pole of Cold in Verkhoyansk. Note the mammoth’s tusks that mark the spot.
Temperatures that have been recorded at the Verkhoyansk Weather Station have shown a record low of minus

Fake street signs

A collaborative project that takes the work of artists from around the world, in the form of fake road signs, and turns the streets of Lyon, France into an enormous gallery without walls.

The round red and white signs look enough like real European traffic signs that you might take them for granted, but weird enough if you notice them to make you stop and think.

This project has a delightful sense of humor, lots playful absurdity and a wonderful scale. Panos 2013 is the second edition of this project.

Incredible cent coins road

In 2008, Amsterdam hosts its first edition of the Biennale, from 18 September to 2 November, under the theme Space and Place – Design for the Urban Landscape.

ExperimentaDesign Amsterdam 2008 highlights urban culture as the playground for the global citizen. The world’s cities are not only home to over half of the world’s population, they are also a metaphor for today’s cultures and a testing ground for new forms of conviviality and interaction. Throughout its three core exhibitions, the Biennale turns the spotlight on innovative urban design as a process of social action, exchanges and experiment. One of the major events is the droog event 2: urban play, the amsterdam route which brings together international creatives to put together 13 newly designed interventions along the central IJ-riverfront, organized by droog design and curator scott burnham. Sagmeister inc., was one of the urban play participants with ‘obsessions make my life worse and my work better’, an installation of 300,000 euro cent coins which have been laid out on a 20 x 42 square meter area. drawing the phrase from one of his old diaries, a team of eight painstakingly

placed each of the coins down to create the visual aesthetic which stefan sagmeister is known for, the use of calligrahy and modern typography with floral embellishments that give the feeling of old script in a contemporary context. with coins representing a certain value, the beauty of the design challenges the passer-by. will they leave the piece in tact because of its beauty? will they take the coins and create their own design in response the the work? or will greed take over?
And the second day, what had happened to these 300,000 euro coins?? Lost!

Bizarre apple festival in Sweden

Apple creative author – Helge Lundstrom. Showing all this was at apple festival in the city Kivik, which is located in Sweden. Each picture went 4 tons of apples, and that about 75,000 pieces. Short, but as beautiful.

Chinese Lantern Festival

The Chinese Lantern Festival at Ontario Place in Toronto features a beautiful display of hand-crafted lanterns made by artisans from the city of Zigong, China. The silk lanterns are a family-favourite, making the waterfront glow with bright, beautiful colours. Forty exhibits have been designed to represent architectural wonders from each continent of the world. The exhibits also feature animals, marine creatures and dinosaurs. The festival impress people of all ages including young children who will be in awe of bright colours and recognizable landmarks. The Lantern Festival also known as the Shang Yuan Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. It is not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is also sometimes known as the “Lantern Festival” in locations such as Singapore, and Malaysia.

Cities after Olympics

Lillehammer, Norway

Year: Winter, 1994

Collateral damage: Tonya Harding, the Tonya Harding sex tape, FOX´s Celebrity Boxing
These Olympic Games burned more than Lillehammer—pretty much the whole world felt it. The reason: a trashy blonde figure skater named Tonya Harding. While the infamous Nancy Kerrigan clubbing (arranged by Harding´s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly) took place a month before the Games, the ensuing scandal dominated the Olympics. In the years that followed, we´ve been subject to arrests, a televised bout versus Clinton alleged F-buddy Paula Jones, and a leaked Harding-Gillooly sex tape. Our brains—and boners—have never recovered.

Wonderful places in New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It geographically comprises two main landmasses, the North and South Islands. In 1250-1300, Polynesians settled New Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. Europeans first made contact in 1642. The culture of New Zealand is largely inherited from British and European custom, interwoven with Māori and Polynesian tradition. European and Māori remain the two largest ethnicities, but the large Polynesian population in Auckland has prompted the observation that Auckland is now the largest Polynesian city in the world.

In fact, Auckland is the most remote city in the world with a population in excess of one million. The country of New Zealand is currently the 122 most populated in the world. During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity. It is a marvelous place to visit and holds many unique experiences. 

Frying Pan Lake and Waimangu Geyser

A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of heated groundwater. There are currently hot springs on all continents and in many countries around the world. Places with an abundance of hot springs include China, Costa Rica, Iceland, Iran, Peru, United States, Taiwan, Japan, and New Zealand. The world’s largest hot spring is located in New Zealand and named Frying Pan Lake. Frying Pan Lake sits in the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley and has a surface area of 3.8 ha (9.3 acres), also reported at 38,000 square meters.

The average depth of the hot spring is 6 meters (19.6 feet), but it reaches the depth of 20 meters (65.6 feet) in places. It is a wonderful place to visit and a marvelous example of volcanic activity. You might wonder what geological event created the massive hot spring. On June 10, 1886 the

World's developed countries

Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany, or Germany, has the largest economy in the European Union, and one of the largest populations at 82.2 million, as well as its bustling capital and economic center of Berlin. Chancellor Angela Merkel is the head of a government with a people of very high education standards, with a nearly 100% attendance rate and 99% literacy rate. Germany thrives in industry and manufacturing and is a major exporter of electrical and engineering products, such as cars (Volkswagen anyone?), and are renowned globally for their skilled work force. The GDP is $3.5 trillion and GDP per capita is $40,631, and poverty rates are low, although the unemployment rate is about 7%. Germany also, like Sweden, is a prime tourist destination for its historic beauty, and the wonderful people (aside from Adolf and the Nazis back in the 1930-40s) have a life expectancy of 79.4 years.

Important survival tips at sea

This is a list of the most important things to remember if you are shipwrecked. The list comes from Yan Martel’s prize-winning novel, Life of Pi.

1. Always read instructions carefully

2. Do not drink urine. Or sea water. Or bird blood

3. Do not eat jellyfish. Or fish that have spikes. Or fish that have parrot like beaks. Or that puff up like balloons.

4. Pressing the eyes of fish will paralyse them

5. The body can be heroic in battle; if a castaway is injured, beware of well-meaning, but ill-founded, medical treatment. Ignorance is the worst doctor, while rest and sleep are the best nurses.

6. Put your feet up at least 5 minutes every hour

7. Unnecessary exertion should be avoided. But an idle mind tends to sing, so the mind should be kept occupied with whatever light distraction may suggest itself. Playing card games, twenty questions and I spy are excellent distractions.

8. Green water is shallower than blue water

9. Beware of far-off clouds that look like mountains. Look for green. Ultimately, a foot is the only good judge of land.

10. Do not go swimming. It wastes energy. Besides, a survival craft may drift faster than you can swim. Not to mention the danger of sea life. If you are hot, wet your clothes instead.

11. Do not urinate in your clothes. The momentary warmth is not worth the nappy rash.

12. Shelter yourself. Exposure can kill faster than thirst or hunger.

13. As long as no excessive water is lost through perspiration, the body can survive up to 14 days without water. If you are thirsty, suck a button.

14. Turtles are an easy catch and make for excellent meals. Their blood is a good, nutritious, salt-free drink; their flesh is tasty and filling; their fat has many uses; and the castaway will find turtle eggs a real treat. Mind the beak and the claws.

15. Don’t let your morale flag. Be daunted but not defeated. Remember: the spirit, above all else, counts. If you have the will to live, you will. Good luck!

Auberge du Soleil Napa Valley California

What is behind this mysterious name? It is place or it is something else? At the beginning Auberge du Soleil was a restaurant created by restaurateur Claude Rouas. This happened 25 years ago. Now is much more. It is culinary destination in the bounty of Napa Valley. So if you prefer to visits restaurants or bars and like culinary dining as the most on your vacation, this vacation resort is absolutely for you. This place covers about 13 acres, a lot of olive trees and California sun.

Full Sail University

Full Sail Live is a facility at Full Sail University where students can train and work with musicians and real production gear and recording equipment. Full Sail University is a trade school at Florida, positioned at Winter Park. Full Sail University is nationally accredited, founded in 1979and awards associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in audio, film, design, computer animation, business and other specializations.

Wonderful city Kingston

Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica. Jamaica is an island located about 200 kilometers from Cuba. Jamaica is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean territory. Jamaica was a British colony but is totally independent country since 1962. Jamaica is of course an ideal tourist destination. The biggest resorts in Jamaica are Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Port Antonio and the South Coast. Jamaica is still classified as a developing country but this do not hinder on beauty and pleasure for millions of tourists visiting it every year.

Wonderful Grand Canaria Islands

No doubt that Grand Canaria Islands are a heaven for the most travelers. Thanks to its constant temperature between 20-30 °C and sunny days it has regular visits over a year. This subtropical weather with sandy beaches like Playa Blanca, Playa del Educto, Playa Baca and Costa Calma make it ideal for vacations. Las Palmas is the capital city of Islas Canarias. This nice islands belongs to the Spain territory and are about 150 km far away from Africa continent.

Mumbai the city of life

The city of Mumbai or Bombai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra with a huge population of about 15 millions citizens. Mumbai is a city with a lot of extremes where you can find a big skyscrapers to contrast with small little houses. The mix of many cultures having the richest and the poorest people on the streets.

Mumbai is the biggest metropolis of India and as the most metropolises, this one never sleeps too. With a concentration of banks, hotels and businesses, the city is making the most of India profit.

As I remember that Bombai was one of the stop places for Willy Fog in Around the world in 80 days, it is worth visiting for us too.

Unbelievable vertical city of future

Vertical cities are the new trend in creating new buildings for 21st century with ecological aspects inside. The main idea is to satisfy population grow in big cities. One of them is Bionic Tower that meant to be built around 2015-2020 in China’s economic center Shanghai. The tower should be housing over 100 000 people and will reach a height of 1 200 meters (4 000 feet) or 300 floors. The structure is inspired by shapes found in nature. The tower would be constructed on a 0.4 square mile artificial island connected to the mainland to allow the 100 000 inhabitants access. The total cost for construction should be about $15 billion.

Top travel places

Every year comes with a new travel destinations but some used to be stable. The following list contains some of the favorite ones all over the world. If you did not set your travel destination for this year yet, you can get some inspiration now.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

Incredible Cambodia

Cambodia is a tropical country which had very hard times in the past and gone through huge development in the last century. Cambodia borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Like most tropical countries, tropical monsoons are common part of this kind of climate. The population is about 15 millions people. Since this country was awarded to Vietnam, survived many crucial times, including heavy bombarding caused by U.S. and Vietnam forces in the Vietnam war. Even through this handicap, Cambodia had the best economic numbers in Asia for last 10 years with 6% of economical grow.

Beautiful Okinawa Island

Okinawa is probably best known for martial arts, especially karate. Okinawa capital city is Naha (Naafa in Japanese). There are together eleven cities in Okinawa Prefecture with many town. Around the island are unique coral reefs and caves. What is so great for tourists is that temperatures stayabove 20 °C over the whole year. Okinawan people live longer than people anywhere in the world, probably its the combination of their low-fat and low-salt diet with minimal stress and wonderful nature.

The Canadian Montreal

The Canadian Montreal is a rich place for cathedrals and monumental buildings especially in historic district of Old Montreal. One of such buildings is Notre-Dame Basilica alias Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal. Special on this basilica is that is do not shows biblical scenes on its windows but scenes from religious history of Montreal city. Montreal Convention Center alias Palais des congrès de Montréal is a convention and exhibition centre where exhibitions and events of the city take place. The Cathedral-Basilica of Mary, Queen of the World alias Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde is located at 1085 Cathedral Street and is the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese. Montreal Olympic Stadium alias The Big O was built for 1976 Summer Olympics and is the tallest inclined tower in the world at 175 m. Christ Church Cathedral is located at 635 Saint Catherine Street West and is the seat of the Anglican Diocese. The Montreal City Hall alias Hôtel de Ville de Montréal was built in 1878 and is part of Old Montreal too.

Volcano Mount Erebus

Antarctica is one of the most cold places on the Earth and in the same time it is a place where most active hot volcanoes are present. At Ross Island, where is located U.S. Antarctic research center called McMurdo Station, is active, 3,794 metres high, volcano called Mount Erebus. This volcano is continuously active since 1972. This volcano killed 257 people on board of Air New Zealand Flight 901 on November 28, 1979. Mount Erebus got its name by the ship of the polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross.

Beautiful Canyon Barranca

The Barranca del Cobre alias Copper Canyon in Mexico is one of the famous canyon with many wonderful prospects. This name covers collection of canyons – Barranca del Cobre, Barranca de Urique, Barranca de Batopilas and Barranca de Sinforosa located in Sierra de Tarahumara which is part of the state Chihuahua. The Most of trips into this place starts in a small city calledCreel which is the base-camp for Mexican acclimatization. There is a really wild nature around. If you are planning to go alone, you should have a really good knowledge of navigation, because there is no classical touristic marking and you are on your own. If you have more money and are not in so fit condition, you can choose to travel by train through the canyon. The ride takes about 12 hours but you can leave the train for days and do trekking. Wonderful lake Arareco, waterfalls Cusárare, Mushroom Valey, Frog Valey, Misie San Ignacio or village Wakachipare, that’s are all good places to visit in the Canyon Barranca del Cobre.

Beautiful Tourist Places in Canada

Making a trip to the home of bears, ice hockey and Franco-American hybrids? Then make sure you don’t miss this little lot out of your itinerary. We present the top ten tourist spots in Canada.

1. The Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. This natural beauty spot houses five national parks, four of which (Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho) make up the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site, and it’s easy to see why. Snap-happy tourists will be spoilt for choice with stunning landscapes comprising peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and caves. Better take a spare memory card.

2. Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the border between Ontario and New York.  On the Canadian side, Queen Victoria Park offers platforms with spectacular views of the falls, and underground walkways that lead into observation rooms which give the illusion of being within the falling waters. The observation deck of the nearby Skylon Tower offers the best birds-eye view of the Falls – not one for the faint-hearted!

3. Pacific Rim National Park

Antarctic lakes surprise researchers

Isolated Peru tribe makes uncomfortable contact
‘Uncontacted’ Indians involved in violent encounters; authorities try to keep outsiders away

Next story in Science
Strangely moving Antarctic lakes surprise researchers

This November 2011 image, made available by Survival International on Tuesday, shows members of the Mashco-Piro tribe who were photographed at an undisclosed location near Manu National Park in southeastern Peru. According to Survival International, the image is one of the closest sightings of isolated Amazon Indians ever recorded with a camera.LIMA, Peru — Peruvian authorities say they are struggling to keep outsiders away from a clan of previously isolated Amazon Indians who began appearing on the banks of a jungle river popular with environmental tourists last year.

Antarctica has a native ecology

Scientists are inadvertently helping to carry seeds and other bits of plant around Antarctica
Marion Island is one of the sub-Antarctic islands now colonised by the grass Agrostis stolonifera
Visitors to Antarctica had their gear and pockets sampled, including using vacuum cleaners

Alien invaders threaten Antarctic fringes

Scientists are inadvertently helping to carry seeds and other bits of plant around Antarctica
Continue reading the main story
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The highest restaurant in the world

 The most "high" restaurant in the world. Restaurant Atmosphere "is located on 122 floor of the tallest tower in the world" Burj Dubai. 

America's Most Miserable Cities 2011

Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the governor of California at the end of 2003 amid a wave of optimism that his independent thinking and fresh ideas would revive a state stumbling after the recall of Gov. Gray Davis.
The good vibes are a distant memory: The Governator exited office last month with the state facing a crippling checklist of problems including massive budget deficits, high unemployment, plunging home prices, rampant crime and sky-high taxes. Schwarzenegger's approval ratings hit 22% last year, a record low for any sitting California governor.
California's troubles helped it land eight of the 20 spots on our annual list of America's Most Miserable Cities, with Stockton ranking first for the second time in three years.

Antarctica in Color, 1915

These are Frank Hurley’s famous early colour photographs of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated ‘Endurance’ voyage, as part of the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917. Hurley was the official photographer on the expedition.

Early in 1915, their ship ‘Endurance’ became inexorably trapped in the Antarctic ice. Hurley managed to salvage the photographic plates by diving into mushy ice-water inside the sinking ship in October 1915. - State Library of New South Wales.

World’s Largest Toy Museum in Malaysia

Toy may be children best friend, but when you talk about large museums that are filled with hundreds of thousands of toys - it is no more a child’s play.

Reputed as the largest of its kind in the world, the Museum house over 100,000 toys, dolls and others fun collectibles. It has also entered Malaysia Book of Records as the first toy museum in the country and with the largest toy and figurine collection.

Most dangerous U.S. cities

Press recently analyzed FBI statistics to rank the most dangerous cities in the nation. Based on violent crime findings, the study exposed cities big and small, notorious and not. Find more about the study, including the methodology.

10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls

Few things in nature are as mesmerizing as a waterfall—the thunderous roar as water spills over cliffs, the light glistening off the spray, the sheer force of it all. We found the 10 most enticing cascades on the planet. Some are obvious choices , but they all share an important quality: One look, and you're bound to be transfixed for hours.

Beautiful bridges in the world

Though these bridges are made by man they not only provide access to various places but also add some beauty to this earth...

 

Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge (Kobe, Japan) 



Bixby Creek Bridge (Big Sur, California, USA) 




Bosphorus Bridge (Istanbul, Turkey) 




The Bridge of Aspiration (Covent Garden, London, UK) 




Bridge of Sighs (Venice, Italy) 




Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn, New York, USA) 




Chengyang Bridge (Sanjiang of Guangxi Province, China) 




Chesapeake Bay Bridge (Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA) 




The Iron Bridge (Coalbrookdale, UK) 




Confederation Bridge (New Brunswick, Canada) 




Coronado Bridge (San Diego, California, USA) 




Donghai Bridge (Shanghai, China) 




Erasmus Bridge (Rotterdam, Netherlands) 




Fehmarn Belt Bridge (Hamburg, Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark) 




Forth Railway Bridge (Fife, Scotland) 






Golden Gate Bridge (San Franciso, California, USA) 




The Half-Bridge of Hope (Russia) 




Hangzhou Bay Bridge (Hangzhou Bay, China) 




Humber Bridge (Kingston upon Hull, England) 




Hussaini Bridge (Passu, Pakistan) 




Jadukata Bridge (Ranikor, India) 




Kawazu (Kawazu-cho, Japan) 

Khaju Bridge (Isfahan, Iran) 




Kintaikyo Bridge (Iwakuni City, Japan)

10 places you're not allowed to visit

Thanks to cheap flights and the internet, the world’s not as mysterious as it used to be. Many of us have travelled to far-flung areas of the globe that would have been totally alien and unreachable to Brits even a couple of generations ago. However, there are still parts of the planet that – no matter how many tourist blogs you read – are still (almost) off-limits to tourists. Here are some of our favourite forbidden travel destinations.

1. Poveglia
Where is it? The Venetian lagoon, Italy
Why can’t I visit?: Because it’s haunted! According to legend it was used to isolate plague victims during Roman times, and then as a giant Black Death grave in the Middle Ages. As if that wasn’t scary enough, it’s also home to spooky abandoned building – complete with bell tower naturally – that was apparently a mental hospital. These days it’s off-limits to visitors unless you bribe a gondolier to take you there. 


2. Area 51
Where is it? Nevada, USA
Why can’t I visit?: It’s a top secret military testing base, protected by armed private security teams patrolling in jeeps who are authorised to use deadly force to deal with intruders. Whether or not you believe UFOs have crashed landed there, the ridiculously strict security around the base means you’re never going to find out for sure. 
3. Le Cercle Munster
Where is it? Luxembourg
Why can’t I visit?: It’s an exclusive private members club that’s extremely selective about adding new members. Want to join? You must be backed by two sponsors and be approved by a selection committee made up of bigwigs from the finance world. Unless you’re an incredibly rich banker, businessman or equity trader, you’ll never see the sumptuous insides of the club, take part in the ‘Programme culturel’ or eat the delicious food at the in-house restaurant. Damn! 
4. Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
Where is it? Axum, Ethiopia
Why can’t I visit?: Because it’s no ordinary church. According to legend it's home to one of the most important biblical artefacts ever – the Ark of the Covenant (and we thought Indiana Jones left it in a warehouse). Only a specially chosen monk is allowed to guard the ‘Ark’. No-one else is allowed to lay eyes on it or even get close, in case they melt presumably (see Indiana Jones again). Of course, some claim this secrecy means the Ethiopian church is telling porkies… 
5. Most of Niihau Island
Where is it? The Hawaiian Islands, USA
Why can’t I visit?: Super-rich family the Robinsons (they’re not Swiss) bought Niihau in 1915 and closed it off to preserve its indigenous culture and wildlife. The 200-or-so natives who live there lead a blissful existence free of electricity, burger joints and, for the most part, tourists. There are very rare helicopter tours to the isle where you can wander along one of the beaches, but getting anywhere near the locals is strictly forbidden; hence its nickname, the, er, ‘Forbidden Island’. 
6. Bohemian Grove
Where is it? California, USA
Why can’t I visit?: It’s an extremely secretive men-only club whose members include artists, musicians, businessmen politicians… and the odd president (Nixon was a member). Once a year they all gather for a two-week long festival where (allegedly) rituals such as the ‘Cremation of Care’ - a wicker-man-style faux-pagan rite - and the ‘Grove Play’ - a large-scale musical theatre production - are performed by members. It sounds like fun to us, but somehow I don’t think we’ll get an invite… 
7. Lechiguilla Cave
Where is it? New Mexico, USA
Why can’t I visit?: It’s perhaps the most beautiful cave on the planet and frankly, the authorities don’t want you ruining it. Discovered in 1986 by miners, the sprawling underground complex is home to stunning speleothems, gypsum chandeliers and hydromagnesite balloons. We don’t know what any of these are, but they sound impressive. Sadly, unless you’re an extremely experienced caver you’ll never get a permit to see them. 
8. Jiangsu National Security Education museum
Where is it? Nanjing, China
Why can’t I visit?: Anyone is allowed in… as long as they are Chinese. There’s a big sign outside the front of this very unusual museum stating that only Chinese citizens are allowed inside. The unusual entry requirements are because the museum documents the history of Chinese espionage, and the state doesn’t want us foreigners finding out their spying secrets. 
9. Ilha de Queimada Grande
Where is it? Off the shore of Brazil
Why can’t I visit?: Basically, because it’s full of snakes – hence the nickname: ‘Snake Island’. Local legend states there’s between one and five snakes per square metre on the island. And not just any old snakes, most of ‘em are golden lanceheads – noted for their extremely potent venom. Because of this, understandably, the Brazilian Navy forbids tourists from stepping foot on the island. 
10. The peak of Mount Kailash
Where is it? The Himalayas, Tibet
Why can’t I visit?: Because it's home to a Hindu god. Lord Shiva, to be precise, who resides at the summit in a state of perpetual meditation. Sounds like bliss to us, which is appropriate, as Buddhists also believe the peak is home to the Buddha Demchok, who represents supreme bliss. Because of this religious significance the peak was always considered off-limits by most climbers, before this Chinese government issued an official ban in 2001.