Dawn At Mintos Hut

Dawn somewhere in the middle of African mountains may become once in a lifetime pleasure...

May Agitation In Berlin

On the eve of demonstrations of the disaffected workers Berlin was decorated with agitation posters. The demonstrations themselves are quite serious here: with water-cannons and tear gas.

Obidos - The Majestic City of Portugal

Obidos is a Portugal city on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is located 100 km north from Lisbon. The name is originated from the Latin word oppidum that means "fortress", "citadel". The city was founded by Celts and later invaded by the Romans, Visigoths and Moors. Only in the XII century the city came back to the possession of Portugal. Almost 100 years later, in 1282, king Dinis presented the city to his wife on their wedding day. It was a start of a wonderful and romantic tradition: till the XIX century Obidos was a part of marriage portion of all Portuguese queens. Today the city is called "the city of weddings": each year here come just-married couples for their honeymoons. Obidos is very pleasant for walks: paved streets, whitewashed walls of the houses, balconies with blossoming bougainvilleas and geraniums. Besides here is a preserved grand ancient castle.

There is a fortress towering over the settlement. From here the staircase is going up the city wall where one can enjoy wonderful city views. The fortress was rebuilt after being won back from the Moors in 1148.

Obidos is one of the brightest examples of medieval Portuguese fortresses. Like in ancient times, the entry to the city goes through the southern gates of the Virgin Mary decorated with Dutch tiles of the XVIII century.

In July - from 7th to 11th, then from 14th to 18th and finally from 21st to 25th - for 5 days and nights the city emerges in the Middle ages: all citizens and guests of the city wear medieval dresses, listen to medieval music, dance and play medieval performances. At the entry to the city money are changed to medieval one - or you won't be able to buy anything.

Here the annual chocolate festival takes place.

Sweet liquor Ginja is awesome! It is made from the fruit of the same name that grows in this area. Tastes like cherry. It's usually sold in small chocolate wine glasses that should be eaten after drinking the liquor. One glass costs 1 euro.

10 Biggest Shopping Malls in the World

Not in Asia, where land is cheap and labor costs is low. A building boom has been observed as shopping malls popping up in China, Malaysia and the Philippines, with India expected to jump into the fold soon. Based on gross leasable area, or the amount of space devoted to revenue-producing operations like stores, amusements and food, the continent is home to nine of the world’s 10 largest malls, six of which have been built since 2004.

So here are some of the biggest shopping malls in the world. I hope you will love to shop in one of those.

South China Mall, China

In the Chinese mall arms race, this facility opened a year after the Golden Resources Mall to displace it as the countries and the worlds largest. The space includes wind mills and theme parks, plus a replica of the Arc de Triomphe. It was open in 2005 and has an area of 7.1 million sq ft.

Golden Resources Shopping Mall, China

Approximately 1,000 stores, selling plenty of familiar global brands like Nike and DKNY. A truly ambitious real estate project, with new apartments and offices, surround the mall. It was opened in 2004 and has an area of 6 million sq ft.

SM Mall of Asia, Philippines

Includes the first Olympic-sized swimming pool and first IMAX Theater in the Philippines. Spread over four buildings, customers can get around on a 20-seat tram. It was opened in 2006 and has an area of 4.2 million sq ft.

Cevahir Istanbul

Europe’s largest shopping mall in Istanbul, Turkey has a roller coaster, wave pool and several IMAX theaters. It was opened in 2005 and has an area of about 3.8 million sq ft.

West Edmonton Mall, Canada

The biggest in North America, the West Edmonton Mall has over 800 stores, along with attractions like a water park, skating rink, casino and rides. It was opened back in 1981 and has an area of about 3.8 million sq ft.

SM Megamall, Philippines

Fun stuff includes bowling, ice skating and a 12-cinema movie theater, along with traditional mall fare like arcade games. Customers can also get a haircut or see a doctor at the Manila clinic. SM Mall was opened in 1991 and has an area of about 3.6 million sq ft.

Berjaya Times Square, Malaysia

Built with an adjacent hotel and convention center. In addition to over 1,000 retail shops, the mall includes a 12-story-high roller coaster, plus a pool, skating rink and “Cosmo’s World,” a children’s theme park. It was opened in 2005 and has an area of 3.4 million sq ft.

Beijing Mall, China

The first real suburban mall in China, located about an hour from downtown Beijing, this center has four levels with parking for 8,000 cars, plus a man-made beach. Bootlegged DVDs of American movies are a top seller. It was opened in 2005 and has a area of 3.4 million sq ft.Zhengjia Plaza, China

Has been known to attract over half a million shoppers on a good day. Another mixed-use space, the mall has a hotel and office tower in addition to retail stores. It has an area of 2 million sq ft.

SM City North Edsa, Philippines

The first major “mega mall” built by SM Prime Holdings, which now claims three of the largest 10 in the world. It’s a five-story complex that boasts over 100 retail outlets and restaurants, along with 12 cinemas, a bowling alley and skating rink. An IMAX theater could be added soon. It has an area of 3 million sq ft.

10 Most Remote Inhabited Places on Earth

Thanks to modern technology and air travel, the world is forever becoming a smaller place. Where journeys from one continent to another once took months, they now take hours, and sometimes it seems like there is nowhere left for a would-be adventurer to really get away from it all. Still, if you have the time, money, and know-how, there are still some places off the map or just barely on it that remain shrouded in mystery simply by virtue of being really difficult to reach.

From  mining camps at the top of the world, or tiny islands thousands of miles from civilization, Here are some of the most remote places left on planet Earth.

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan de Cunha is the most remote inhabited place in the world. It is in Atlantic Ocean and the nearest land to the island is South Africa, which is roughly 1,700 miles away. The island has a total population of 271 people.

Easter Island

Located some 2,000 miles west of the Chilean Coast, Easter Island, is a tiny island that has become famous for its remarkable massive rock sculptures called Moai.

La Rinconada, Peru

La Rinconada is a small mining town in Peru which is located nearly 17,000 feet above sea level is considered the “highest” city in the world, and it is this stunning geography that makes it so desolate. The city is located on a permanently frozen glacier, and can only be reached by truck via treacherous and winding mountain roads.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Located literally at the bottom of the world, Antarctica is easily one of the most remote places on the face of the Earth. There are no native inhabitants to the continent, but only 1200 scientists and researchers.

Cape York Peninsula, Australia

Cape York, Peninsula, a huge expanse of untouched wilderness located on the country’s northern tip. The region has a population of only 18,000 people, most of whom are part of the country’s aboriginal tribes, and it is considered to be one of the largest undeveloped places left in the world.

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

At 836,000 square miles in size, Greenland is the world’s largest island, but its tiny population of 57,000 people means that it’s also the most desolate. And of all the towns in Greenland, perhaps none is as remote as Ittoqqortoormiit.

Kerguelen Islands

Also known as the “Desolation Islands” for their sheer distance from any kind of civilization, the Kerguelen Islands are located in the southern Indian Ocean. The islands have no native population other than some scientists and engineers from France, which claims them as a territory.

Pitcairn Island

Pitcairn Island is a tiny speck of land located nearly dead in the center of the southern Pacific Ocean. It has a population of some fifty people. The nearest land to them is Tahiti which is several hundred miles away.

Alert, Nunavut, Canada

Located in Canada Alert is a small village that lies on the Arctic Ocean only 500 miles below the North Pole. It is widely considered to be the northernmost permanently inhabited place in the world. The nearest town to Alert is a small fishing village some 1,300 miles away.

Motuo County, China

Considered the last county in China without a road leading to it, Motuo is a small community in the Tibetan Autonomous Region that remains one of the few places in Asia still untouched by the modern world.

Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road is located in the south-eastern coast of Australia, it stretches for 243 km.

Some intersting facts:

- the road was built by the soldiers who had come from the war between 1919 and 1932 and thus it's considered the biggest memorial that is devoted to WWI. That's another reason it's called "Great".

- in the most part it goes along the coast (generally serpentine without rising or descending) and connects various picturesque places so much attracting tourists.

- smaller part of the road goes through the tropical forest.

- on the way one may see small settlements where tourists may stay and have a bite. 

The local

Koala sleeping right over the road

Cape Otway Lightstation - the second lighthouse built in Australia (1848) and now it's the oldest from the existing lighthouses on the continent.

Loch Ard Gorge.

12 apostles - the most famous tourist place on the entire road. Initially the place was called "A Pig and Piglets", but before the very opening it was renamed to "12 apostles" to attract tourists notwithstanding the fact that there were only 9 rocks standing there. Now there are 8 of them - one has recently fallen (2005). 

Spring In Niigata

Not all Japan is buried under high snow! In some majestic places spring has already come with all its beauty and charm.

Unfortunately beauty of sakura never stays for long and the first rain means the end of it...

By the way, in the shade of this big sakura tree, behind the fence, there hides a tree house of an oil kiloton Saito. Yes, in Niigata oil was produced too. Among the interests of the Saito clan were oil, banking business, commerce, politics etc.

The former residence of the Saito clan is preserved in the city too.

"Enkikan" is located in a picturesque park Hakusan. In spring around the park sakura is in blossom and in summer huge lotuses open in the pond of the park.

The most beautiful places under the wonderful trees are always occupied.

From the roof of the local art center there opens the view of this stunning white sakura carpet...

One may walk on that roof and enjoy flowers...

Or look at the city and the river Sinano.

In the background -  the football stadium "Big Swan" where Football Championship 2002 was held.

In the park