Top 10 Most Magnificent Mosques in the World

Mosques are places where the followers of Islam worship. There are many of them around the world, ranging from very large Mosques that can seat 50,000 people to ones so small that they can only hold 10 people at a time. They are known for having amazing domes with crescents on top; tall and slender minarets that are usually situated at the corner of the building structure; amazing Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Quran verses in the Prayer Halls. Here is my list of the “Top 10 Most Magnificent Mosques in the World”. You may have been fortunate enough to have already visited some of them. 

No 10. Mosque of Dearborn, Michigan, USA

No 9. Shah Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan

No 8. Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo, Egypt

No 7. Shah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

No 6. Al Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock), Jerusalem, Palestine

No 5. Putra Mosque, Putrajaya, Malaysia

No 4. Sultan Ahmed Mosque a.k.a Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

awan, Brunei

No 2. Al-Nabawi (Prophet) Mosque, Medina

No 1. Haram Sharif Grand Mosque, Mecca

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: The Most Creepiest Pool in the World

Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) or The Victoria Falls, which was named by Scottish explorer, David Livingstone, is located in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa. The height of the magnificent waterfalls is 108 meters, which can be considered among the highest waterfalls in the world.

The most popular location is known as the “Devil’s Swimming Pool” where during the months of September and December, visitors can swim as close as possible to the edge of the falls without falling over. Pretty cool isn’t it? Below are the brave and splendid photos of people who have visited the scariest pool.

Siege of Leningrad Blockade Now and Then Photos

History has told us all but frequently we forget about the hardship experienced by generations past, especially during certain wars. However, some people have a very creative and profound way of reflecting on times gone by, presenting their take on the world in a new light. Hopefully our children and future generation will still remember that comfortable life they get is coming from bloodshed of people in the past.

These haunting, hybrid images of past and present St Petersburg – formerly known as Leningrad – are the works of Sergei Larenkov. After studying old images of the city, Larenkov visited the same spots, capturing them on film. He then digitally superimposed the old image over new, producing these eerie and thought-provoking shots using remakable photoshop technique.

Like ghosts captured forever on film the scenes depict all too clearly a harshness that can result only from times of war. The 900-day Siege of Leningrad, also known as The Leningrad Blockade, lasted from September 9, 1941, to January 27, 1944 – just over 65 years ago – and was “one of the longest and most destructive sieges of major cities in modern history, and second most costly,” according to Wikipedia sources.

Although the blend of the two images seems natural, it’s hard not to ignore the colorful boundary of the present and focus totally on the black and white scene of the past. Each image demands the viewer to stop and contemplate what life must have been like in Leningrad during World War II. The difference between life now and then in these moving images is distinct, and deserves the attention of an undoubtedly more privileged audience. Thumbs up!

Magnificent Beach Houses in Dubai Photos

Dubai has not only been known as the fastest growing city in the world, but also the most lavish city in the world. Last time, I posted about the top 5 secret places and the top 5 places of interests you must not miss during your vacation at Dubai. Now, I want to post the photos of magnificent architecture beach houses that can be found in the city of Palm 

Magnificient Missouri St. Louis Getaway Arc Photos

On this post, I want to share with you about such magnificient Getaway Arc photos taken by one of my real life friend. His portfolio can be found on his fotopages called ShahStudio. They went to St. Louis, Missouri for 4 days (24 to 28th December) during the winter break. Well, I used to be with during this time to travel around the states. I really miss those valuable time with them. The drive took them about 10 hours from Minneapolis to St. Louis, Missouri. The city was not as hectic as Minneapolis (my college city). Biggest attraction there is the Gateway Arc. Designed by a Finnish architect, Eero Saarinen. It was a magnificent and working statue. Saarinen really did think about everything, Especially the unique design of the elevators. Too bad he didn’t have the chance to see the arc before he died.

Beautiful Photos of 2009 Solar Eclipse “Ring” Seen Over South East Asia

The rare event of solar eclipse had happened at Southeast Asia region, on which the dark disk of the moon creeps across the setting sun. Only people viewing from the southern Indian Ocean were among the few to see the full annular eclipse, so called because at its peak the eclipse is surrounded by an annulus, or ring, of fiery light.

A fantastic sequence of photos above shows the moon passing between Earth and the sun before, during, and after an annular eclipse, as seen on January 26, 2009, from Bandar Lampung in Indonesia. The path of the full annular eclipse crossed mostly open ocean in the southern part of the globe, starting about 560 miles (900 kilometers) south of Africa and not reaching land until it crossed Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. However, observers in southern Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and Southeast Asia were able to watch a partial eclipse.

Astronomer Jay Pasachoff used a specially equipped camera to capture images of the January 26, 2009, annular eclipse from the Indonesian island of Java. Practicing photography techniques and for getting the public excited about astronomy is significant for him as he added later.

The image of haze blurs the bright ring around an annular eclipse on January 26, 2009 was captured from Anyer Beach on the Indonesian island of Java, one of the few places where the solar eclipse was completely visible. Crowds gathered across Indonesia to witness the event, some cheering and banging drums as the moon seemed to cross the face of the sun.

These two magnificient photos were taken from Malaysia. The clouds seems to fold during the eclipse and the color reacts accordingly. The picture has been taken from one of the busiest highway in the nation.

New Year 2009 Celebrations at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia has celebrated its 2009 new year practically early than any other place in the world. Why? Go open your high school’s geography book and find out yourself. :p These are some pictures of 2009 countdown at variety of places in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysians ushered in the new year by letting their hair down at several countdown parties. Anyway, as reported by local newspaper today, despite concerns over the turbulent state of the economy, many were intent on having fun ushering in 2009 which was greeted by some fearsome fireworks displays. At Dataran Merdeka here, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad and AmBank Group chairman Tan Sri Datuk Azman Hashim joined the crowd for the countdown organised by the bank. They were entertained by artistes such as M. Nasir, Mawi, popular bands Point Blanc, Hujan

, Estranged and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall orchestra as well as performances by various cultural troupes including the orang asli. As the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad clocktower struck twelve, there were shouts of “Happy New Year” and cheers. The crowd was then treated to a spectacular fireworks show. Parties were also held at KLCC and Bukit Bintang.

Meanwhile, In PETALING JAYA, the festivities centered on 1 Utama shopping complex with samba dancers, fire eaters and Brazilian percussionists adding colour before a line-up of artistes took to the stage. Deejays from the 988 radio station played games and gave away prizes to the partygoers. The highlight of the celebration was the special appearance of Hong Kong singer Justin Lo, who got the crowd going with his catchy pop tunes. A stone’s throw away at The Curve, artistes Juwita Suwito, Karen Kong, Faisal Tahir and Rynn Lim entertained the crowd at a street party.