• Tagged art, bizarre, culture, Dante, Dante's Inferno, Italy, odd, photos, pics, places, sand castle, sand sculpture, sand sculpture festival

Dante’s Inferno – welcome to hell, a mixture of culture and amazingly intricate and evil sand sculpture art. Dante Alighieri wrote the 14th-century epic poem in which Inferno, meaning hell in Italian, is the first part of his Divine Comedy. The International Sand Sculpture Festival was held in Venice, Italy, on the beach of Jesolo Lido. The Sultans of Sand Worldwide brought together 18 incredibly talented master sand sculptors from 9 countries. 2,000 tons of sand were used to craft 24 different scenes from the 9 circles of hell in Dante’s Inferno. Some of these wildly wicked sculptures stood over 4 meters (13 feet) high and were built in only 10 days! While professional sand sculptors can carve out both amazing and sometimes bizarre creations, the intricate designs of these giant sand demons make this one of the most mind-blowing, bizarre, and unforgettable International Sand Sculpture Festivals ever. A very special thank you to photographers Marco Rizzetto and Gael Reignier for granting me permission to post their copyrighted pictures that show off all 9 circles of Dante’s Inferno. Get ready to traipse through the nine levels, “circles,” of hell: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud and Treachery. [46 Photos]

• Tagged abandoned, archaeological, Hiram Bingham III, Inca, Inca Empire, Incas, Machu Picchu, nature, people, Peru, photography, photos, pics, places, rock-cut architecture, ruins, Seven New Wonders of the World, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Peru is celebrating 100 years since the rediscovery of Machu Picchu by Yale professor Hiram Bingham III. On July 24, 1911, the American, who some believe was later the “model” for Indiana Jones, stumbled upon jungle-and-vine-coated ruins during an expedition to find an ancient Inca Empire in the Andes mountains. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. In 2007, it was crowned as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World via a worldwide Internet vote. To mark the Machu Picchu centennial celebration, here is a collection of pictures from the “Lost City of the Incas.”
[46 Photos]

• Tagged America, celebration, fireworks, holiday, Independence Day, July Fourth, military, military photographers, people, photography, photos, pics, places, soldiers, transportation, troops, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, USA

Happy Birthday America! We had hoped to show you something a little bit different than the same old firework display photos you see all over cyberspace. Military photographers have captured some very cool, unique, and patriotic shots of our troops and how they celebrate Independence Day. Most of their shots below are tagged with the military photographer’s description of the scene. From picnics to parties, Americans celebrate the nation’s birthday in many different ways. Are you small town or big city July 4th firework celebration type person? How do watch the firework displays? On your back on a blanket? Sitting in chairs or stadiums? Near a body of water, or are you the “official” lighter of family fireworks? However you celebrate America’s Independence and birthday, please spare a happy thought in support of our troops and their families. Have fun! Enjoy the fireworks! This our little patriotic tribute. We love the USA and we love these pics! [46 Fantastic Photos]

• Tagged Black Forest, environment, Germany, nature, New Seven Wonders of Nature, photos, pics, places, Schwarzwald, travel

The Black Forest in Germany is so dense with pine trees that it blocks out most of the light in the woods and that’s how “Black Forest” got its name. The German name for the Black Forest wooded mountain range is Schwarzwald. Like the Halong Bay, gorgeous jewels in an emerald sea, and Volcanic JeJu, Island of the Gods, the Black Forest is one of the elite 28 finalists in the competition to name the new 7 Wonders of Nature. The beautiful Black Forest is a gigantic nature park, calling to nature lovers and adventurers . . . and for those with an active imagination, it’s said that Germany’s Black Forest possesses a “rich mythological landscape. It is said to be haunted by werewolves, sorcerers, witches who haunt the darkness, and the devil in differing guises, so watch out. Fortunately, there are dwarves that live within the woods who like to help people and try to balance the scales.” [33 Photos]

• Tagged Antelope Canyon, Arizona, Lower Antelope Canyon, Native American nations, Native Americans, nature, Navajo Nation, Navajo Tribal Park, people, photography, photos, pics, places, The Corkscrew, The Crack, travel, Upper Antelope Canyon

The mysterious, magnificent colors of Antelope Canyon make it the most photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest. This masterpiece of color is located near Page, Arizona, and the Lake Powell area. We’ve looked at Canyon de Chelly National Monument and magnificent Monument Valley, but in Navajo Nation tribute part 3, we’re looking at Antelope Canyon. This is actually made up of two slot canyons. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” Lower Antelope Canyon is Hasdeztwazi which in Navajo means “spiral rock arches.” Antelope Canyon was formed mostly by erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flooding and water rushing through the rocks. The risk of flash floods is but one reason Antelope Canyon is not accessible without a guide. Yet people come from all over the world to visit the Navajo Nation and to try out this photographic extravaganza. [30 Photos]

• Tagged Ha Long Bay, Halong Bay, New Seven Wonders of Nature, photos, pics, places, travel, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wonders of the World, World Heritage Site

In northern Vietnam, east of Hanoi, is a gorgeous gem of nature which is famous for its stunning rock formations. Ha Long Bay translates to mean Descending Dragon Bay. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of 28 finalists in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition. It’s certainly not hard to see why with these breathtaking images. Ha Long (or Halong) Bay has a magnificent collection of 1,969 limestone monoliths that are dotted with jungle vegetation. The core of the bay has 775 islets. There may be 3,000 or more incredible islands of all various shapes and sizes rising up like jewels from an emerald sea. It would be easy to imagine pirates hiding behind the massive and sometimes hollow monoliths that hide gigantic caves. Birds can almost always be heard singing and monkeys can be seen playing on these monolithic islands that feature secluded beaches, grottoes, caves, and lakes. Welcome to Ha Long Bay, one of nature’s paradise locations! [40 Photos]

• Tagged adrenaline junkies, adrenaline rush, BASE jump, cliffs, extreme sports, insane roads, Kjerag cliffs, mountains, nature, Norway, photography, photos, pics, pictures, places, Preacher's Pulpit, Preikestolen, Pulpit Rock, The Troll's Tongue, travel, Troll Mountains, Troll Wall, Trollveggen

Norway has absolutely beautiful landscapes, including crazy cliffs that call to people to climb up them and then BASE jump off the top. Here’s a look at some of those incredible cliffs as well as insanely dangerous switchback roads to get to those amazing cliffs in Norway. Thrillseekers, photographers, hikers and climbers take in these majestic views of nature. And then, there’s BASE jumpers who have a much more extreme need for adrenaline. Charles Lindbergh once said of his adrenaline rush, “It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane.” Here in Norway, as if they’ve turned into Superman, some adrenaline junkies do fly without a plane.
[33 Photos]

• Tagged abandoned, abandoned amusement park, abandoned New Orleans, Big Easy, defunct amusement park, disaster, graffiti, jazzland, Katrina, New Orleans, photos, pics, pictures, places, Six Flags New Orleans, travel, urban exploration

Like little kids, we all experience a happy rush, a delighted thrill, when going to play at an amusement park. Yet when an amusement park is abandoned and an eerie silence settles over the rusty and crusty decay, the setting seems to twist the atmosphere of enthusiastic excitement into a suffocating blanket of dread. The place takes on creepy vibes and freaks people out. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and ripped the heart of fun and the amusement out of this park. Almost six years later, Six Flags in New Orleans is unnaturally silent, no lines and no laughter. This 140-acre surreal setting has morphed into a nightmarish land of twisted dreams. It seems as if the post-apocalyptic atmosphere might be the perfect place to make a zombie movie. As if lured by a distant echo of scattered screams and the ghost of good times, urban explorers venture out of curiosity and capture the moments and crumbling scenes. They share with us in a virtual urban exploration tour of this creepy abandoned amusement park – Six Flags New Orleans. Most of these photos are very recent, as in taken during 2011, nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina tried to swallow New Orleans and Six Flags. A special thank you to the urban explorers who risked arrest, and possible zombie attack, to go in and shoot these current shots of Six Flags, and then gave us permission to use their copyright photos. This is about twice the size of a normal post here, so we hope you really enjoy this virtual urban exploration tour into the defunct amusement park Six Flags New Orleans. [75 Photos]

• Tagged art, Brazil, Christ the Redeemer, Christ the Redeemer statue, Christian, Cristo Redentor Statue, Easter, holiday, Jesus, Jesus Christ, photo, photographers, photography, pic, pictures, places, Rio, Rio De Janeiro, Seven New Wonders of the World, statue, travel, Wonders of the World

Christ the Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. As such, the Cristo Redentor statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, is photographed by thousands each year. Christ the Redeemer statue speaks a bit differently to each photographer who captures the image as seen in their magnificent mind’s eye. Their talent, a blessing to be sure, has been collected here to celebrate Easter and Christ. We love these pics! [45 Pictures]

• Tagged bizarre, China, Fengdu City of Ghosts, ghost city, ghosts, photos, pics, pictures, places, strange, temple, travel, WTF

Most folks have seen some totally freaky things coming out of Japan, bizarre game shows or festivals, and people are like WTF Japan? Well how about WTF China??? Fengdu Ghost City: This place was once ancient temples, but now has become a tacky amusement park. Instead of Mickey Mouse and happy stuff, visitors move closer and closer until visiting Hell. WTF China?!? Fengdu, the “City of Ghosts,” is situated at the northern end of the Yangtze River. It attracts tourists from all over China to learn about Chinese ghost culture and the afterlife. Visitors are constantly reminded here that good is rewarded with good, and evil is rewarded with terrifying and torturous evil. [34 WTF Freaky Photos]

• Tagged dinosaur, environment, erosion, fossils, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Park, monument, National Park, nautre, Oregon, painted hills, photos, pics, pictures, places

The Painted Hills are nature’s eye candy in a kaleidoscope of colors. This truly unique scenic marvel is within the heavily eroded volcanic deposits of Oregon at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Park. Entombed in the natural beauty are well-preserved plant and animal fossil records which span more than 40 of the 65 million years of the Cenozoic Era. Best of all is the mind-blowing and stunning beauty. Can you hear nature calling to you, adventurers? We love these pics! [50 Fantastic Photos!]

• Tagged animals, Hindu, India, Karni Mata, photos, pics, pictures, places, Rat Temple, rats, temple, travel

Holy rats, rats rats! This isn’t Disney World and Mickey Mouse. In India, there is a temple filled with rats on purpose! It’s called Karni Mata, the Rat Temple, and these photographers were brave enough to get close to the rats so we don’t have to get any closer than these wild photos. At this temple, the rats are considered sacred and are protected. If you kill one, you must replace it with a rat made out of solid gold. [32 Photos]