May, 2013 Archives

Spectacular Sand Beaches in a Rainbow of 10 Incredible Colors [43 PICS]

May 31st, 2013 Permalink

When you think about summer and visiting a beach, do you visualize a seashore with golden-brown sand? That may depend upon where you live and what beach you are picturing. We are constantly amazed and appreciate seeing the diversity in nature, such as the extremely colorful sandy beaches that nature painted from a palette of rainbow-like shades. These unique-colored beaches are located all around the world and come in varying sandy shades of green, red, orange, pink, purple, black, gray, brown, golden-yellow and white. Here is a sampling of some of those beautiful beaches with spectacular sand in incredible colors. [43 Photos]

Paragliding over Rainbow Beach in Queensland, AU

Paragliding over Rainbow Beach in Queensland, AU. This coastal and former sand mining town got its name, Rainbow Beach, from the rainbow-colored sand dunes, with as many as 72 different colored sands, surrounding it. Photo #1 by texaus1

More Photos

Memorial Day: Weeping Angels at Eternally Eerie Graveyards

May 26th, 2013 Permalink

No matter your religious beliefs or cultural background, we all mourn our lost loved ones. When remembering the departed, we can all be ‘haunted’ by ghosts and specters of memories. Some people are so bereaved that they erect elaborate statues for tombstones. The details and symbolism on headstones are usually created by those still living, weeping and mourning; the monuments capture that sense of loss and pain to be remembered for all time. Graveyards are eerie enough, but other tombs are topped off with curiously spooky and complex reminders, making the cemetery seem like it was created to be a totally creepy and morbid place. Having lost a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother this year, we can feel the pain of loss and the love that went into these grieving angel statues. Angels monuments often offer comfort to those still living, but when they too have passed on and the graves are forgotten, time and weather may play havoc on the tombstones. For Memorial Day, here’s a trip through cemeteries that seem eternally eerie by being haunted by weeping angels and other ghoulish statues standing guard for an eternity. [45 Photos]

Mourning angel and golden leafs of fall, cemetery of Laeken, Brussels

Mourning angel and golden leaves of fall, cemetery of Laeken, Brussels. Stone sculptures as headstones lend a sense of permanence in being remembered. Photo #1 by Eddy Van 3000

More Photos

Alien-looking Island of Bliss: Enter a Different Dimension at Socotra [42 PICS]

May 24th, 2013 Permalink

Enter a different dimension at Socotra, an unusually peculiar-looking world that was long ago called “The Island of Bliss.” Located off the Horn of Africa, in the Indian Ocean, Socotra is about 150 miles away from Somalia and the threat of real-day pirates; it’s a little over 200 miles away from its mainland Yemen. And the landscape makes it “the most alien-looking place on Earth.” Although Socotra has wide sandy beaches rising to limestone plateaus full of caves, some 4.4 miles in length (7 km), wind-swept cliffs and mountains over 5,000 feet high, the island’s iconic image is of the Dragon’s Blood tree; it’s deep red resin was once considered to be ancient dragon blood. Some people have suggested that Socotra might have been the original Garden of Eden. Currently every single Trip Advisor tourist review rated Socotra as “excellent.” Of course, there are high security threats like kidnapping and terrorism; the US State Department warned Americans against traveling to Yemen. In 2011, Somali pirates were using the island as a fuel base. Yet tourists call it a “hidden gem” for those adventurous souls not seeking a luxury resort. Most of us will never visit this out of this world island of Socotra. [42 Photos]

Socotra Island, Yemen

If you are looking for a luxurious vacation, then this is not the right location for you. However, people sometimes say they want to “get off the grid” and this would be an ideal place to visit if you love adventure and nature, and don’t mind “roughing” it a bit. Far away on what appears at first to be an oasis is Socotra Island, Yemen. It is believed that Socotra got its name from Sanskrit, meaning “Island of Bliss.” Others suggest the name was derived from Arabic and means “dripping frankincense.” It may be a bit of both, currently unspoiled by man, but most people know of Socotra as being “the most alien-looking place on Earth.” It’s like a whole another world, like a different dimension. Photo #1 by Martin Sojka

More Photos

School’s Out for Summer! School’s Out Forever! Salute to Graduates! [46 PICS]

May 16th, 2013 Permalink

Summer is almost here. For those of you who are graduating, we salute you. Congratulations! For everyone else, school’s out for summer break. School is out forever for these abandoned schools, reform schools, boys’ schools, girls’ schools, vocational schools, college’s and universities. [46 Photos, 2 Videos]

Schools out for summer, schools out forever, Abandoned School Classroom

Schools out for summer, schools out forever! Photo #1 by Brook Ward

More Photos

Tiptoe Through the Tulips [35 PICS]

May 13th, 2013 Permalink

There are over 3000 different registered varieties of cultivated tulips and all are a beautiful sign of spring. Tulip festivals honor the Dutch and are huge tourist attractions, but the festivals are held all over the world, including the USA. So . . . “Tiptoe through the window, By the window, that is where I’ll be, Come tiptoe through the tulips with me.” [35 Photos]

Seabird Island tulip fields and mountains in BC

Tulip fields on Seabird Island, Agassiz, British Columbia. Tulip festivals are held in many locations around the world. These gorgeous and beautifully-fragrant flowers were once so popular that they sparked a speculative frenzy now called “tulip mania.” During this time, tulips were so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency. Photo #1 by Dru!

More Photos

Tribute to Moms & The Things They Say: 53 Loving Mother and Baby Animal Photos

May 9th, 2013 Permalink

You wouldn’t trade your mom cause there is nothing like a mother’s love . . . but do you remember some of the things she used to say as you were growing up? The type of things you swore that you’d never say to your kids? Moms are often overworked, under-appreciated, and at some point . . . finds herself saying things that her mother used to say. This seems to pass down from generation to generation, but despite the silly things that stressed out moms say, there is no one on Earth who will ever love you as unconditionally as your mother does. The number one thing all mothers say to their children is: I Love You! This is a tribute to moms for Mother’s Day! [53 Photos]

Baby hippo telling mom a story

“Mom!” When a child is born, a mom is the baby’s whole world. By the time you grow up and move away, you are your mother’s whole world. Photo #1 by Alpha Coders

More Photos

50 Incredible, Inspirational Double Rainbows [PICS]

May 2nd, 2013 Permalink

There are reflected rainbows in bodies of water; reflection and supernumerary rainbows, fogbows, multiple and high-order ‘rose of rainbows,’ tertiary and quaternary rainbows, twinned rainbows, and even moonbows . . . rare rainbows in the dark. Whew! Here we are focusing on a meteorological phenomenon and nature’s grand optical illusion trick that create double rainbows. Most all cultures regard a rainbow as a positive sign. So here is double the positive, double the awe and inspiration, that sparked the double rainbow meme. Have a great day and enjoy! [50 Photos]

Double rainbow over Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO

Double rainbow over Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. Did you know there really isn’t an “end” to a rainbow? Maybe that’s why finding a pot of gold is as hard as spotting a tricky leprechaun. If you stood at where I can see the “proverbial” end of the rainbow, then that rainbow would appear to you to be in a different spot. It’s one of nature’s very best optical “illusion” tricks. Experiencing the phenomenon depends upon where you are standing, where the sun is and where the moisture is just right in the air. Rainbows, especially double rainbows, are considered a positive, awe-inspiring sign in most cultures. Photo #1 by Raymond Larose

More Photos