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Panama El Valle de Anton – Where trees grow with square trunks

Oct 252011

There is a valley in Panama where a weird phenomenon has baffled scientists for years. Trees from a certain cottonwood family grows with unique square trunks.

Scientists have taken saplings to be grown in controlled environments, and have found that something local to the valley must be contributing to this unique feature.

The valley sits at the foot of El Valle de Anton, a volcano which has been dormant for over 500 000 years. Locals believe that the ancient ashes is causing the trees to grow square.

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Akodessewa Voodoo Market

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Sep 272011

Are you in need of a new skull, tiger tooth or crocodile nails? Then the Akodessewa Fetish Market in Togo is just the place for you. This bizarre market caters to all the needs of your local Voodoo practitioner.

Voodoo started back in West Africa, and the practice was brought to America
by slaves. A lot of people in Africa still believe that Voodoo healers, with all their scary props and weird rituals, can actually heal illness, ensure wealth, and solve marriage problems.

Akodessewa is located in Lome, Togo’s capital city where Voodoo practitioners can buy a variety of animal parts and herbs. When entering the market area, you are greeted by the voodoo Chief, who can also take you on a short tour through the market. The tables are all stacked by the sellers who will barter on everything, from the cost of a baboon paw, to the amount of rabbit skulls needed to get cured from AIDS.

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New York’s steampunk Apartment

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Aug 252011

Film-maker Jeremy Noritz recently put his steampunk-themed apartment in the market for $1 750 000.

It might sound a bit expensive, but take in account the fact that the apartment is in the Big Apple, and it has a one of a kind steampunk interior, complete with a submarine-style front door.

Noritz bought the apartment in 2006, and decided to “geekify” the conservative apartment. The apartment sports a submarine-like front door, and a color-changing zeppelin that seems to be
coming through the ceiling.. The bedroom looks like an exploded zeppelin, and the bed can be lowered and raised using a switch made from a deactivated bomb. Noritz collected most of the items
in the apartment from various antique shops.

Giant trees at the Cambodian Temple of Ta Prohm

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Jun 092011

Ta Prohm, originally called Rajavihara, is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built at the end of the 12th century. Unlike most temples in the area, Ta Prohm has been left in its original state and today you can find trees growing out of the ruins. The temple was constructed by Jayavarman VII in honour of his family, and was modelled on the king’s mother.

After the fall of the Khmer empire during the 15th century, the temple was abandoned for centuries. When the temple was “rediscovered” in the early 1900′s, a decision was made to leave the temple as-is and not to do any restoration on the building.

The temple can be found at GPS coordinates 13°26′06″N 103°53′21″E

The Blue Cave of Bisevo, Croatia

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Jan 272011

The Blue Cave is located on the Croatian Island of Bisevo and is one of the most spectacular caves in the world.

For ages, the Blue Cave was known only to local fishermen. The only way to reach the cave was to swim underneath one of its walls. In 1884 a small entrance was blown up in the side of one of the walls, allowing more people to visit this spectacular cave.

The best time to visit the cave is between 11am and 1pm, when the sun rays penetrate the water and reflect off the limestone floor underneath the water, filling the cave with an eerie blue light.