Strange Planet

Strange Planet

Yes it is right here on Earth but there is no landscape anywhere like it. 

Waking up on this island called Socotra would have you looking around 

in wonder and disbelief 

that you are actually on Planet Earth.

Dorstenia gigas - apparently does not require any soil and sinks roots straight into the bare rock

It also has a distinct personality and likes to smile for the camera

 Socotra is one of those "lost world" islands (separated from the world six million years ago) where intrepid travellers - particularly those seeking exotic nature and wildlife in a remote tropical setting - can go days on end without rubbing shoulders with that less-than-endangered species: tourists. Known for decades as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, it's the world's tenth richest island for endemic plant species. And it's the biggest island in the Middle East…125 km in length and 45 km across. Meanwhile, the landscape is one of contrasts; for example, it has isolated nature preserves with dazzling wildlife, including 900 species of plants, the famous Dragon's Blood Tree "dracaena cinnabara," some of the rarest birds that exist nowhere else in the world, and picturesque sandy beaches.

Fairy-tale and possibly haunted shipwrecks. There are diving tours available.

To give you a glimpse of Socotra's and Yemen's in general totally unique architecture, check out this place located on the mainland: Al Hajarah, Yemen - Walled city in the mist

The name Socotra is derived from a Sanskrit name, meaning "The Island of Bliss"

This island is a birder's paradise as well, with 140 different species of birds, 10 of which are not found anywhere else in the world. A unique Socotra warbler, sunbird, starling, bunting, sparrow, and cisticola are among the ones found here. There are also Socotra Cormorants

Getting around can be a challenge, as there are almost no roads. Despite the fact that this island has around 40,000 inhabitants, the Yemeni government put in the first roads just 2 years ago - after negotiations with UNESCO, which has declared this island a World Natural Heritage Site. You might prefer a camel ride to what is bound to be a bumpy and slow 4x4 ride... It is a quiet and peaceful enclave in an otherwise troubled world. If you decide to visit there, you can forget about beachfront hotels and restaurants; this island is geared towards eco-tourism and sustaining the local economy and way of life. 

Also found in Socotra's landscape is the ever-strange and extremely rare Cucumber Tree (dendrosicyos socotranum) - and yes, it's related to what's sitting in a pickle jar in your fridge

The trees and plants of this island were preserved through the long geological isolation, some varieties being 20 million years old... the dracena cinnibaris or Dragon's Blood Tree, the source of valuable resin for varnishes, dyes, and "cure-all" medicine; also (predictably) used in medieval ritual magic and alchemy. 

 The branches spread out into the sky and from below appear to hover over the landscape like so many flying saucers... and from above, they have a distinct mushroom look

Optical Illusions

The Ugly Truth - greeting cards

Weird & Unusual Buildings

 Bridge House - PONTE VECCHIO - ITALY

In the city of Firenze (Florence) Italy is a remarkable bridge.  Known as the Ponte Vecchio, or the “old Bridge” in English, it spans the river Arno.  The bridge seen in the photograph was originally constructed in 1345AD after two of its predecessors had been destroyed by flood waters.  What makes it unusual is that it is one of the few surviving bridges to have tenanted shops built along its span.  Originally these were almost exclusively butchers, perhaps because of the direct access to the waters of the river and the ease of disposing offal and the like.  In 1593 butchers were forbidden to sell on the bridge and the shops and houses were quickly taken over by gold and jewel merchants – a tradition that persists to this day.

 Dog Park Inn

A hotel dog lovers will particularly enjoy, the Dog Bark Park Inn is a hotel located in Cottonwood, Idaho, in the shape of a beagle. Guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the decorations and furniture inside the hotel are made by an artist to fit in with the hotel’s theme.

 The Hanging Monastery

XUANKONG SI - CHINA

There are five Most-Sacred mountains in China and Mt. Heng (Heng shan) located in Shanxi province is one of them.  Close to its base and overlooking the wooded Golden Dragon River (Jinlong he), is Xuankong Si, which literally translates as the Monastery in Mid Air.  It is more often called the Hanging Monastery.  Built in 491AD it still clings to the side of the cliff using engineering techniques that are still of significant interest to modern architects.  Horizontal shafts were first cut into the side of the mountain to serve as the anchor points. Strong lengths of hard wood cut from single trees were then driven into the holes.  The depth of the holes and the hardness of the rock provided a strong base. There are sufficient supports to ensure that if the crossbeams ever need to be replaced then one can be removed at a time without impacting on the structural integrity of the monastery.  It may be the first recorded instance of deliberate over engineering.

Twisting Torso, Malmö, Sweden

This building, based off the twisting torso of a human being does look a bit like a giant looming over the city of Malmo, and at 623ft is Sweden’s tallest building.

 The Basket Building

Located in Newark, Ohio the Basket Building is the home office of The Longaberger Basket Company. Founder Dave Longaberger decided he wanted the corporate home office in a giant basket.

 

 Dancing House

Office building located in Prague, Czech Republic and designed by architects Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry.  Because the building somewhat resembles a pair of dancers it was orginially named Fred and Ginger, after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.  

 Later it was nicknamed the Dancing House.

Palacio de las Artes – Palace of the Arts

Located in Valencia, Spain, the building is the opera house and is one of the buildings within the City of Arts and Sciences.

Thin House

Though there are quite a few thin houses exist around the globe, this particular Thin House is located in London, UK.