Nature is great blessing for all the living beings and there are many things in nature that we human beings can’t argue about. Mother Nature sometimes surprises us so much that we just stand with our mouth wide-open. Consider the case of heavy rocks which are just plain stone-dead. Can you imagine these rocks moving? Yes, you’ve read it right. The Death Valley in California is a place where the rocks seem to just get up and move when no one is looking.

Located on the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, these rocks range in size from small pebbles to large boulders, some of them weighing up to 700 pounds. Do you think it’s easier for human beings to lift these?

No one has ever seen the rocks actually move, but the evidence is indisputable. As the rocks move, they create long winding trail behind as if they are alive. These rocks seem to slide rather than roll, but till date, no one knows the reason. The only certainty is that something is either pushing or pulling them.

For decades scientists have plotted the tracks and analyzed the soil in an attempt to solve the mystery. After spending many years of their life, many geologists have given various theories and reasons. But no one knows which theory is correct. This movement of rocks seems to be great challenge for geologists. I hope scientists are soon able to give the convincing theory to help us know the fact behind the movement of these boulders.

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If you have been wondering what people in South America eat, take a wild guess. Their primary food is pizza! Pizza forms the base of a South American’s meal. How interesting?! I wonder where they got this habit from. The answer obviously lies in the Italian immigrants to Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo has become the home to largest Italian community in Latin America. The people in this part of the region speak Portuguese with an Italian accent.

So, you can well imagine the influence of Italians. The first pizza restaurants or pizzerias are formed in the industrial district Bras.

Established in the year 1929, Casteloes has become the best brand in the area. It is the gold standard of South American pizza. No other pizza place makes good pizza like these people.

Let’s see what kind of toppings the South Americans eat with their pizza. Here’s a brief glimpse.

The local favorites include spicy sausage toppings. Most people here like the Mozzarella cheese with the spicy toppings. Few other favorites include the all time favorite
Margherita-Mozerella combo topped with basil leaves. Yet another combo is the Parmesan cheese along with fresh garlic and basil leaves.

I think basil leaves adds a pretty good flavor to the pizza. Ham, hard-boiled eggs as well as onion and black olives make interesting toppings.

So, next time you are traveling in this part of the world, try some of the locally prepared pizza. After all that’s the local food staple.

Image Credit: Starnet

Everybody in the world knows that Dinosaurs lived, walked and thrived on earth some millions of years ago. But there is very little evidence to prove their era. Few skeletons here and there, few fossilized remains in various museums across the world. But, ever heard of a place where one can actually see fossilized Dinosaur footprints and find fossils of creatures that lived 250 million years ago!

Hidden away deep within the countryside of the wild western state of Texas, US is this small town known as Glen Rose, on the outskirts of which is sited the Dinosaur Valley State Park. A lucky coincidence enabled me to visit, explore and enjoy the location.

Glen Rose is a pleasant aberration from the flat as pancake Texan landscape. It is mountainous, there are hills, valleys and a crystal clear river running through the valley. It is in this valley that Dinosaurs raomed arond 250 million years ago. According to the state park findings, two varieties of the giant beasts thrived in this area: the 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex and the 70-foot Apatosaurus.

The state park administration is highly proactive, in that they have marked trails so people wont get lost in the 1,500 plus acres of thick forest. As we pulled into the gates of the park the courtesy staff of the park welcomed us with beaming smiles and handed a highly informative map.

In a bid to follow the map we made a beeline to the first location in the map which said Track one. A board explained to us where to look for and how to identify dinosaur footprints which are located on rocks below the water surface. We walked on a rough trail through tall trees and soon came to the river Paluxy. Full of crystal clear water and embedded with big rocks, flanked by tall mountains flanking, Paluxy looks beautiful.

We walked along the river looking for dinosaur tracks and lo, there they were: three toed gigantic prints on the rock face. The giant footprints originally imprinted on soft soil were ultimately fossilised due to changes in the earths climate and now after 250 million years they are available for us to see, explore, enjoy and feel awed.

Comparing our feet with the size of footprints is a humbling experience, my feet felt as if it would fit into half of one flange of the dinosaur’s footprint. It is about 2ft in length and 1.5 ft width. The three sharp ends reveal the kind of razor sharp claws that these creatures might have had.

Further along the river, the scenery is simply panoramic and soul soothing. We enjoyed the tranquility, marveling at the scenery. After sometime we arrived at a spot where we could cross the river and explore the mountains on the other side. Here the river is shallow, only about a 2-3 ft deep and thanks to park arthorities who have placed huge boulders across the river so hikers can walk across easily without getting their shoes wet.

But due to several people walking on the boulders, they have become smooth and slippery and it was dicey to walk on them across the river. We gingerly stepped from one boulder to the other and crossed over and began walking through the forest.

After walking about 0.5 mile through the forest we arrived at a small stream and decided to follow the stream and reach the river. This was a unique experience, walking on a semi-dry river bed flanked by two tall mountains. After walking about 45 mins we reached the river. It was shallow and we decided to cross the river. One step into the water, sent shivers through our body, the water was icy cold but soon our bodies acclamatised and we were on our way across.

The rocky river bed was fully covered by algae and we had to be extra careful as we put one step after another towards the other bank. But as we neared the opposite bank we were surprised to see several giant dinosaur foot prints. This time there were two varieties of them... one belonging to the 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex and another to the 70-foot Apatosaurus.

People who come to US from India, visit the Niagara falls, Liberty statue, Golden Gate bridge, Grand Canyon etc... but then those are known across the world and one has to just tune into National Geographic or Discovery Channel to see them.

But Glen Rose is something one doesn’t get to see or hear in the TV. It is only coincidences and explorations in the backyards help us know about these unique places.

Source: Bangalore Outings Blog

If your idea of a perfect holiday is to be with your loved ones on a mesmerizing tropical island where nature’s whispers and murmurs are the only chatter you can hear, then head to Little Whale Cay, a private island in the Bahamas.

Little Whale Cay can perfectly be described as nature’s own paradise, where the palm-fringed, white sandy beaches surround pristine water and exotic birds, butterflies, and foliage on the turquoise lagoons create a picturesque scenery.

This private island that is shaped like a whale spans over 93 acres was developed by Wallace Groves in 1930s. There are just three secluded bungalows which can accommodate a maximum of 12 guests at a time. The island has its own landing strip, private harbor and a sea plane ramp.

You’ll never have dull moment in this island. The lazy ones can hang around on the beaches soaking in the sun for endless hours or relax on a hammock reading your favorite books and the others can head for adventures like snorkeling, water-skiing, wind-surfing, and fishing. The sporty ones can swim leisurely in the infinite swimming pool overlooking the sea or play a game of tennis and had for the spa to get pampered with a massage.What’s more, the romantics can even get married in the church in case they just make a sour-of-the-moment decision.

November to May is the best time to visit, as the weather is cooler and the sun is just perfect for you to laze around. The island is all yours for a week if you shell out £33,000.

If I were you, I would book the island for 12 people and leave the ten back home and rush there with my love!

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The castle is the ideal place for a holiday in the laps of luxury and the Mother Nature. Arranged over three floors, plus turret balconies, across four hexagonal towers with interconnecting spaces, the castle offers ample living space and has direct private access through sand dunes to the sea.

Roof of the castle provides amazing uninterrupted 360 degree views of the sea, beach and surrounding areas and uninterrupted access to the sun. The panoramic views across the garden, the pool and the sand dunes are terrific enough to make your stay a memorabilia! Punta del Este is well-known for the sunsets and believe me, the castle is the best place to witness them.

Source: Holiday Pad

It seems, the Chinese are very keen on preserving their heritage and culture. It is so much so that they closed down the American coffee store ‘Starbucks’ in China, and opened up their own version of the coffee and tea shop.

The state run coffee shop now stands on the premises where Starbucks once stood. This particular Chinese hot beverage shop stands up for everything Chinese. It even sells the chinese tea. I think China is trying to sort of nationalize everything and promote local brands to boost up local economy. One way, this is a good deal.

The American coffee shop closed down in July. It was in business since 2000. There is a lot of controversy based on the presence of the American coffee business.

Instead of brewing coffee, Starbucks brewed political and social storm. When asked for the opinion of the Chinese people, about 70 percent of the people voted against the American cappuccinos.

No one knew that the tiny coffee bar would create so much temper tantrum in the area. Starbucks had a lot of trouble with the palace management. Even though the Western coffee shop teared down the signboard, they had to close down completely in July.

Instead a Chinese version of the coffee shop was created in the heart of the Forbidden city.

An amazing thing about this Starbucks controversy is the fact that: it made internet users create a blog.

I think this is very interesting indeed, because there has never been a similar situation in the beverage industry that attracted the attention of the zillions of customers.

Image Credit: Guardian

This world map is the first document to indicate the western hemisphere and label the Pacific Ocean. The cartographer drew this map in early 1507. Later the map was lost in a library of a German castle for 400 years and was rediscovered in 1901. Ultimately in 2003 US Library of Congress purchased the 12 sheets of 4-ft by 8-ft document for 10 million US dollars from Prince Johannes Waldburg-Wolfegg. Now the Library is going to display this precious treasure of cartography in public.

This map has drawn lots of attention not just because of its antique value but also for some unsolved doubts and confusion,that it has created among the research scholars and specialists. The map maker displayed the Pacific Ocean as its own body of water long years before it was found. He had also portrayed South America almost seamlessly. Before sketching the map Waldseemuller collected lots of information from the famous explorers like Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci and some other unknown Portuguese and Spanish resources. But John Hebert, Chief of the Geography and Map division of library believes that as the way Vespucci described,it was almost impossible to draw such a near-perfect sketch of America. Library of Congress said that the map represents a total contemporary view of the world. Another doubt is also troubling the specialists. They are busy finding the reasons why the German scholar stopped using the name ‘America’ in the next maps. Rather he started indicating this land as ‘terra incognita‘ or ‘unknown land’. Afterwards he also gave misgivings as he first mistakenly named that new territory as ‘America’ after Vespucci’s first name, thinking that he [and not Columbus] had discovered that.

The researchers believe that the map may disclose some more unknown facts. However, for the time being, the library has decided to exhibit it in its specialized display casing from December 13, 2007.

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Tired of football, basketball or other boring sports? Well, here’s real sports news. Every year, an exciting sport event popularly known as Wife Carrying Championship takes place in Maine. You’ll be surprised to know what men get if they win the contest. Men earn their wife’s weight in beer plus five times the partner’s weight in cash and a chance to compete in the World Championships in Finland. Sounds amazing!

It’s a 250-meter track race in which men lug women weighing a minimum of 108-lbs on their backs. Contestants can use any carrying method, whether it’s the fireman’s carry, the piggy-back carry or some other lesser-known method. The only rule is you can’t drop your wife. For every time she hits the ground you lose five points. To be a part of the race, you need not be related but teams need to be made up of one man and one woman, both over the age of 21.

Run in heats with two teams racing together. Tackling a pool and several hurdles, team with the fastest times and the least number of drops qualify for the championship round with the winner of that round claiming the North American Wife Carrying Champion title.

The eighth Wife Carrying contest was held on October 6, 2007 near the Sunday River Ski Resort. Negotiating two 3-foot high wooden hurdles and a 10-meter-long pit of muddy, waist-deep water, a Boston couple claimed victory by a margin of only a third of a second. Just check out the images in the gallery pinned below to know how much fun this contest is! Believe me it’s entirely worth it to see the pictures.

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Source: Spluch

Inca mummies have been the matter of interest for scientists ever since the archaeologists unearthed them. Eager to know more facts about these Inca children, scientists are continuously examining these mummies. Now, scientists have yielded the startling insight into the lives of these Inca children.

A team led by bioarchaeologist Andrew Wilson of the University of Bradford, U.K. analyzed the isotopic composition of the four children’s hair to trace the last months of their lives. Examining the hair samples from these naturally preserved child mummies, the scientists concluded that the ancient Inca people fed their children large quantities of food to fatten them up before sacrificing them.

The study shows changes in the hairs’ chemical signature indicating that the children were prepared for sacrifice for at least a year. Their diet was changed from vegetables to maize and meat, food typically reserved for the elite. It has been found that the children were fed with starches and proteins to get them ready for sacrifice. The scientists are not sure about how the children died but it’s believed that they were given maize beer and coca leaves.

Image Credit

Source: Discovery

This is the first hotel in US to customize its facilities for motorcycle enthusiasts and travelers. Scheduled to open in March 2008, in Milwaukee, home to the manufacturing unit of the legendary motorcycle Harley Davidson, Iron Horse Hotel is the country’s first modern luxury boutique hotel with a separate facility for the large and growing segment of motorcycle enthusiasts.

Announcing the hotel’s special biker suites and facilities Tim Dixon spokesman for the Iron Horse Hotel said,

Today’s motorcycle riders are senior executives, CEO’s and successful entrepreneurs. These are weekday business travelers accustomed to luxury hotels. We’ll offer this customer the business services they expect along with features and amenities that address their needs as riders.

Promoted by Dixon Development, the hotel will offer the standard features such as wireless Internet, a top-notch business center, well-appointed meeting rooms, a secured covered motorcycle parking, rag bins, an on-site bike wash, packed saddle bag lunches, road trip maps and in-room storage areas for boots, helmets and heavy riding leathers, among others.

The Iron Horse Hotel aims at capturing the 20 million Americans that hit the road on their motorcycles annually. The Motorcycle Industry Council, the past 14 years has seen a rapid increase in the sale of motorcycles, peaking at one million for three straight years, the industry represents a $23 billion dollar business.

Dixon, a rider himself and frequent business traveler says that this market is so niche and nobody has promoted an exclusive hotel for them yet. He said,

It’s a leisure market segment that travels by its very nature, yet no high-end hotels are offering the special amenities they need,

A national trend

According to a Motorcycle Industry Council owner survey, the average motorcycle rider in America is 41 and over 50 percent of them are married and are college graduates and their earnings are much above the national average.

A heritage hotel

Architecturally, the Iron Horse Hotel will be housed in a 100-year old warehouse and retains an incomparable property with interiors that reflect the American Industrial era. The six-story building will feature exposed brick walls and iron details are being preserved and enhanced by soft finishes and a warm color palette and will offer 102 luxury rooms.

Adding quickly that the several of the design concepts and finishes arose from focus groups of both business travelers and motorcycle riders Dixon said,

This isn’t a themed hotel - it’s a hotel that addresses the needs of a diverse clientele.