Grape Tree?

 

I couldn't help but to add this tree to Strange Spots.  I suppose if you are from Brazil, it's not so strange, but it's quite foreign to me for fruit to grow on the trunk of a tree :).   This is the Jabuticaba ʒabutiˈkabɐ or ʒabutʃiˈkabɐ]) (Plinia cauliflora) is a unique tree native to the San Paulo and Minas Gerais states in southeastern Brazil.  It grows a purple to black colored fruit with white pulp.   They are eaten raw, in jellies and drinks including in water and wine.  They are often referred to as the  Brazilian Grape Tree.   Wonder how it tastes..

Connection!

 

The Glass Window Bridge is one of the most popular attractions in Eleuthera, Bahamas and is often referred to as the "narrowest place on Earth".  This manmade bridge took the place of a natural bridge (in the 1940s)  that was destroyed in a hurricane and is located north of Gregory Town on the north side of the island.  What makes this bridge so amazing is that on one side you will see the dark blue churning Atlantic Ocean and on the other, the bright light turquoise shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea.

If you should decide to visit this spot, use caution and watch for rogue waves (large waves) that occasionally and unexpectedly wash over the bridge washing people and cars into the ocean.  The bridge has "moved" over the years during storms and is need of some serious repair.  It was nearly washed away in 1999 by Hurricane Floyd. 

 

The Longest

 

This is the Jiaozhou Bay bridge, the longest bridge over water (aggregate length) in the world at 25.84 miles and it's the first oversea interchange in the world AND it has the largest number of oversea bored concrete piles in the world. It is located in eastern China's Shandong province.  

This bridge isn't going to keep it's title for much longer.  The Chinese are now building the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge which should be completed in 2016.  This bridge is expected to be 31.1 miles and will include tunnels?

Playboy Pool

 

Not 1st, but close enough since I loved the pool and it's view!  This is the Hugh Hefner (Playboy Billionaire) Sky Villa hotel room at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, USA.   This tops at #3 on the  list of the most expensive hotel rooms in the entire world at $40,000 per night!  The room includes a full bar, the Playboy pool, a sun bathing deck, pop-up plasma TVs, a rotating king size bed and an amazing view of Las Vegas.   You would think they would include the Playboy Bunnies at that price, no?

3D!

 

It' official, on June 11, 2014,  the world's longest and largest (as per Guinness World Book) 3D painting has been identified.   It was created by the he world famous Chinese artist Yang  Yongchun.  The 'Rythms of Youth' masterpiece measures about 1,197 feet and about 27,986 sq. feet and is located on the campus of Nanjing's Communication University in China!

It took a team of artists and 20 full days to complete.  The inspiration was the upcoming 2nd Summer Youth Olympics that are scheduled to take place in Nanjing in August of this year.  The painting depicts the games along with it's mascot, the Nanjing landscape and the Yangtze River.

 

Rock Church

 

This is the amazing Church of St. George in Ethiopia and is often referred to as the "Eight Wonder of the World".  This church was carved for a SOLID piece of volcanic rock in the 12th century.   It is one of 11 monolithic churches in Lalibela (a city in Amhara Region).   Lalibela, King of Ethiopia, was the master mind behind the creations. He believed God and Saint George both gave him instructions to build the churches. The church is 84x84x94 feet and also has a small baptismal pool outside of the church.

 

Cliff Houses

 

Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.  It is a U.S. National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Colorado, USA.   It is the largest archaeological preserve in the USA.

The pueblo people were known as the Anasazi and were known to be subsistence farmers growing crops in the nearby mesas.  The women were known for their basket weaving abilities and pottery. The Anasazi kept no written records found to date.  The area is known for it's cliff dwellings created by the ancient people, this included the Cliff Palace.  This is the largest cliff dwelling found in the USA as well.   How have I never visited this site?????

 

World's Tallest!

 

Angel Falls (Spanish: Salto Ángel; Pemon language: Kerepakupai Vená, meaning "waterfall of the deepest place", or Parakupá Vená, meaning "the fall from the highest point") is a waterfall in Venezuela along the Gauja River (aka Kerep River or Kerepacupai).   This is the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall and is currently a UNESCO world heritage site.  It dropped approximately 1312 feet along it's main plunge then continues another 1/4 mile along sloped leading to a 98 foot plunge then on to intense rapids.

The waterfall has been known as the "Angel Falls" since the mid-20th century; they are named after Jimmie Angel, a US aviator, who was the first person to fly over the falls.^[2] Angel's ashes were scattered over the falls on July 2, 1960.  The falls are a major tourist attraction, regardless of the fact they are located in the heart of an isolated jungle.   You'll have to take a few flights before you can reach the river leading to the falls.  From there (Canaima Camp), you can take a boat trip to the base of the falls (only from Dec to March).

Shit Fountain

 

This Strange Spot is only getting one picture..!  This is the shit fountain of Chicago..  It can be found downtown Chicago on Augusta Boulevard.  Water ripples from the top of the bronzed statue :).  It was built as a "gentle" remind to pick up your dog dodo.   The fountain is on private property but sight seers take plenty of pics of them with the poop. 

Moss Ball Lake

 

Lake Myvatn in Iceland (and Lake Akan in Japan) are the only two places in the world in which you can find visible quantities of natural moss balls or Marimo.  Marimo is a Japanese word that consists of “ball” (mari; 毬) and “algae” (mo; 藻).  It is a very rare ball formed by Aegagrophila Linnaei, a species of algae that could be found in limited number of lakes and seas in the Northern hemisphere.  The shape is formed gradually by rotation on the sand caused by the flow of water.  Both lakes are protected and it is definitely illegal to try to take a moss.  I thought thy were pretty cool :).

 

Afghanistan's Grand Canyon!

Band E Adir (Persian: بند امیر‎) is a chain of six lake divided by national dams located in Afghanistan's first national park,  Band E Amir National Park.  After decades of attempts failed attempts due to political strife, it's finally became a national park in 2009! Yeah!  They are located in the Hindu Kush mountains located centrally in the country.    They were created by carbon dioxide rich water oozing out of fault lines and fracture creating a travertine wall the keeps the water in place.

It is one of the few lakes in the world created by a travertine system and is hoped to become a popular tourist destination someday, however it has a few problems.  The surrounding roads were heavily mined by local mititias and Taliban and only a thin track is clear from mined that can be used by traffic.  The use of gasoline boats have been banned, which is a good start.  From the pictures, it appears to you can swan boats :).

The park has suffered ecological damage from various practices including unregulated grazing, fishing with use of electricity and grenades and uprooting shrubs.   Much of the wildlife has been lost..   The government has banned gasoline boats, which is a good start.  Instead, you it appears you can rent a swan boat for the day.