Mosse used Aerochrome, an obsolete technology, to create an alternative image of the complex social and political dynamics of the country.

In his Quick series, Mosse documents the conflicts in Congo using infra-red film, which make his images seem magical and serenely beautiful, but reality continuously lurks in the faces of refugees and the rifles brandished by purple-uniformed soldiers.

]]> http://www.travelvista.net/photos-eastern-congo-richard-mosse/feed/ 1 http://www.travelvista.net/contest-singing-birds-thailand/ http://www.travelvista.net/contest-singing-birds-thailand/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:50:07 +0000 http://www.travelvista.net/?p=979 Every year in Thailand in the period from January to July, a contest of singing birds. This is a very serious competition. Cells with birds hung on high poles 3 – 6 meters, the judges listened to the song and put their estimates, respectively, tone, melody and volume. In this small issue, the photos of the two regions of Thailand, where these contests were held this month.

The winner stood to win a trophy and 10,000 baht – equal to many monthly salaries in Thailand – as well as the chance to advance to some sort of upper level competition that would cover a wider area of the country.
There are about 100,000 people nationwide who participate in these competitions.

The stunning images of his dive from the top of the cliff were captured on camera by Alastair Sopp. Alastair, 25, said: “It was a breathtaking moment. I couldn’t believe he jumped from so high up.

“He said it was a calculated risk. He told me he’d hurt his ribs and he probably won’t jump it again.”

A coastguard spokesman added: “He is lucky to be alive. People need to be aware of the dangers associated with tombstoning. “It is extremely dangerous and when it goes wrong it can have devastating results.”

All the underwater part of a giant pavilion, called “the masses”, was built on the coast in the pit with a capacity 530 thousand cubic meters, dug with the help of dredgers, (and sometimes by hand).

At the bottom of the pit was built a huge concrete “box” height of 14 meters, after which the artificial ligament, separating the basin from the sea, was destroyed, and surfaced “box” was towed to the construction site of the station in February 1935. There “box” filled with water and put on the prepared area of the quarry stone. Further construction of the station were built in the usual way to transport people and materials from ships.

The observation deck AlpspiX – the attraction is not for the faint of heart: two small platform overhanging the alpine “hell valley”, from the abyss separates just grill.

Driskill Hotel Austin, Texas

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Built by cattle baron Col. Jesse L. Driskill. Today the Driskill remains one of the premier hotels in Texas, featuring lavish bridal suites, two restaurants, and a grand ballroom. It is also well-known for being one of the most haunted hotels in the United States, featuring a variety of alleged supernatural activity throughout the building including the spirit of Colonel Driskill, a Texas cattle baron and Confederate officer, is wandering the lavish Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas.  In 1877, the daughter of a Texas senator took a fatal tumble down the grand staircase and legend has it that she can be heard bouncing a ball in the lobby and along the mezzanine.

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Hotel Del Coronado, California

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Famous “resident” of the hotel is the purported ghost of Kate Morgan. On November 24, 1892, she checked into room 304 (then 3318, now 3327), to meet with her husband who was a doctor and he was going to give her medicine for her stomach cancer, but he never arrived. She was found dead on the steps leading to the beach three days later. The case was declared a suicide. She had shot herself. Ever since then, some guests that have checked into room 3327 have reported flickering lights and floating objects. Room 304 is now known as Room 3327, but Kate’s spirit is said to roam the entire hotel.

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Stanley Hotel, Colorado

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Many believe the Stanley Hotel is haunted, having reported a number of cases of ghostly activity, primarily in the ballroom. Kitchen staff have reported to have heard a party going on in the ballroom, only to find it empty. People in the lobby have allegedly heard someone playing the ballroom’s piano; employees investigating the music supposedly find nobody sitting at the piano. Employees believe that particular ghost is of Freelan O. Stanley’s wife, who used to be a piano player. In one guest room, people claim to have seen a man standing over the bed before running into the cupboard. This same apparition is allegedly responsible for stealing guests’ jewellery, watches, and luggage. Others reported to have seen ghosts in their rooms in the middle of the night, simply standing in their room before disappearing. Stephen King got the idea for The Shining after staying in the almost empty hotel on the night before it closed for an extended period.

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Le Pavillon Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

At least four ghosts have been identified enjoying the hospitality of Le Pavilion Hotel. A teenage girl named Ava, Eva and the Crying Lost Ghost Girl, haunts the main entrance and lobby. The girl was reportedly set to board a ship when she was struck by a carriage and killed. She has fair skin, brown hair and eyes, carries a clutch purse and wears a long black skirt, shawl and hat that were the fashionable in the mid 1840s. She paces in the lobby and, sometimes, bumps into people, apologizes and says she’s lost before she abruptly vanishes. Sometimes, Adda has walked up to people on the sidewalk and asked them if they knew the way to the terminal.

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An aristocratic couple has also been seen strolling the grounds. They appear to be from the 1920s. The man is said to have died suddenly, after they went for a walk. She died years later. When seen alone, she crying. When they are seen together, the duo appears to be happy as they walk in the halls and on the grounds, holding hands. The couple strolls through doors and vanishes into elevators. Many people believe her room was on the third floor because, at times, it’s filled with the fragrance of her perfume. His fourth floor room smells of cigars smoke.

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A young man, also appearing to be from the 1920s, has been reported playing pranks on the hotel cleaning staff. He’s been seen running through the hotel as if someone was chasing him. He’s been seen walking on the pavement, then vanishing into a wall. Witnesses have seen his reflection in mirrors and his face peering into rooms windows from the third floor to higher ones.

The Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York

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The main feature of The Sagamore is the historic hotel, which overlooks the lake. The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, New York, is said to harbor the ghost of a boy from the 1950s. The boy would collect lost golf balls and sell them to the pro shop for extra cash. Running after a ball one day, he was fatally struck by a car. Apparently, guests still see the boy on the golf course sometimes.

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]]> http://www.travelvista.net/beautiful-hotel-sleep-open-eyes/feed/ 0 http://www.travelvista.net/5-reasons-black-sand-beaches-rock/ http://www.travelvista.net/5-reasons-black-sand-beaches-rock/#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:47:35 +0000 http://www.travelvista.net/?p=880 Although black sand beaches are generally less known than their white sand beach counterparts, if you are looking to change things up a bit from the typical tropical vacation, they can be a wonderful alternative.  Black sand beaches are volcanic in origin and are formed very differently from their white sand counterparts which are coral in origin. Therefore the grain size and color of the sand vary, even on the same stretch of beach.

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Black sand beaches are becoming more and more popular, particularly among travelers who are looking for an experience off the beaten path and ecotourism enthusiasts (ecotourists). Here are some reasons why black sand beaches totally rock:

1. Black sand beaches are usually more secluded because everyone else is on the white sand beaches. Therefore, you are likely to have your own private oasis on a black sand beach.

2. Countries where black sand beaches are found are usually great for hiking and ecotourism activities, because of their rugged terrain and volcanic nature.

3. When you choose a black sand beach, you are likely to experience something that is unique and that most of your friends have not experienced.

4. The grains of sand are usually a bit bigger so provide great exfoliation for your feet!

5. Beach treasures are more easily visible against the black backdrop of the dark sand.

Honokalani Black Sand Beach, part of Wainapanapa State Park

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Black sand beach near Hana on Maui

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Black sand beach - Kalapana

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Black Sand Beach From Kahului

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Black sand beaches can be found in more places and closer to home than you may think. These include Polynesia, Indonesia, Hawaii, Iceland, and the Caribbean islands of St Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica and some parts of Puerto Rico.

Golf, sailing, windsurfing, the possibilities are endless.

Big game fishing and bottom fishing can be enjoyed from all the Seychelles Islands but for the ultimate experience the following premium locations have been detailed.

A major attraction for birdwatchers. Millions of terns nest on the islands among them that most beautiful of seabirds, the fairy tern. Up to two million sooty terns nest on Bird Island, and on Aride can be found the worlds largest colonies of lesser nod dies, roseate terns and other tropical birds. It was only some 30 years ago that active conservation of endangered species began in the Seychelles. Since then, with the establishment of island sanctuaries and nature reserves, much has been done to make the Seychelles a paradise for birds and for those who love to watch them.

The economy of this isolated island paradise relies heavily on tourism. Fine beaches, turquoise seas and warm weather are among the main draws for visitors. As a result of their extraordinary, isolated history, the Seychelles are also rich in rare plants which flourish nowhere else on the planet. 81 species are unique survivors from the luxuriant tropical forests that covered the islands until humanities belated arrival two centuries ago. Outstanding amongst these is the coco de mer, native to Praslin, which grows in the Vallee de Mai. Its seed is the largest in nature, and gave rise to many legends when it was washed ashore on the coasts of Africa, India and Indonesia. Since the islands were unknown, the nuts were thought to have grown under the sea hence the name.

The islands lie outside the cyclone belt but receive monsoon rains from November to April with the northwest trade winds. This hot and humid season gives way to a period of cooler weather, though the temperature rarely falls below 23 and rougher seas when the trade winds blow from the southeast.

High section view of a fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Low angle view of a temple, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of a building seen from a fort, Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Gazebos in a palace, City Palace Complex, City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of a city, Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of a fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

High section view of a temple, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

People feeding pigeons outside a museum, Government Central Museum, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Low angle view of a person standing at the entrance of a building, Royal Gaitor, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of domes of a palace, Royal Gaitor, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of rickshaws on the street, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Statues in a temple, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Facade of a monument, Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Facade of a monument, Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Facade of a monument, Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Facade of a temple seen through an arch, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

Low angle view of a museum, Government Central Museum, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Facade of a fort, Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Facade of a fort, Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of a river, Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Columns in a palace, Royal Gaitor, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High angle view of traffic on the streets, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Arched corridor in a palace, City Palace Complex, City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

High section view of domes of a palace, City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Carved stone statues in a temple, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Low angle view of a staircase, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Statue carved on the wall of a temple, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

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