15 BIZARRE NATURAL WONDERS

I've done several blogs about various travel topics and locations, things of interest and places to visit that present the traveler with unusual experiences.

I recently saw a list of 15 natural wonders considered to be bizarre and definitely unusual.  And since they say a picture is worth 1,000 words, I'll save myself 15,000 words by including pictures. :)

Here, in no particular order, are 15 bizarre natural wonders.

Soleli Desert, Bolivia

Taking a trip across the Soleli Desert has been described as being like taking a trip through a Dr. Seuss book.  Strange rock formations, pink lagoons filled with flamingos, deadly geysers, an abandoned train cemetery, and the totally bizarre Uyuni Salt Flats.

Blood Falls, Antarctica

The Blood Falls emerge from Taylor Glacier and fall into Lake Bonney.  The red color of the waterfall comes from a buried saltwater reservoir containing iron.

Bowling Ball Beach, California

This is one of a very few locations anywhere in the world where you can find boulders of equal shape and size perfectly arranged in nature.

Hell's Gate, New Zealand

It was George Bernard Shaw who gave the Rotorua location its name of Hell's Gate.  You'll find bubbling mud ponds, smoking sulfur pits, and erupting geothermal pools. (Actually, it sounds a lot like areas of Yellowstone)

Great Blue Hole, Belize

The Lighthouse Reef ecosystem is home to this large submarine sinkhole which measures 984 feet across and 394 feet deep.  It is believed to be the world's largest sinkhole and is considered one of the best places in the world to scuba dive.

Snow Monsters, Japan

The so-called snow monsters are frost-covered trees on Japan's Mount Zao.  Heavy, wet snow solidifies to fir trees creating these alien looking creatures.

Wave Rock, Australia

This is one of the most beautiful rock formations in the world.  This tidal wave looking rock is 49 feet high and 328 feet long.

Door To Hell, Turkmenistan

This burning gas crater has been blazing for over 35 years.

Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand

These large boulders, formed from sea floor sediments, are 60 million years old.  The process is similar to the way a pearl forms inside an oyster.  The shape of the boulders is so perfect that they appear to be man-made.

Quinoa Forest, Cuenca

Claiming to be the highest altitude forest in the world, this mythical-looking location contains various Inca legends.  Due to the lack of soil, the twisting roots grow above ground.

Cano Cristales, Colombia

Referred to as "The River Of Five Colors," Cano Cristales is a clear river of vibrant greens, blues, reds, and yellows in many shades.

Tessellated Pavement, Tasmania

This bizarre natural formation in Eaglehawk Neck is made up of fractured stone created from a combination of stress on the Earth's crust, sand, and waves.

Spotted Lake, British Columbia

This 38 acre lake site is a rare natural phenomenon with one of the highest mineral contents in the world, which helps to form the spots on the lake surface.

Fairy Chimneys Of Cappadocia, Turkey

Strange rock formations are sculpted by wind and water and are best viewed from above such as from a hot air balloon.

Fly Geyser, Nevada

In the early 1900s, the owners of the land in the Haulapai Valley of Nevada were searching for water.  While drilling, they hit a geothermal pocket which created the geyser.  In addition to the vibrant colors, the geyser is continually growing in height.

The picture of the geyser totally grabbed my attention because of its similarity to the sight of the fountain in the lake at my mother's house one exceptionally cold winter (1989 to be exact).  The ice built up around the fountain until it reached a towering height with only the path of the water jets clear of ice, making it resemble a geyser.  

The three pictures here show it at its maximum ice, with a person to give it perspective, the fountain without any ice.

Sexiest Spies On TV And In The Movies

A few years ago TV Guide compiled a list of the top fifty sexiest spies on television and in the movies.  I do readily admit that this list might be a little out of date since it doesn't take into consideration the most recent movies and tv series.  For the sake of brevity, I'll only list TV Guide's top ten. TV Guide restricted their list to spies only, not super heroes and other crime fighter types.

10)     Daniel Craig (James Bond--movie)

9)       Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible--movie)

8)       Diana Rigg (Mrs. Peel in The Avengers--television series)

7)       Robert Redford (Joe Turner in Three Days of the Condor--movie)

6)       Halle Barry (James Bond--movie)

5)       Pierce Brosnon (James Bond--movie)

4)       Jennifer Garner (Alias--television series)

3)       Harrison Ford (Jack Ryan character--movie)

2)       Brad Pitt/Angela Jolie (Mr. and Mrs. Smith--movie)

1)       Sean Connery (James Bond--movie)

Relating to the entire list of fifty, there are several things I found interesting.

Three different actors made the top fifty list for portraying the same character.  Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, and Harrison Ford all played Jack Ryan in various movies from Tom Clancy novels.

There was one slot (#28) that included the entire cast of the television series Mission Impossible with special mention of Barbara Bain and Greg Morris.

All the James Bond actors made the list except George Lazenbe.  Timothy Dalton was #45, Roger Moore #27, Daniel Craig #10, Pierce Brosnon #5, and Sean Connery (not a surprise) at #1.

And other characters who were portrayed by different actors in the television series vs. the movie.  At #38 we had Ann Hathaway as Agent 99 in the Get Smart movie and at #24 we had Barbara Felton as Agent 99 on the Get Smart television series.  At #23 we had Uma Thurman as Emma Peel in The Avengers movie and at #8 we had Diana Rigg as Emma Peel on The Avengers television series.  At #22 we had a tie of Robert Conrad playing James West in the television series of Wild Wild West and Will Smith portraying James West in the movie version of Wild Wild West.

Who are your favorite spies in movies and television?  Is it because they're sexy?  Because of their bravery?  Their cleverness?  Their abilities to do their jobs?  Let me know.

America's Greatest Train Rides

Train travel in Europe is very commonplace.  Whenever I travel to the UK, I always buy a Brit Rail pass before I go and use it for traveling all over Britain—day trips out of London and longer trips such as to Scotland and Wales.

And here in the U.S., with more and more restrictions and inconveniences put on airplane passengers and airlines constantly adding fees and surcharges on top of the ticket price, train travel has had quite a resurgence.  Warren Buffett recently made a $44 billion investment in a railroad company.  And with gasoline prices on the rise again (just in time for summer vacation), not surprisingly, the last two years have been the best in Amtrak's history.  With the increased amount of time you need to arrive at the airport prior to departure, the reduced number of flights which creates longer wait time when you need to change planes for a connection, even a short flight takes a lot longer than it used to.

The Travel Channel on cable television has a couple of shows about scenic train travel in America.

One of the nation's best rides is Amtrak's Southwest Chief that goes from Chicago to Los Angeles and gives the traveler a way to relive America's expansion west from the 1800s.  The train trip lasts a little over forty hours, traveling through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and the famous wild west town of Dodge City.  From there it continues into Colorado and New Mexico.  Then across northern Arizona with the availability of a side trip to the Grand Canyon.  And finally into downtown Los Angeles' Union Station.

With only a few exceptions, this ride is on the same tracks that were once the Santa Fe Railway which was built along the old Santa Fe wagon train trail, a route that also inspired the famous highway of the days before Interstates criss-crossed the country—Route 66.

Here are five more long great rail journeys.

The West Coast's Coast Starlight is considered by most travelers to be Amtrak's most scenic route.  It runs along the Pacific Ocean between Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington, traveling through some truly spectacular scenery.

From California, the classic route east is the California Zephyr, following the path of the first transcontinental railway between San Francisco to Chicago.  It visits such places as Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City, across the Rockies to Denver, through Nebraska and Iowa to Chicago.

By taking the Southwest Chief in one direction and returning on the California Zephyr, you are traveling what the Gilded Age tourists in the 1880s and 1890s called the Grand Tour of America.

If you want a ride that goes through the heart of the country, try the Texas Eagle starting in Chicago.  It crosses the Mississippi River at St. Louis, travels down through the Ozarks, across Arkansas into eastern Texas, and continues through Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and to San Antonio where it connects with the Sunset Limited to Los Angeles.

The East Coast relies much more on rail service than the rest of the country, especially the heavily used tracks between Boston and Washington, D.C.

One of the country's first scenic rail routes is the Empire Service from New York City up through the Hudson River Valley where Washington Irving's Ichabod Crane encountered the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hallow.

And if you're on the East Coast and are heading to Florida, you can take the Auto Train where your car travels with you.  Passengers board just south of Washington, D.C. and their vehicles are loaded on the train.  The trip terminates just outside Orlando, Florida.

But maybe you're not planning a vacation by train, but would like the train experience.  There are lots of day trips in various parts of the country, including vintage steam and narrow gauge railroads.  My personal favorite is the Napa Valley Wine Train in California, which includes winery stops.  And Alaska Railway's White Pass & Yukon Route offers a three hour tour through some truly dramatic scenery.

Have any of you taken a train vacation?  A day trip train tour?

Fourth Of July Holiday—Some Trivia And A Fireworks Safety Quiz

 July 4, Independence Day—on this date in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. The U.S. Constitution, the document that emerged from the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, is the oldest national constitution in the world.

As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by fireworks, parades, and backyard barbecues. Fireworks displays are common throughout the world and are the focal point of many cultural and religious celebrations. Fireworks were invented in ancient China to scare away evil spirits, as a natural extension of the Chinese invention of gunpowder.

With 4^th of July fireworks comes the concern for safety. A reality for the holiday is that fireworks cause thousands of injuries, and even some deaths, in addition to enough fires to make July 4 the day with the most reported fires across the United States according to the National Fire Protection Association.

So…how much do you know about fireworks safety? Here's a 9 question quiz to test your knowledge. Correct answers are at the end.

1)  How hot does a sparkler burn?

            a:  212 degrees

            b:  600 degrees

            c:  950 degrees

            d:  1200 degrees

2)  What portion of 4^th of July fires are caused by fireworks?

            a:  10 percent

            b:  35 percent

            c:  50 percent

            d:  90 percent

3)  Which age group has the most injuries reported from fireworks?

            a:  under 20

            b:  20 – 40

            c:  40 – 60

            d:  60+

4)  You should skip buying fireworks in brown paper packaging as that could be a sign that they're made for professionals, not consumers.

            a:  true

            b:  false

5)  If a pack of fireworks has not fully functioned, you should cautiously relight it.

            a:  true

            b:  false

6)  What's the best way to dispose of a used firework?

            a:  throw in trash

            b:  use hose or bucket of water to soak them then throw away

            c:  bury them

7)  Last year what was the most common fireworks injury?

            a:  fractures and sprains

            b:  contusions and lacerations

            c:  ear injuries

            d:  burns

            e:  eye injuries

8)  According to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission investigation, which of these were common reasons for fireworks injuries?

            a:  holding fireworks in the hand

            b:  mischief

            c:  debris or smoke from a malfunction

            d:  errant flight path from a malfunction

            e:  early or late ignition from a malfunction

            f:   all of the above

9)  Never light more than how many fireworks at a time?

            a:  1

            b:  2

            c:  3

And now, for those of you who want to see how well you did on the quiz—

1)         the correct answer is d…1200 degrees F, hot enough to burn certain metals and ignite clothing.

2)         the correct answer is c…50 percent, when shooting fireworks keep a bucket of water or sand available.

3)         the correct answer is a…under 20, children 10 – 14 are more than twice as much at risk for fireworks injuries.

4)         the correct answer is a…true.

5)         the correct answer is b…false, any malfunctioning fireworks should be soaked in water and then thrown away

6)         the correct answer is b…use hose or bucket of water to soak them and then throw them away

7)         the correct answer is d…burns

8)         the correct answer is f…all of the above

9)         the correct answer is a…light just 1 at a time.

Happy…and safe…holiday to everyone.

7 BIZARRE ITEMS HIGH ON THE THEFT LIST

 According to the FBI, retail crime in the US is a $30 billion a year business.

When you think of items most stolen, what comes to your mind?  There are cars, of course.  Any and all types of electronics such as smart phones, tablets, gaming systems.  Certainly jewelry.

But some of the items on that list might surprise you.  Here's a list of 7 bizarre items (in no particular order) thieves love.

1)  The Bible:

Of stolen books, the Bible is the most stolen.  Apparently the "Thou shall not steal" commandment must have escaped their attention.  This most stolen book is of particular curiosity since Bibles are available for free from so many different places of worship and can routinely be found in hotel/motel rooms.

2)  Pregnancy Tests:

At first glance, this seems like a very strange item to be on a frequently stolen list.  Are there so many women out there who are so desperate to know if they're pregnant that a drug store over the counter pregnancy test has made the list?  This item is popular among thieves for a couple of reasons.  First, it's easy to steal.  Lots of little boxes on a shelf can be swept into a large handbag in one quick swipe of the arm.  And second, as with many over the counter items, it can be a little too pricey for something that can be used only once.

3)  Nutella:

I can hear you saying…What?  Stuff you spread on your morning toast is an attractive item for thieves?  Well, apparently the answer is yes.  Grape jelly and strawberry jam are one thing, but Nutella's chocolaty hazelnut spread is highly desirable.  German police reported that 5,000 jars of Nutella valued at $21,000 were stolen from a warehouse.  And at Columbia University in New York the cafeteria was going through 100 pounds of Nutella a day when it first appeared in the dining halls.  Students were filling to go cups and even taking full jars with them.

4)  Hair Extensions:

A rash of hair extension heists have been prevalent in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia and Houston.  The thieves target top-of-the-line human hair extensions that cost up to $1,000/pack.  The average person uses 2 packs each time and the hair needs to be replaced every 3 to 6 months.

5)  High-End Vacuum Cleaners:

While the other items on this list are small and easily concealed, a vacuum cleaner is not exactly the type of item a thief can tuck away in a pocket or shoulder bag.  But apparently the updated versions are lighter, sleeker and come in smaller boxes that don't attract a lot of attention.  Thieves like them because they are highly valuable, very expensive and easy to resell.

6)  Energy Drinks:

The more advertising dollars that are spent on a product the more valuable a target that item becomes, and energy drinks are highly marketed.  An energy drink that sells for $3/each can be quickly and easily sold by thieves for $2/each making them a lucrative item.

7)  Tide:

You would think those big bright orange containers would make it difficult to sneak them out of a store.  However, thieves make lots of money from stealing Tide because they reportedly sell the detergent back to the stores at a much cheaper price than Procter and Gamble charges the same stores for their product.

Of course, this doesn't mean your car, electronic toys, and jewelry are now safe because the thieves are busy stealing Bibles.  :) 

IS IT SODA OR POP OR SODA POP?

As a general statement of fact, we can safely say that English is a difficult language to learn if you didn't grow up with it.  So many letter combinations that are pronounced different ways in different words, silent letters that don't seem to have any reason to be in the word at all.  And as a constantly growing language, we have added many words with origins from other languages, especially here in the U.S. during our formative years as a new country.

And there's all those words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently and have different meanings, not to be confused with words that are pronounced the same but spelled differently and have different meanings.

I recall a time not that long ago when France made a concentrated effort to purify the French language by banning all foreign origin words even though saying the same thing in French took two and three words rather than the one word being replaced.

Unlike other languages that have set rules for specific situations when spelling and pronouncing, English is more flexible with its rules.  I think we've all laughed at the spelling rule that says "i before e" and then in the same sentence starts naming the exceptions "except after c" followed by exceptions to the exception "or when sounded as a as in weigh" and then even more exceptions.  Kind of leaves you scratching your head and wondering how anyone ever learns English as a second language.  :)

But what about those words where we all agree on how they are spelled and what they mean, but we're a little confused on which is the appropriate word to use.

Is it soda or pop or soda pop?  Or perhaps it's a soft drink?  Or Coke used as a generic term? Those type of variations are usually regional.  In the deep south, Coke has been used as a generic term for many years.  Give me a Coke.  What kind of Coke do you want?  I'll have a Pepsi Coke.

And, of course, there's the ever popular submarine sandwich or sub for short…not to be confused with its twins such as the hoagie, grinder, Dagwood, and Po' boy.  Again, primarily regional usage.

As with all (or most?) countries, there are different regional pronunciations for the same word.  We can consider a choice between car-ml and carra-mel for the sticky candy.  And then there's that choice between coo-pon and cue-pon.  And what about the choice of may-uh-naze or man-aze?

Uh oh…I think I'm getting a headache.  It's time to have some dessert (as in pie with some ice cream on top), then desert this effort (as in abandon), and take a trip to the desert (as in arid region).

Now my head really hurts!

EXPENSIVE CELEBRITY WEDDINGS: Were The Nuptials Worth The Price Tag?

June is traditionally a wedding month, we've all heard the expression June bride.  Well, since this is June, I thought I'd provide a little information about expensive celebrity weddings (any actual connection to June is purely coincidental).  This is just a sampling, not the only high dollar nuptials.

$115,000,000     Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer

Married on July 29, 1981 in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.  The pre-wedding celebration cost $100,000, security cost $60,000, and the five foot tall wedding cake was $40,000. (Divorced)

$34,000,000       Prince William and Kate Middleton

Married on April 29, 2011 in Westminster Abbey in London.  The flowers cost a whopping $800,000 and the cake was $80,000.  Police protection and security cost millions.

$4,800,000         Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

Married on July 31, 2010.  Chelsea's dress was by Vera Wang.  The cake costs $11,000 and Oprah Winfrey was among the guests.

$4,200,000         Liza Minnelli and David Gest

Married on March 16, 2002 in New York City.  There were more than 1,000 invited guests including Lauren Bacall, Mia Farrow, and Diana Ross.  Michael Jackson was best man and Elizabeth Taylor was maid of honor. Entertainment was provided by a 60 piece orchestra, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, and Natalie Cole.  The flowers came in at $700,000 and the cake was $40,000.  (Divorced)

$4,200,000         Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Married in 2002 in a castle in Ireland and treated guests to luxury yacht following the ceremony.  However, the cost of the wedding pales in comparison to the money spent on their bitter divorce 6 years later.  (Divorced)

$3,500,000         Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault

Married in 2009.  The couple hosted a carnival-themed masked ball and Bono sang at the reception.

$2,500,000         Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar

Married in 2007, they invited 300 guests to a special 8 day festival.  They had 2 ceremonies—one in Sudley Castle in England and the other at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India.  (Divorced)

$2,000,000         Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Married in 2006 in a 15^th century Roman castle.  The guest list included Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, J. Lo, and the Beckhams. Katie wore a custom designed Armani gown and they had a 5 tiered white chocolate cake.  (Divorced)

$1,500,000         Elton John and David Furnish

Married in 2005, Elton and his long time partner, David, invited 600 guests to the ceremony held in their Windsor, England, mansion.

$800,000            David and Victoria Beckham

Married in 1999, the bride wore a silk gown with a 20-foot train and a diamond encrusted crown.  Only 250 invited guests who were treated to a special performance by Elton John and fireworks.

And finally, for a mere

$158,157            Chilliy Pasternak and Baby Hope Diamond

Married in July 2012.  What's that?  You've never heard of the bride or groom?  Well, that's understandable since they're dogs.  Their wedding can claim the Guinness Book Of World Records for the most expensive dog wedding.  Now, before you become incensed about that much money being spent in these economic times, let me explain.  First, all the services for the wedding were donated.  Second, the wedding was a fundraiser for the Humane Society of New York.