Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Qatar

There is nothing timid about the motivations of the new Museum of Islamic Art. Rising on its own island just off the city’s just now developed waterfront corniche, it is the centerpiece of an massive effort to transform Qatar into an arts destination. The museum’s colossal geometric form has an ageless quality, evoking a past when Islamic art and architecture was a nexus of world culture. At the same time it conveys a hope for reconnecting again. The museum of Islamic art draws much influence from ancient Islamic architecture yet has an exclusive design. It was the first of its kind in the Persian Gulf and has a very large collection of Islamic art, plus a study, a library, and numerous restaurants. Sabiha Al Khemir served as the founding director of the museum from 2006 to 2008. The museum has a total area of 45,000 m2 and lies on the edge of Doha harbor at the south end of Doha Bay.

It’s construction done by Baytur Constr.Co. (Turkey), which is completed in 2006, but the interior was subjected to a range of changes thereafter. The museum celebrated a VIP opening on November 22, 2008, and opened to the general public on December 1, 2008. The lovely building seems austere by the standards of the flashy attention-grabbing forms that we have come to associate with Persian Gulf cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is designed by I. M. Pei, 91, who has described it as his last major cultural building, it recalls a time when architectural expression was both more earnest and more optimistic, and the rift between modernity and tradition had yet to reach full pitch.

The museum, which consist houses manuscripts, textiles, ceramics and other works generally assembled over the last 20 years, has emerged as one of the world’s most encyclopedic collections of Islamic art. The origins of its artifacts range from Spain to Egypt to Iraq, Iran, Turkey, India and Central Asia. The architecture is very solid and simple and there is nothing unnecessary. The imposing simplicity of this new museum is brought to life by the play of light and shadow under the gulf’s blazing sun. Doha in various ways is virginal and there is no real context there, no real life unless you go into the souk. It is seen from across the water is gorgeous sand-colored stone blocks call to mind the Tunisian fortresses it is modeled after. The museum is an object and it is treated as a piece of sculpture.

Latefossen Waterfall Near Odda, Hordaland, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe

Latefossen also pronounced like Lotefossen was maybe the most popular and melodramatic of the waterfalls in Oddadalen (the Odda Valley). Though almost all of the waterfalls existed in the waterfall-laced Oddadalen were remarkable. However; you must try to keep your camera lens dry while attempting to take a clean all-encompassing photo of it given the nearly constant mist being thrown in our direction.

The car parking on the opposite of the bridge is completed in 1859 a little downstream of the base of the falls! The falls was also said to be part of the protected Opo Watershed so its year-round flow and existence would be assured. By the way, this protected watershed also allowed Oddadal Valley's numerous other waterfalls to persist as well. Låtefossen is the king among of all waterfalls and an internationally famous attraction.

The forceful flow came from the lake Lotevatnet, which itself drained much larger lakes in the highlands of the vast Hardanger Plateau. The waterfall has a different name called Skarsfossen, while the more northern waterfall was supposed to have the name Låtefossen.

The direction of Latefossen is on the southern part of Odda Valley (aka the Valley of Waterfalls) along the Rv13 about 15 kilometers south of Odda and 3km north of the E134/Rv13 junction by Skarre. It's about 350m north of Espelandsfossen and roughly 7 kilometers south of Vidfoss.

Jim Jim Waterfall Australia

The scenic beauty of Jim Jim Falls is a 656 ft high waterfall located in the Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is thought that about 140 million years ago much of Kakadu was under a shallow sea. The prominent escarpment wall formed sea cliffs and the Arnhem Land plateau formed a flat land above the sea. Today the escarpment, which rises to 1,082 feet above the plains, extends over 500 km along the eastern side of the Park and into Arnhem Land. It varies from vertical cliffs in the Jim Jim Falls area to stepped cliffs and isolated outliers in the north. In the “dry”, when access is possible via a 60 km dirt road (the last 10,9 km) are really suitable for 4WD only, the water dries up and the falls often don't fall. In the “wet” when the falls are at their most spectacular, it is difficult to drive any vehicle into the area. It is very imperative to know about weather of Jim Jim falls; actually it is dependent on adverse weather and road conditions. There is no set opening date of Jim Jim Falls, but from 10 years Gorge track opens from Mid-June to Mid-July. As season may change access may be unpredictable. Jim Jim Gorge Track is an icon of the region and must do for the fit and adventurous, so you must do trekking and hiking with safety.

Another very important concern is the removal of crocodiles, which is constant monitoring and removal of any crocodiles in Jim Jim is a priority and sometimes the falls may be closed for an extra week or so to trap any crocodile that has well wandered in. Jim Jim track is closed during the wet season and there is a deep water crossing at Jim Jim that must be crossed to carry on to Twin Falls. This is definitely 4WD only; it is rough and corrugated in patches and sandy with drifts and sand banks in other places, considerably a slow trip. If you are a self-drive or hiring a 4 wheel drive vehicle rental or 4WD camper hire the hint is watch out for the dust from passing motorists or drivers in front of you. Camping is only allowed at end of Jim Jim track at designated camp site, but only in seasonal access. The picnic area is situated along the Jim Jim falls access road on the way to Twin Falls, before the Jim Jim Creek crossing and provides picnic facilities under shady trees. Toilet facilities are also provided.

Reichenbach Falls Switzerland

The Reichenbach falls are situated in the lower part of the Reichenbachtal valley, on the Reichenbach stream, a tributary of the Aar River, approximately 2 kilometers south of the town of Meiringen, and 25 km east of Interlaken in Bern canton, central Switzerland. The waterfall is one of the highest falls in the Alps. There’re actually five cascades with an overall height of 650 feet and best known are Upper and Lower Reichenbach Falls, with a drop of about 300 feet.

Therefore; much of Reichenbach’s beauty has been marred by a hydroelectric development, but still its scenic beauty and charm of environment make this area is a popular tourist attraction. The term water falls is not such easy to define. In general, this term means the distinctive structure of the water movement of so-called bodies of flowing water. The waterfall itself is powerful and impressively tall over multiple tiers. It wasn't easy to see all the tiers in one go given much of the overall drop was concealed due to the twisting nature of its stream.

The first and upper level of the Reichenbach Falls is the deepest one. Whereas the height of fall is about 120 metres, and the water quantity distributes on a width of up to 40 metres. In summer, 3 to 5 after a heavy thunderstorm up to 30 m³ water per second flow into the valley. The lowest level of the Reichenbach Falls is unidentified and easy to visit. The medium Reichenbach Falls, however, are hardly passable but can be seen from the funicular. In theory, this waterfall was supposed to be pretty easy to visit. However the funicular ride that would've tremendously cut down the physical exertion. That funicular was first opened in the year 1899, which would make this a pretty historical apparatus. However, the one at Giessbach Falls was said to be actually older.

A cable railway brings tourists up to a platform; it is the starting point for hiking across the Rosenlauital valley, the Groß Scheidegg and Grindelwald. The Reichenbach Falls Train leads up to the upper end of the first Reichenbach Falls. From here a hiking route leads downhill up to above of the falls with numerous viewpoints! (Water-falls photographers are asked to note the enclosed exclamation mark, all non-photographers will not regret climbing up either).