The Volcano “Kawah Ijen” That Spews Blue Lava

At first look you might consider the otherworldly light in these pictures comes from a nebula or another planet deep in outer space or probably you have heard of "red hot lava" or "white hot" to describe searing temperatures, so but what about "blue hot lava"? Kawah Ijen is one of several volcanoes located within the 20 kilometers wide Ijen Caldera in East Java, Indonesia. The caldera of Kawah Ijen harbors a kilometer-wide, turquoise colored, acidic crater lake that leaks sulphurous gases constantly. That's the surreal hue of Indonesia's Kawah Ijen Volcano, which glows with an otherworldly "blue lava".

Normally at night the hot gases burn to emit an eerie blue glow that is distinctive to Kawah Ijen. These gases emerge from the cracks in the volcano at high pressure and temperature, up to 600°C, and when they come in contact with the air, they ignite, sending flames up to 16 feet high. Specific gases condense into liquid sulfur, and continues to burn as it flows down the slopes giving the feeling of blue lava flowing. Kawah Ijen’s sulphuric gases are also mined for sulphur. The volcanic gases are trapped by the native miners and channeled through a network of ceramic pipes, which in result of condensation of molten sulfur.

The sulfur, normally red in color when molten, pours gradually from the ends of these pipes and pools on the ground, turning bright yellow as it cools.The expert miners break the cooled material into big pieces and carry it away in baskets to an adjacent refinery. In this way an expert worker can earn up to $13 dollars a day. Therefore you can’t imagine the intense heat and extremely hazardous condition with insufficient protection. Many workers suffer various respiratory problems due to breathing toxic fumes day in and out. So they’d prefer to work at night to escape the heat of the sun, and to earn extra income as well. These astonishing images are captured by photographer Olivier Grunewald, who lost two lenses and a camera to sulphuric corrosion while trying to capture the mysterious pictures.

Bali's spectacular bamboo village sets to create million dollar luxury villas

Bali nestled between the lush forests is one of most remarkable village near the hill town of Ubud. These Green Village is constructed almost entirely from Bamboo.  The designs are more similar to luxury mansions than jungle huts. The exclusive abodes are part of creative masterplan for sustainable luxury living. The director Elora Hardy’s (daughter of John Hardy) set up Bali’s green school to educate a new generation of environmentally responsible. The initial step taken by her and team of designer and architects is to create sustainable luxury living and changing common perception of sustainability means, and setting the different mindset.  The villas are open to feel the sense of space and light and managing awesome views of the surrounding forests, communal area and discreet gardens. It is unpolluted architecture to breathe fresh air and touch nature. Some homes are extremely luxury can cost around $500,000 and $2million. 

The newest and largest structure lies on the other side of the river with its five stories towering on top of the forest canopy. Fortunate guests traverse a glass and bamboo bridge to reach the villa's front door, itself a revolving glass oval. Intelligent design and roll-down shutters assist protect those inside from rainstorms, whereas banana paper for interior walls and a few aluminum for roofing are usually the only concessions to non-bamboo materials. However; simplicity is a key design element but it hasn't restricted some non-organic basics, with electricity and high-end kitchen fittings standard throughout the buildings. This is pure future architecture to breathe fresh air and feel real nature. 

The chief builder of a bamboo factory believes; these structural bamboo logs could last a lifetime. Bamboo each pieces with a mixture of boric acid and water to protect from fungus and insects. If the process do not done, then bamboo structure last only seven years. Bamboo logs are 25 meters long and take three years to grow, and for that purpose almost 200 farmers across the island are paid to grow bamboo on areas of their land not for agriculture. The direct sun and rain can weaken the structural logs, so angle of these logs are most important. But the splendid designs show another side of bamboo that those connected to the project, like Operational Director Patrick How, hope will be a greater legacy. Several people still believe bamboo is low-priced and only for small buildings, but we're showing it can be used to make high houses and really redefine how the material is used.

Kelimutu Tri Colored Lakes Flores Island Indonesia