Tristan da Cunha, The World’s Most Remotest Island

Tristan da Cunha, is 1,491 miles from the nearest continent and home to just one 300-person village at the foot of an active volcano, and experience life on the inhabited island, the world's most remote island. It is an arduous task to be there, and you have to be mentally and physically fit to journey this remote island, because it is accessible only by a 6-day boat journey from South Africa or as part of epic month-long cruises through the South Atlantic Ocean, Tristan da Cunha is about as far from a quick holiday destination as it gets. Tristan da Cunha is archipelago stands 1,243 miles from Saint Helena, its closest neighbor with residents, 1,491 miles from South Africa and 2,088 miles from South America.

The majestically beautiful island is just 7 miles long and 37.8 square miles in area, officially known as Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, referred to by locals - less than 300 of them - as The Settlement, located at the foot of the 6,765-foot Queen Mary's Peak. Although this is small unimposing size and formidable remoteness, “Tristan da Cunha” has great rich history and a plethora of native wildlife that is truly unique. Therefore Ocean-wide Expeditions have 4 cruises that take in 3 days stops at Tristan da Cunha, the name given to both the main island and the surrounding archipelago, including the uninhabited Nightingale Islands, and Inaccessible Island and the Gough Islands, which are nature reserves. However cruises, such as those which leave from Ushuaia in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego, are the most convenient way to see the island.

Moreover one of 12 spaces can be filled on the fishing vessel MV Edinburgh and the cargo ship MV Baltic Trader. Though, non-local travelers are at the bottom of an eight-tier priority pecking order that may also include those responding to medical emergencies, official visitors and locals. While the other cruise sails annually to Gough Island, run since 2012 by the South African Antarctic Research and Supply Vessel Agulhas II, and carries more than forty passengers to and from Tristan. Ocean-wide Expeditions' Atlantic Odyssey tours, the shortest and cheapest being the 27-night tour from £3,929 calls in on The Settlement, and aims to land on Nightingale and Inaccessible, which millions of millions of seabirds call home.

The landings aren't guaranteed though, with 30 % of attempts via zodiac boat since 1998 having been failed due to bad weather. Thankfully, tours often factor in a spare day. On Nightingale Island, the wandering, yellow-nosed and sooty albatrosses all breed, and the Rockhopper penguins that live on all four of the Tristan Islands are also immensely popular with those who manage to make it there. Despite of such attractions, tourism is a slight industry for Tristan, with the majority of earnings coming from their commercial crawfish or Tristan rock lobster (Jasus) operations and the sale of their exclusive postage stamps and coins to collectors. Though, a range of accommodation is offered in the form of home stays with locals - descendants of one of seven families originating from Scotland, England, The Netherlands, the United States and Italy - who also serve as guides and sell craft and souvenirs.

As expected, all inhabitants are farmers too, and the total area is communally owned. Historically, the island has proven a vital stop for sailing ships needing a stopover in the Atlantic, and was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1816 to ensure the French couldn't use it as a base to attempt a rescue of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was imprisoned at Saint Helena. The Settlement was named in honor of the 1867 visit of Queen Victoria's son Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, when the islands served as a Royal Navy outpost called HMS Atlantic Isle, also said to have been used to observer shipping movements in the ocean and the radio communications of Nazi U-boats. Prince Phillip, the second Duke of Edinburgh, also visited there on board the royal yacht Britannia in 1957.

After 4 years later, the whole population was enforced to evacuate to England via Cape Town when Queen Mary's Peak erupted. Luckily, the damage to the Settlement was found to be minimal and most inhabitants returned in 1963. Moreover the local penguin population was threatened in March 2011 when the MS Oliva freighter ran aground and created a potentially overwhelming oil slick around Nightingale Island, which has no fresh water. Rockhoppers had to be taken to Tristan to be cleaned. The remote island then got even more worldwide attention later the same year when Volvo Ocean Race competitor Puma's Mar Mostro broke a mast during its journey from Alicante to Cape Town and was enforced to stop there. The town turned it on for the eleven person crew, who visited the local St Mary's School, took a tour of the fish processing factory and picked up emergency supplies at the local shop. 

Barehipani Waterfall India

India has some of the best and most attractive waterfalls in the world. Every state has its very own show piece, making it dynamic to enlist the waterfalls in every state. So, you never know when you may plan a trip and having this information ready could prove handy. Barehipani Falls is a two tiered waterfall located in Simlipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha.

 It is famous for its famous Barehipani Falls which are found in the central region of the national park. Therefore it is one of higher waterfalls in India, situated at 21.932759N 86.380145E on the Budhabalanga River flowing over the Meghasuni mountain. The nearest railway station is at Baripada. The Joranda Falls is also located nearby Barehipani falls. It is 120km far from a small town Jashipur. The Barehipani Falls has a total height of 399 metres.It is tiered waterfall with two drops.

The tallest single drop is 259 metres. The waterfall is very violent in nature during the monsoons season which is evident from the lack of vegetation around the falls. The surrounding area is lovely covered with lush green forest and though on the way there you can spot the local wildlife and birds, native to the region. However; during the night if you’re lucky enough you may spot leopards on prowl as well.

Atlantic Light from Peter Cox

Peter Cox wants a coffee table book with photographs from these locations? Support the Kick starter at atlanticlight.ie, for over a year now; I've been trying to work on a project to create a new book of aerial photographs of Ireland's west coast. Though making these images, I've also been shooting video with a view to producing a short film. This represents a highlight reel of the journey to date along the wild Atlantic way. If you'd like to learn more and see the upcoming book, please visit the Kick starter page at atlanticlight.ie.  Music: Rise by Lights & Motion, licensed from musicbed.com, with filmed with a DJI S1000 and Canon 5D Mk III. I must say; stunning piece of work Peter, best of luck with the kickstarter.

Atlantic Light from Peter Cox on Vimeo.

The Royal Beauty of Egypt

Director cum Producer + Editor Abdelrhaman Gabr Koree has made this magnificent Egypt HD short film exploring the truly astonishing and exotic locations in Egypt. He says; our main purpose of this video is to show everyone domestic and international the true beauty of this country. Well, I started this project in Sep 2012, and I was working on it on and off, and in November 2012 Zahran joined me and we started shooting since. There’re hundred s of beautiful location that I could've shot, but due to the country's situation and that the project is funded from my pocket everything was really restricted. Now I’m planning to do a volume two next year, though I hope this message can reach sponsors or producers so we can make a volume two with more advanced gears and show everyone in the world the royal beauty of Egypt. Therefore all of my work is available for licensing under a rights-managed agreement. If you are really interested in using any of images and/or time lapse footage, please visit his website or contact me directly. Almost all the shots are shot with my 6 foot Dynamicperception.com stage zero.

a.gabr@qube-productions.com

a.gabr@koreefilms.com

Egypt HD from Abdelrahman Gabr on Vimeo.

The Clearest Ponds and Pools of Huanglong Valley in China

Well, when you staring at a painting, photograph, or even a beautiful video, have you ever faced the feeling of wanting to dive into the world of that stunning piece? I’m sure; the term for this feeling is unrevealed but for the following photographs, is sure that you’re prepared to fight yourself in case your heart skips.

Off course, these are an exaggeration. Furthermore, blame it on the astonishing emerald-to-turquoise ponds of Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which can make us say, “Hey nature, you overdid it again. Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a UNESCO- certified World Heritage Site surrounded by gorgeous snow-capped mountains and contains a series of travertine lakes, waterfalls, forests, and majestic mountain scenery. The site is well located in the north-west of Sichuan Province, China, around 3 to 4 hours from Jiuzhaigou. Huanglong is actually the home of the valley, notorious for its intriguing ponds that scattered around the area, strewn with gold-colored limestone creating shimmering golden water.

When the sky most powerful thing, “sun” rays hit the narrow valley, it seems that a silhouette of a golden dragon mysteriously emerges from the valley; thus, the name “Huanglong” or “Yellow Dragon” in English was used for the surreal area. If you’re mentally and physically fit, and wanting to see, then you’ve to travel 3.6-kilometer valley, with two options on how you’d take this trip. Hmmm, you can take a cable car that’ll lead you up to the place where the main sights are located and back down to the entrance.

If you’re riding a cable car isn’t your favorite option, you can even go ahead and explore the park through foot. But you must be prepared to fall in love with the entire scenery from the blue sky, the reflection on the series of clear ponds, icy forests, and caves. The ponds you will see in the valley are the Yingbin ponds, actually comprises of 350 crystal clear ponds at the 3,230 meter level mirroring its surroundings to make its blue and green colors. Another pond belongs to the Zhengyan ponds. Which is located in the middle part of the valley, Zhengyan holds more than 500 ponds of different sizes. Though, the more colors can be visible here like yellow and white together with blue and green.

But make sure, these colors changing purely depending on the season and the weather in the area. Therefore the largest and highest cluster of travertine ponds belongs to Wucai Chi, also recognized as the Five Color Ponds. This group has almost 700 ponds and pools that have almost the same color as the ponds of Zhengyan but these can glow and reflect a rainbow of colors when hit by sunlight. The so-called “Fairy Land on Earth” isn’t only about its series of ponds.

Furthermore, as you walk along the valley, you will also see its other attractions such as the Feipuliuhui Waterfall, the Huanglong Temple, Huanglong Cave, the Xishen Cave, and more. However the best time is to visit the valley during fall when the trees and bushes are at their most colorful state with yellow and red leaves that affect the colors reflected by the clear ponds. It is highly recommended to have better visit of valley in morning time, when it is very quiet and peaceful, as compared to noon when this destination becomes more crowded. So, if you really want to enjoy this valley, then best dates, are in September, before the October national holidays.

Lake of Fire, Sao Miguel Island-Azzore

Indeed this lake is a paradise with magnificent views! Rising straight out of the Atlantic Ocean around 1,500Km off the coast of mainland Portugal is the Azores (Açores) archipelago. Though volcanic in origin the chain stretches approximately 600Km and comprises of 9 significant islands and 8 smaller islets recognized locally as formigas (ants!). The governmental authorities do not allow any modern construction around this lake. Lagoa do Fogo, which is Portuguese for Fire Lake, is so named because of the blazing 1563 eruption that could be seen from neighboring islands. There is also Sete Cidades in the west, and another watery crater toward the east at Furnas, each one a result of the island’s continuing volcanicity.

Sao Miguel Island is considered the capital of the Azores, and is the major, most diverse and most inhabited island among the nine islands. It’s recognized for its volcano-created lakes, its sulfur springs spa, its historic towns and its black sand beaches and mountains.  It is also called the “Green Island” because of its interior where good soil makes for productive agriculture.  All the roads leading around the island of Sao Miguel, offers views of the rolling hills, the ocean and the occasional cattle wandering on the road. However on the eastern side lies Lagoa do Fogo or “Lake of Fire” a deep Caldeira with a lake at the bottom.  Moreover nearby are two tea plantations and the only tea plantation in Europe.  Along the cobblestone streets of the town of Furnas, some 23 types of mineral water flow and geysers bubble. Please be sure that the roads are modern, not the old cobblestone found elsewhere on the island. Hence you can drive without any fear & much easier as well. Here you can view beaches around the lake, and quite surprisingly sand is quite soft here. Hence walk on in bare feet. You’d be tempted to walk all around the lake.