The Historic Bank Vaults of Libya

One of the finest examples of Berber architecture is “Qasr Al Haj”, situated on the Tripoli-'Aziziya-Al Jawf route in Libya approximately 130 kilometer from Tripoli. Qasr Al Haj actually built with bricks and clay. This circular earth-colored building is uninspired from the outside, with a door that leads to the large courtyard inside, which surrounding are rows of small windows arranged in three stories that looks like open catacombs stacked one on top of another, or a fortified village at best.

Qasr is an Arabic word for “Castle” and Haj meant a pilgrimage. The Haj is the annual pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims to Makkah an obligations that preferably has to be done by all Muslims at least once in their lifetime.

In the 12th century the Qasr is built by Shikh A'ebdella Ben Muhammad Ben Hilal Ghanem. “Qasr Al Haj” was a place where pilgrims who went on the Haj stored their belongings before they went, similar to modern airport locker rooms or bank vaults, so they won’t be weighed down with several belongings during their Haj trip. The statement mentioned by some historians that the Libyans were the first to invent the banking system, and hence you are looking at one of the oldest banks in the world. “Qasr Al Haj” was later used as communal granary and olive oil storage rooms, for villagers who did not have adequate space at home to store these staples.

It is also speculated that the number 114 was used symbolically to reflect the number of Sura in the Qur'an, a view widely accepted by villagers in the region nowadays. Every family had a space in that Qasr where they could save food and grains for safe keeping. Source; Charismatic Planet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unusual Corkscrew Shaped “The Wonderful Barn” in Ireland

The wonderful Barn is a corkscrew shaped barn situated on the edge of Castle Town House Estate of the Conolly Family close to the border of Leixlip and Celbridge in Ireland. The magnificent Barn actually has a stone staircase that winds around the outside leading to the top. Moreover; every floor has a hole in the center permitting the grain to be passed through. The barn was constructed as a part of famine relief project to grain barn and as an English garden type folly. It was built in the years immediately following the famine of 1740-41 as there as a need for new grain stores in case of another famine. It was so catastrophic Irish famine which killed approximately 38 percent of Irish population. The Barn has a height of 21 meters, the conical shaped is not only a protuberant feature in the rural landscape but also consider a technical and engineering attainment for the period in which it was built.  The wonderful Barn actually inspired the building of a similar structure famous as the Bottle Tower in Churchtown, Dublin close to Rathfarnham. Contrasting the Wonderful Barn, though the Bottle Tower is in ruins with floors and other timber work long disappeared and the winding stone steps are not considered harmless to ascend, making the Superb Barn the only surviving building of this kind in Ireland. The Wonderful Barn is definitely a worth trip out, and is a well setting for a stroll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arenal Volcano National Park Costa Rica

The Arenal Volcano National Park mainly made of primary forest, and consist of four different life zone and harbors a marvelous amount of flora and fauna. It is projected 850 species of birds can be found in this place, and 75% have been identified so far. The lovely creatures of God include white faced capuchin monkey, deer, coati, sloths, snakes, parrot, and boa constrictor. The different plant includes Laurel, Guayabo de Monte, Orchids, Ferns, Cirri, Palms, and Heliconias.

The Arenals Smaller and Chato Volcano which resides at a height of 1140 meters, has been inactive for 3500 years and has a crater which is filled with Aqua Blue Water. The park amenities make staying here is quite pleasant. The National Park has many walking trails and normally open from 8 AM to 6PM with the entrance fee is only $6. Hotels are easily available within and outside of the La Fortuna only 6.4 Kilometer from Arenal Volcano. This town is small, central and warm and good place to eat, shopping, Groceries, and many more.

La Fortuna is favorite town for those who made friends with the locals at the Lava Lounge. There are several tourist places in the world where the locals do not like the tourists. But this place is totally different from that places as lot tourist like to plan to spend more time here. The Arenal people are nicest peoples. This is such a beautiful city, and everyone would love to come back. It is awesome doing all sorts of touristy things yet not encountering a massive ton of other tourists. The place is a great tourist attraction, though if you stay in a hotel away from the town center you feel the serenity of the place.

The Park has great attractions and lot of activities within this area, such as Horseback rides, Leisurely Safari Floats, water sports on Lake Arenal, Swimming, Natural Scenery, canoeing, fishing, kite surfing, hiking, waterfall repelling, canopy and hanging bridge tours. The breathtaking La-Fortuna Waterfall cascade the drops into a misty pool only 5 kilometer of La Fortuna. A one day trip is sufficient or short hike or horseback ride drops tourist into the base of pool where you can enjoy with swimming, nature photos. The volcano’s geothermal activity heats lots of underground water flumes. Because local landowners tapping into this natural source have formed a number of beautiful hot springs, which are varied and indulgent some have waterslides, and cold pools and provides visitors a perfect way to end a day in Arenal.

No matter if you’re professional or amateur, Arenal Botanical Gardens are just few miles outside of town, where you can find more than 2,500 species of tropical plants. Several are consider rare and unique types of bromeliads, orchids, roses, and ferns. Beautiful birds and butterflies flit through the gardens perch in a tree or rest on a flower.

Venado Caves nearby Arenal feel like a different planet, located 3 kilometer outside of town Venado (45 minute drive La Fortuna). The caves are spelunking and real adventure seeker dream, feature stalagmites, stalactites, and subterranean steams, and even bats hanging from the ceiling, fish swimming in the streams, and colorless frogs clinging to the rocks.  

Nature buffs will relish one day trip to the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, which is located near the border with Nicaragua. You can explore this vast network of wetlands and the colossal Caño Negro Lake offers plentiful opportunities to spot birds and other tropical creatures. There is something for everyone here. The quaint town, lovely surroundings and plenty activities make Arenal one of the cornerstone destinations of Costa Rica.

Moonlight Rainbow Banpo Bridge Seoul South Korea

Banpo Bridge Water Fountain is world’s longest fountain bridge located in downtown Seoul along with Hangan River. This is really a unique bridge which operates both side of bridge and it is more than one kilometer long. The project was launched in 2007, for the purpose of to revive the river area for locals and tourist. It was installed in September 2009, to further beautify the city, and connecting the Secocho and Yongsan districts. The water is directly pumped from river and incessantly recycled. It is first double deck bridge construct in South Korea and given name of “Moonlight Rainbow”. The lovely fountain shoots down 190 tons of water per minute to the river and shoots as far as 43 meters horizontally. In the night the fountain colors transform to that of a rainbow by the 200 lights that radiate several colorful effects. The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain set a Guinness World Record with nearly 10,000 LED nozzles that run along both sides that is 1,140m long.

Paradise in Coron Palwan Philippines

Coron Island Palwan is a wedge-shaped limestone island, and third largest island in the Calamian Islands in Philippines. It is about 170 nautical miles southeast of Manila & some of few its coastal areas being well covered by mangrove forests. The island is popular due to Japanese shipwrecks of World War II vintage. It is the part of large municipality of the same name, as it has almost over 30,000 inhabitants of 6,264 households. The island is consists of seven popular lakes, in which Kayangan Lake is nationally claimed cleanest lake in the Philippines. This area has number of islands with lovely white beaches and crystal clear blue water perfect for snorkeling deep sea, shipwreck diving, and fishing.

The Coron main industry is fishing & tourism and the aquatic scenes from the sunken Japanese warships off Coron Island are listed in Forbes Travelers Magazine top 10 best scuba diving sites in the world. Tourists can enjoy local fruits such as jackfruit, watermelon, mango, and seasonal coconut. For visitors lot of attraction & activities in Coron Philippines like, Mt. Tapyas Trek, Maquinit Hot Spring, Breathtaking Malcapuya Island, Culion, Siete Pecados, Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, CYC Island, Skeleton Wreck, Banol, Coron Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, and Jungle Treks.