A new "hobbit" species of human was found in the remote Indonesian cave of Liang Bua. This limestone cave has yielded some of the most important finds in modern anthropology. The remains of two... »

Cultures and Civilizations , Lost Tribes, Architectural Oddities, Follies and Grottoes | Edited by bradenh83 and Nicholas Jackson

Launched in 2008 in Solo City (Surakarta City) in the Central Java province of Indonesia, the Solo Batik Carnival is an annual celebration of Indonesian heritage. During the parade, models... »

Cultures and Civilizations , Wondrous Performances | Edited by fian_khairunnisa, Nicholas Jackson and others

Built in 1882 by the Dutch Colony Government this old lighthouse is still a guiding light to both ships and beauty seekers alike. Lengkuas is an island off the shore of Tanjung Kelayang beach... »

Natural Wonders, Unusual Monuments | Edited by fian_khairunnisa and Dylan

When first seen by botanist and explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1859, he described them as "one of the most striking vegetable productions hither-to discovered," but it wasn't until 1862 that... »

Extraordinary Flora | Edited by Dylan, gabeschwartz and others

Carved in the cliffs of Torarjaland are the eerie cliff cemeteries of the Toraja. The funeral rites of the Toraja are some of the most elaborate in the world. After a death in the Toraja Society,... »

Rites and Rituals | Edited by Dylan and Henry

It is tough to get a grasp on the Toba event without something to compare it to. In 1980 Mount St. Helens in Washington State erupted spewing an 80,000 foot tall plume of smoke, killing 57... »

Natural Wonders, Weird Weather Phenomena, Watery Wonders, Fiery Wonders, Disaster Areas | Edited by Dylan

In the summer of 2009 the sky in Indonesia glowed an ominous orange as Anak Krakatau put on the latest of its fiery displays. Rising 1,200 feet from the waters of the Sunda Straight between the... »

Fiery Wonders, Anomalous Islands | Edited by Annetta

It is an American pastime to complain about one's job. A bad boss, late hours, poor pay: there is always plenty to complain about. However even the worst office 9-5 in the U.S. is a cakewalk... »

Fiery Wonders, Martian Landscapes, Disaster Areas, Long Now Locations | Edited by Dylan

In May of 2006, gas drilling on the Indonesian island of Java triggered a "mud volcano" that killed 13 people. Hot sulfuric mud has been continually gushing from the ground in Sidoarjo, East Java... »

Disaster Areas | Edited by Dylan

The Rafflesia arnoldii, a rare and endangered plant known as the "giant panda of the plant world” bears the world’s largest flower. A parasitic plant, the Rafflesia lives most of its life within... »

Extraordinary Flora | Edited by Dylan and Henry