Recent Activity

• January 27, 2012 atimian updated the Ueno Zoo Escaped Animal Drill
  

  Tokyo, Japan

  Ueno Zoo Escaped Animal Drill

  "Wild" beasts break loose from Tokyo Zoo to the delight of Japanese children

  Ueno Zoo's "Escaped Animal Drill" is one of Tokyo's oddest annual events, but one that has built up a cult following among elementary school-aged children, and lovers of the absurd. Each year,... »

  Wondrous Performances | Edited by ilbonito, michelle and others

• January 27, 2012 atimian updated the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
  

  Bangkok, Thailand

  Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

  Buddhist university that allows English-language speakers the opportunity to study with monks in Thailand

  One of only two public Buddhist universities in Thailand, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, is located in the stunning Wat Mahathat Yuwarajarangsarit Rajaworamahavihara in Bangkok.... »

  Repositories of Knowledge | Edited by Nicholas Jackson and atimian

• January 27, 2012 atimian updated the Chucuito Temple of Fertility
  

  Chucuito Temple of Fertility

  Ancient Peruvian fertility temple or modern money-making hoax? Either way these monoliths still look like penises

  Chucuito is one of the few ancient sites in the world that is likely to elicit a few giggles. In many ways, you're supposed to giggle when you walk through the walled-off complex covered in row... »

  Hoaxes and Pseudoscience, Rites and Rituals | Edited by serflac and atimian

• January 26, 2012 atimian updated the Elk Garden
  

  Pyharanta, Finland

  Elk Garden

  A Finnish artist's unique fauna statuary

  When Arja Alhoranta began creating her sculptures in southwest Finland, she had a political agenda and was dedicated to making a statement. But as her work progressed, her message became obscured... »

  | Edited by serflac and atimian

• January 26, 2012 atimian updated the Statue of José Maria Morelos
  

  Statue of José Maria Morelos

  Climb through the life of a Mexican hero as you ascend a 130-foot statue

  Approaching the tiny island of Janitizio by boat, there is no way to miss the towering Statue of José Maria Morelos. Standing 130-feet high over Lake Patzcuaro, the spiraling stairway that leads... »

  Unusual Monuments, Strange Statues | Edited by serflac, stevelarson and others

• January 26, 2012 atimian has been to Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chich'en Itza
  

  Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chich'en Itza

  Every equinox this Mayan pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show

  A two and a half hour bus ride from Cancun takes you away from the thumping parties of spring break and into the once thriving ancient capital of the Yucatán Mayans – Chich’en Itza . During the... »

  Wondrous Performances, Curious Places of Worship, Incredible Ruins | Edited by Tre, Annetta and others

• January 25, 2012 atimian updated the Il Castello Incantato
  

  Sciacca, Italy

  Il Castello Incantato

  A madman's personal garden filled with 1,000 sculpted heads

  In 1919, Filippo Bentivegna left the United States after only 7 years and was a changed man. According to some, he had been assaulted and sustained brain damage. Others claimed his mind had begun... »

  Outsider Art | Edited by serflac and atimian

• January 25, 2012 atimian updated the Temagami Fire Tower
  

  Temagami Fire Tower

  Stunning views over Ontario's old-growth pine forests

  The 100 feet high, Temagami Fire Tower stands on the summit of Caribou Mountain, 400 feet above the town and 1300 feet above sea level. It is just 1/2 mile from Ontario's historic Yonge Street... »

  Architectural Oddities | Edited by alexluyckx and atimian

• January 25, 2012 atimian added Ash Jesus and Ash Buddha
  

  Ash Jesus and Ash Buddha

  Sculptures of religious figures made from the ashes of pilgrims' incense

  Using the resurrected ashes from temple incense in Shanghai, Chinese artist Zhang Huan created the torsos of two of the most prominent religious figures in the world. Standing over 8 feet... »

  Outsider Art, Strange Statues, Giant Buddhas | Edited by atimian

• January 24, 2012 atimian added Stonehenge Replica
  

  Stonehenge Replica

  Massive stacked rocks in Texas prove the benefits of technology

  In many ways, Stonehenge remains a complete mystery. Yet despite the lack of quality information on the megaliths, some estimates believe its erection took over 2000 years. But in 2004 in Odessa,... »

  Unusual Monuments, Strange Statues | Edited by atimian

• January 24, 2012 atimian added Dungeness Ruins
  

  Dungeness Ruins

  Ruins of the Carnegie family mansion on Cumberland Island

  In a glaring 19th-century example of the privileged 1 percent, the Carnegie family owned 90% of Cumberland Island, including a gigantic 59-room Scottish mansion on the south shores. After being... »

  Ghost Towns, Architectural Oddities, Incredible Ruins | Edited by atimian

• January 24, 2012 atimian updated the A Panorama View of New York City
  

  A Panorama View of New York City

  A 9,335 square foot architectural model of the entire New York City

  With the myriad of museums and exhibitions to visit in the Big Apple, the Panorama of the City of New York exhibit at the Queens Museum of Art is one that deserves a special appointment.... »

  Small Worlds and Model Towns, Marvelous Maps and Measures, Architectural Oddities | Edited by bboas and atimian

• January 24, 2012 atimian added Kaiping Dialous
  

  Kaiping Dialous

  Massive fortified towers blend North American and Chinese architecture

  In the early Qing Dynasty, gangs of bandits marauded their way through Guangdong, leaving the farmers of the region constantly on guard. To help combat the lawless thieves in the region, locals... »

  Architectural Oddities, Incredible Ruins, Outsider Architecture | Edited by atimian and Seth Teicher

• January 24, 2012 atimian added Thermopolia of Pompeii
  

  Thermopolia of Pompeii

  Ancient snack bar of the Roman Empire re-opened

  The Thermopolia of Pompeii have been closed since 79 AD when the entire city was buried under masses of volcanic ash. But in 2010, one of these ancient fast-food restaurants was reopened to the... »

  Commercial Curiosities, Bizarre Restaurants and Bars | Edited by atimian

• January 23, 2012 atimian added Kindred Spirit Mailbox
  

  Kindred Spirit Mailbox

  Nature reserve, saved from development by a mailbox and handwritten letters

  For the last 30 years, a small black mailbox printed with the words "Kindred Spirit" has graced the shores of Bird Island. Although no one knows the identity of the real Kindred Spirit, visitors... »

  Intriguing Environs | Edited by atimian

• January 23, 2012 atimian added Hot Water Beach
  

  Coromandel Forest Park, New Zealand

  Hot Water Beach

  Handcrafted thermal spa washes away each night with the tide

  Although the average hot tub costs a couple thousand dollars, Hot Water Beach allows people to carve their own thermal hot tub right on the beach in New Zealand. With just a few thrusts of a... »

  Natural Wonders, Watery Wonders, Geological Oddities | Edited by atimian

• January 23, 2012 atimian added Petroglyph Beach
  

  Petroglyph Beach

  Low tide reveals 8,000-year-old rock carvings in Southern Alaska

  Dating back 8000 years, Petroglyph Beach near Wrangell, Alaska has a series of 40 different rock sketches that are only revealed fully during low tide. Most researchers who have assessed... »

  Incredible Ruins | Edited by atimian

• January 23, 2012 atimian added Maho Beach
  

  Maho Beach

  Commercial airplanes land mere feet over the heads of sunbathing beachgoers on this tiny island

  Directly adjacent to runway 10 of Juliana International Airport, planes take off from the short runway and zip over head by a blisteringly small margin. Curious tourists have flocked to the beach... »

  Architectural Oddities, Outsider Architecture | Edited by atimian, Seth Teicher and others

• January 23, 2012 atimian added Mayor Weigh-In
  

  High Wycombe, United Kingdom

  Mayor Weigh-In

  17th-century tradition of public weighing is met with boos or cheers depending on the Mayor's weight

  Although public officials are met with far less rotten fruit and tomatoes, the annual Mayor Weigh-In in High Wycombe, England still draws a crowd ready to boo an increase in the mayor's weight.... »

  Retro-Tech, Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals | Edited by atimian and Seth Teicher

• January 23, 2012 atimian updated the Kuching Cat Museum
  

  Kuching, Malaysia

  Kuching Cat Museum

  2,000 feline artifacts in Malaysia's "Cat City"

  Tracing the history of cats back 5,000 years, the Kuching Cat Museum houses 2,000 different artifacts, ranging from a mummified Egyptian cat to strange cat headstones. Although the Cat Museum is a... »

  Museums and Collections, Unique Collections | Edited by serflac and atimian

• January 23, 2012 atimian added New Jerusalem Theater
  

  New Jerusalem Theater

  World's largest open air theater spans 24 acres and hosts a massive recreation of the Passion of Christ

  Spanning 24 acres, New Jerusalem Theater seems more like a medieval castle than a performance space. Yet each year, this massive open-air theater puts its gigantic space to use for a roving... »

  Cultures and Civilizations , Wondrous Performances | Edited by atimian

• January 23, 2012 atimian updated the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall
  

  Port Glasgow, United Kingdom

  Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

  The worlds oldest surviving music hall.

  Built in 1857 by Thomas Gildard and H. M. McFarlane, the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall hosted some of the biggest names on the Music hall circuit and quickly became famed as being the most... »

  The Long Now | Edited by atimian

• January 22, 2012 atimian updated the Gugging House of Artists
  

  Gugging, Austria

  Gugging House of Artists

  Colorful environment encourages the mentally ill to paint in Gugging, Austria

  In 1981 a Professor named Leo Navratil decided to open a residential house for artists in Gugging, Austria. The residents were not your typical artists and the house was more like a social care... »

  | Edited by bboas and atimian

• January 20, 2012 atimian added Bull Surfing in Kerala
  

  Pottundi, India

  Bull Surfing in Kerala

  Bold contestants slide in a rice paddy behind two charging bulls

  In perhaps the dirtiest form of rodeo known to man, bull surfing in Kerala, India entails chasing down two charging bulls, grabbing on and sliding at full speed through a rice paddy. Each... »

  Cultures and Civilizations , Wondrous Performances | Edited by atimian

• January 19, 2012 atimian added Leopard Society Garb
  

  Leopard Society Garb

  Recovered suit of a cannibalistic West African gang

  Hanging inauspiciously in a dark corner of the American Natural History Museum is a mysterious figure covered from head to toe in the coat of a leopard. Although easy to miss, the dark mannequin... »

  Cultures and Civilizations , Rites and Rituals, Lost Tribes | Edited by atimian