On October 5th 2005, Visa Parviainen and the BirdMan Rocket Team achieved the first ever jet powered, birdman flight over Lahti, Finland. He jumped out of a hot air balloon in a gliding wing suit and fitted with a pair of turbine engines strapped to his feet. Soaring at 2000 feet plus, he was able to maintain altitude for more than 30 seconds, subjecting himself back to gravity after burning through his fuel supply. “Once the fuel ran out…, continue reading…
Browsing Posts published in July, 2008
There is no shortage of bizarre things in Japan. Off the coast of a small town in Wakayama prefecture, you can find an underwater mailbox – and it’s an actual collection point within Susami’s postal system. Each day the contents are collected from the box, presumably by a deep sea diving mailman, which reportedly contains as many as 200 pieces of mail at the busiest times. Susami is over a hundred kilometres away from Osaka in a not very densely populated but highly mountainous part of Kinki, Japan. continue reading…
At Yvonne’s Salon in Alexandria, Virginia customers are given the latest pedicures and massages by tiny schools of tiny fish known as Garra Rufa or Doctor Fish. People who have had a fish pedicure rave about the service, saying even though it tickles and feels very strange at first, it doesn’t hurt a bit. As talked about on The Howard Stern Show.
Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md. has her toes nibbled on by a type of carp called garra rufa, or doctor fish, during a fish pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va. on Thursday July 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) 
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The Naha Harbor Diner in Okinawa, Japan lies at the very top of a huge Gajumaru tree about 20 feet above the ground. Sadly, that is not a real Gajumaru tree, its actually concrete. Customers actually have to get in an elevator inside the trunk to reach the restaurant. Don’t expect to see a lot of kids at this tree house though. Naha Harbor Diner is known for being romantic, and quiet. You can experience all sorts of Asian and Indian food from the chefs. A recent visitor who dined here, actually said it was very cheap.
The Ultimate Claw Game coming to an arcade near you. Instead of snagging a useless stuffed animal, or a pair of fuzzy dice, this “Sub Marine Catcher” arcade game, photographed in Osaka’s trendy Namba district, allows Japanese gamers to try their hand at catching live lobsters. The $2-per play claw game doesn’t catch goofy stuffed animals, but live lobsters. 
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Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls This destination has been peeking curiosity forever, but is still captivating. I never would have believed that you could swim at the edge of one of the worlds highest waterfalls and live to tell someone about it. These are among the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. At the top of the falls lies a pool of water that escapes the rivers main currents to form a natural basin and a very cool place to take a swim. continue reading…
The Kish Qanat in Kariz, Iran is more than 2,500 years old and currently has been converted into an underground town at a depth of 16 meters below the surface, with an area of more than 10,000 sq m. The Qanat is an ancient system found in arid regions that brings groundwater from the mountains, following a water-bearing formation (aquifer), and emerge at an oasis, through a series of tunnels. The tunnels perhaps several kilometers long, are roughly horizontal, with a slope. This allows water to drain out to the surface by gravity to lower and flatter agricultural land. Considered to be the oldest feat of human engineering, this system can be found still working in Iran.
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