Mongolian wrestling training to be ready for the Naadam festival ᠨᠠᠭᠠᠳᠤᠮ
2015
Maiko (舞妓)
A maiko (舞妓) is an apprentice geisha. Their jobs consist of performing songs, dances, and playing traditional Japanese instruments as the shamisen
Lake Khövsgöl (Khövsgöl Nuur), Mongolia
LLake Khövsgöl (Khövsgöl Nuur), Mongolia
Read the article about the lake and its region to learn more
Palau: Snorkeling in the Jellyfish Lake
The Palau archipelago, located in the Western Pacific east of the Philippines, consists of more than 250 islands. Most are uninhabited, covered in primary tropical rainforest and mangroves. While this description already promises adventure, the existence of a lake populated by millions of jellyfish on one of these islands makes the region truly extraordinary.
School of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Celebes SeaThe Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia
The Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia
The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia.
Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Initially, the site was called Sow and Piglets, and during the 50s it war renamed “The Twelve Apostles” to make it more popular, even if it had only 9 pilars. Currently there are eight apostles left, the ninth stack having collapsed dramatically in July 2005.
Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita), Celebes Sea, Borneo
壁に耳あり、障子に目あり – Walls have ears, Shôji (paper sliding doors) have eyes. – Japanese proverb
Shipwreck creek beach, mallocota, AustraliaMongolia: The Khövsgöl lake
Called the « Blue Pearl » because of its water purity, the Khövsgöl lake (in mongolian : ᠺᠥᠪᠰᠦᠭᠦᠯ) is a sacred place for the local people, which they call « Mother ». The below pictures were taken at summer time, during a several weeks horse ride on the lakeside. More than a view on the lake, these photos show also the local inhabitants met during this trip.
Sunset on the Ethiopian Highlands
Captivating TV set, MongoliaSchool of Rigid shrimpfish (Centriscus scutatus)
School of Rigid shrimpfish (Centriscus scutatus), Celebes sea
The Rigid shrimpfish, also called razorfish is about 15cm long. This fish moves in groups, and stands verticaly, facing the ground. The shrimpfish travels sandy bottoms, looking for small crustaceans it aspires with its tubular mouth
Mihintale, Sri Lanka
Mihintale is located in the north of Sri Lanka, close to d’Anurâdhapura. This site is a place of pilgrimage because it was the meeting place between Devanampiya Tissa and the emissaries of Ashoka ( Mahinda and Sanghamita ) who imported Buddhism in the island.
Chinese trumpetfish / Aulostomus chinensisRed kangaroo jump (Macropus rufus), Australia
Red kangaroo jump (Macropus rufus), Australia
In a jump, the kangaroo is able to travel more than 9 meters away. It is also able to jump up to 3.30 m in height.
Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaRavana Falls – Sri Lanka
Ravana Falls – Sri Lanka
This waterfall measures approximately 25 m in height and it currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. The falls have been named after the legendary king Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. In the Ramayana, Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) kidnaps Rama’s wife Sita to exact vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister Shurpanakha. Ravana had hidden princess Sita in the caves behind this waterfall. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. After a long and arduous search, Rama fights a colossal war against Ravana’s armies. In a war of powerful and magical beings, greatly destructive weaponry and battles, Rama slays Ravana in battle and liberates his wife.
It is also believed that Sita bathed in the pool at the waterfall feet. Nowadays this pool has a mystical status
School of bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira)