Socotra is a collection of 4 islands cut away from the rest of the world about 6 million years ago. It is one of the most isolated places on earth. Socotra's long isolation and fierce climate has given birth to a unique variety of endemic flora, giving Socotra the distinction of being 'the most alien looking place on earth'.

Socotra's enchanting islands lie about 240 km east of the Horn of Africa and 380 km south of the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen. Socotra, the 'Galapagos of Indian Ocean', is the largest island in the Middle East and is known to the world as one of the best sites to witness biodiversity.
The name 'Socotra' comes from Sanskrit 'dvipa sukhadhara' meaning 'island of bliss'. I personally believe that it is the peace and the natural grace of the place that earned it such a name.

Socotra has a seriously harsh climate. The average temperature around the year is about 25 degrees Centigrade. Rains are very scanty and strong winds hit the island in monsoon.

Socotra's geography is also a major reason why it is such a fascinating place. Its little patch of land has a diverse geography. The landscape consists of features like plains, plateaus, sandy beaches and mountains as high as 1503 meters. The plateaus are full of caves, some of which go as deep as 7 km. There are sand dunes and amazing beaches which add to the awesomeness of the place.

Inspite of the scorching temperature, Socotra supports one of the world's most amazing plant life. For some people, it is the fierce heat itself and the lack of water that has helped Socotra's flora to evolve in such unique forms.
Socotra is home to a total of 825 plant species, out of which about one third are endemic i.e found nowhere on earth. Which makes Socotra one of the world's largest endemic plant populations.

Dragon Blood Tree

This is one of Socotra's most popular plant. It is named the Dragon's Blood Tree. It's unique quality doesn't lie in it's strange shape but the red sap it produces which is used to make crystals which are used for dyeing and for medicines.

Socotra Bunting	Socotra Cormorant
Socotra Lizard

Socotra also offers a diverse show of fauna, with birds mostly dominating the environment. Socotra has about 140 species of birds which make it a heaven for bird watchers. Out of the 140, 10 species are endemic. The most important birds found on Socotra are the Socotra warbler, Socotra sunbird, starling, bunting, sparrow and cisticola.
Socotra also has some small reptiles with mammals only present in the form bats and feral cats.

The misty Socotra city

The 4 islands of Socotra have a total population of about 70,000. The inhabitants are mostly of Arabian and African origin who speak a language called Socotri, the language itself being endemic. They are peaceful, joyful, and hospitable. For me, they all deserve a big thankful hug for conserving this amazing ecosystem for the rest of the world.

10:29:00

From White House to London Castle, this is our list of the world's most iconic places that are actually real haunted houses.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most important highlights of the city. Throughout its illustrious age of more than a thousand years, the Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history.

She has been home to beheading  murders, torture and hangings, as well as being a prison to Nobles. During its peak years, it even housed Elizabeth I, before she became the Queen, within its walls.

The Tower of London is also one of the most haunted places in Britain. Dozens of ghost sightings have been reported. One of the most famous ghosts of the Tower is that of the spirit of Ann Boleyn, one of the wives of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, who was beheaded and buried here. Other noble spirits who roam the tower include Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Paul, Thomas A Becket and Sir Walter Raleigh.

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - the address not only houses the current President of the country but also the spirits of many more who once dwelt the building but now occupy their graves. The White house, probably the most important building of America, is also the most famous haunted house of the country.

On many occasions Presidents, first ladies, guests and staff, have experienced paranormal activities in the building. The attic seems to be the most favorite part for the ghosts. Several presidents have reportedly heard unexplained noises coming from the attic above the Oval Office.
While White House hosts spirits of several presidents like President Harrison and President Andrew Jackson, but the most famous of all is that of Abraham Lincoln.
Abe Lincoln is frequently sighted by the dwellers. One incident took place with Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands who was awakened by a knock on the bedroom door. Answering it, she faced the ghost of Lincoln staring at her from the hallway. Reports say that even President Obama has himself confronted Lincoln's ghost.

The Queen Mary

RMS Queen Mary sailed the waters of North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. It was used in World War II both as a transport ship and a luxury liner.
During its 31 years of service, Queen Mary has witnessed dozens of deaths. These deaths haunts the grand ship till date.
RMS Queen Mary which was once known as a luxury liner, now has a reputation of a sailing haunted house. People have reported several incidents of paranormal activities in different sections of the ship. The most popular being the engine room where a 17-year old sailor was crushed to death while trying to escape a fire. The spirit of the young sailor now haunts the engine room.
Another famous haunted spot is Cabin B340 which is haunted by an 8-year old girl who was killed here. Screaming of men and crushing of metal have also been reported below the deck.

Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is a well-known mansion in Northern California. The grand state costed a woppin' $5.5 million, which is equivalent to today's $71 million. It now serves as a tourist destination.
The Winchester Mystery House was once dwelled by Sarah Winchester, the wife of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. She was left in shock after the death of her infant daughter followed by her husband's. According to a legend, Sarah believed that her family had been victim of ghosts of people who were killed by the Winchester rifles. So she visited a medium where she confronted the spirit of her dead husband who told her to build a house but never finish it as it would allow her to live forever. So she moved West where she started the construction of the Winchester House.
The construction took place continuously for 38 years from 1884 to Sarah's death in 1922.

Edinburgh Castle

The Edinburgh Castle not only possesses a prominent place in the history of Edinburgh, but also its landscape. But it also bears the unusual distinction of being one of the most haunted spots in Edinburgh. Edinburgh itself is one of the most haunted cities in Europe.
Visitors frequently report odd happenings in the castle. Paranormal sightings include those of a phantom piper, a headless drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War - even the ghost of a dog wandering in the grounds' dog cemetery.

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03:41:00

Mount Paricutin is one of the most amazing wonders of Mother Nature, a volcano grown out of a cornfield. The cornfield volcano is the youngest volcano in the Western Hemisphere and one of the '7' Wonders of the World.

Mount Paricutin

Paricutin erupting at night, 1948

The Paricutin is the world's only volcano whose birth has been witnessed by human eyes. It is one of the youngest volcanoes and its bizarre story has made it to the 7 wonders of the world. Paricutin grew out of a Mexican cornfield. Its birth, although wasn't as disastrous as the fall of Pompeii, nonetheless represents a dramatic period in the lives of the inhabitants of Paricutin, Mexico.

The Story

Paricutin, 1944

The story takes place in Paricutin, a small Mexican village of farmers. It is situated in an active tectonic area. It was a usual Saturday afternoon. Farmer Dionisio Pulido was working in the field, with his wife preparing dinner for the family, much like she did everyday. Unaware of the fact, that the day would become one of the most infamous days of human history.

Suddenly, Dionisio felt strong tremors and thunder sounds from the ground. He couldn't believe his eyes, when he saw the ground crack open. Soon, a pungent odour spread in the field. The odour of burning sulphur. Dionisio's wife rushed outside and the couple became the first human ever to witness the birth of a volcano.

The Development

Soon after, lava and ash started flowing out of the fissure, affecting Paricutin and other nearby villages. The ashes from the volcano fell as far as the Mexico city. The volcano grew rapidly from a fissure to a height of a 5-storey building in no more than a week.

Paricutin Volcano Facts

• Location: Mexico
• Eruption: 1943 to 1952
• Area Covered: 25 sq. km
• Total Height: 1345 feet
• Major Eruption: 1943
• Characteristic: Youngest volcano in Western Hemisphere

Paricutin erupted frequently during the first few months of its birth. Most of the volcano's growth occurred in the first year. At the end of the first year, the Paricutin had reached a massive height of 1,102 feet.
The Paricutin continued erupting between 1943 and 1952, affecting hundreds of thousands of lives. During this period, lava and ash swept an area of more than 25 sq. km. The worst of Paricutin's volcanic activity, took place in 1943, with its lava rising to about 50 feet below the crater's rim and killing more than 1000 inhabitants.

The Death

Paricutin is a Monogenetic Volcano, meaning that once it has finished erupting, it will never erupt again. The last of the eruptions occurred in 1952, after which the Paricutin calmed. It has been quite since then, reaching a final height of 1,345 feet.

00:31:00

Strange Hotels. A hotel is a vital part of any trip. And when it comes to spending your vacations the odd way, these strange hotels can multiply your experience. From Dockside Cranes to Nuclear Bunkers, these are the top 5 weird yet amazing hotels around the world.

Mirror Cube - Blend into Nature

The Mirror Cube is probably my favourite one in this list of strange hotels. The Mirror Cube is part of the Tree Hotel in Sweden, which is known for its unique rooms, suspended among the trees, just under the canopy. It's a 4x4x4 aluminium cube covered on the outside with reflective mirrors to help it completely blend with its surroundings, giving it an almost invisible look. The outer surface is covered with an infrared film to prevent the birds from flying into the mirror walls.
The Mirror Cube Hotel comes with a double bed, lounge, bathroom and a rooftop terrace. The cozy interior is made up of birch and the 6 windows provide an excellent panoramic view of the surroundings.
The Mirror Cube charges an amount of Swedish Kronor 4450 per night which includes a breakfast buffet.

Null Stern Hotel - The Only Star is You 

Null Stern is German for Zero Star. The name doesn't describe the hotel's classification but rather is part of part of the company's slogan Null Stern - The only star is You. The name is not the only strange thing about this hotel. The strangest facts about this unique hotel is that it is a former nuclear bunker converted into a hotel.
The concept behind the Null Stern Hotel is about giving a new life to unused real estate. Artist Atelier für Sonderaufgaben has turned the Null Stern Hotel into an excellent minimalist environment. If you're wondering  what it would be like to spend a night inside a nuclear bunker, then I assure you a wonderful time because the Null Stern Hotel has been ranked as one of the top 100 hotels of Europe.

Prison Hotel - Pay to be in Prison

A prison would probably be the last place on earth where someone would want to spend a night. But will you deliberately pay a price to live a night like a prisoner? While many jails around the world have been converted into 4 and 5 star hotels, KGB is one of those last places on earth where you can experience life as a prisoner.
Located in Liepaja, one of the larger cities of Latvia, the jail was built in 1905 to house Czar's troublesome soldiers. In 1970, it was turned into a hotel and the new management took charge.
Unlike any other hotel of the world, the management is proud to be unfriendly, unhearted and uncomfortable. The staff is dressed in Soviet uniforms. Expect no welcome but rather cruel shouting officers barking orders in Latvian. You're subjected to humiliation and psychological tortures. The food served is even worse than you can expect - a hunk of rye bread, pickle and a bowl of Russian tea.
The Liepaja prison is becoming increasingly popular among adventurists and the deal doesn't sound costly as you can get the unusual experience for no more than 7 pounds a night.

Dockside Crane Hotel - Dockside Crane Luxury

If you ever had this quirky feeling about how would life be like in a crane, then the Dockside Crane Hotel promises to satisfy all your fantasies. Docked in Harlingen, Holland, this is an original crane that has been turned into a deluxe hideaway. With an interior that could compete any boutique hotel, the hotel is packed with all the five star comforts you could dream of. The machine room has been converted into a bedroom for two provided with latest flat screen and audio equipment to create a fantastic environment. But the real fun resides in the driver's cabin where you can rotate the crane to full 360 degrees for a perfect panoramic view. The Dockside Crane Hotel charges 400$-550$ per night. A stay perfect for those looking for something to brag to their friends and relatives.

Ice Hotel - The 'Coolest' Hotel on Earth

If you prefer to spend your holidays in unusual surroundings then the Ice Hotel can be one of the best places for you. The hotel is located near Kiruna, Sweden and is the first of the ice hotels of the world. The ice hotel is built with solid blocks of ice. One of the most amazing facts about the Ice Hotel is that it only exists between December and April, which means that it melts in summer and has to be constructed each year. The rooms are decorated with ice statues and even wine is served in ice glasses.

21:55:00

The beautiful terraced pools of Pamukkale are one of Turkey's most important highlights. The Turks named the site Pamukkale which means "cotton castle" for its unusual sparkling white castle-like cascades. The warm and mineralized spring water flowing from calcareous white steps create an unmatched landscape. The famous thermal pools of Pamukkale and its rich history attracts tourists from around the globe.

Pamukkale Map

Pamukkale is located in the Turkish city of Denizli. Denizli means "located by the sea", although the city is no where near the coast, it is believed that the name was given due to large underground water resources of the area. Denizli has always been a cradle of civilizations. Its fertile lands have been home to a number of civilizations, Persians, Greeks, Romans and Muslims being the notable.
The formation of this amazing landscape can be attributed to the strong earthquakes that have shook the country for centuries. These earthquakes formed cracks allowing water, rich in calcium carbonate, to come to the surface. As the water evaporated, layers upon layers of calcium carbonate deposited forming the unusual travertine of Pamukkale as we see it today.
Pamukkale has always had a special place among the people of the area. Thus the Greco-Romans built a town above it, called Hierapolis - the "Holy City". It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley. The ancient site of Hierapolis contains temples and baths and add to the importance of the site.

Hierapolis

Pamukkale is not only famous as an unusual travertine, its warm waters are also known to cure a number of diseases and are believed to be specially beneficial to the skin. According to one legend, there was a young girl who was ugly and unmarried. As no one wanted to marry her, she decided to commit suicide and jumped off the travertine. She fell into a natural pool and did not die but was instead turned into a beautiful lady. The Lord of Denizli saw her and fell in love. They were soon married.

--> But the healing power of the water is not only limited to legends. Even scientific research has proved the medical benefits of the Pamukkale waters. The mineral water of Pamukkale helps in high blood pressure, strokes, rheumatism and a number of skin problems. Thus, the amazing site of Pamukalle attracts visitors from around the world, who come here to sooth their bodies with the warm spring water or just their eyes with the breath taking scenery.

06:39:00

Whatever you call these unique structures-strange, bizarre, weird or odd, but for me, they are some beautiful pieces of art. Here is my pick of the ten most amazing weird and strange buildings of the world.

Crooked House (Poland)

You cannot avoid the Polish Crooked House from your weirdest buildings list. This weird Polish building has everything to make it to your list. Kryzwy Domek, Polish for Crooked House, is located Sopot and is part of a shopping centre. Built in 2004, it is 4000 sq. metres in size and is inspired by fairytale illustrations.

Wonder Works (USA)

If you're wondering if this is the destruction of a strong earthquake, then we are happy to tell you that this is actually a destruction of human mind. The Wonder Works is an amusement park in Pigeon Forge, USA. Enter the Wonder Works and you will find everything upside down. The Wonder Works is a complete family amusement park, so, don't forget a visit on your next journey to Pigeon Forge.

The Basket Building (USA)

No one takes their work more seriously then these men at the Longaberger Basket Company. They even have their corporate headquarters in a basket. The Longaberger Basket Company's headquarters is the worlds largest basket. This 7-storey weird building is a replica of a real basket- only 160 times bigger. This weird building is located in Nevada, Ohio in USA.

Mind House (Barcelona, Spain)

The Mind House is the most popular work of the famous architect, Gaudi. It was part of a private garden city planned by Euzebi Guell in 1900. But the project failed and it was sold to the city authorities by Guell's heirs. Today, the Mind House serves as a museum to showcasing the personal property and other private items of the architect.

The Shoe House (USA)

The famous Shoe House was built in 1948 by shoe salesman Mahlon Haines as a form of advertising. This giant shoe in 25 metre tall and consists of five storeys. The Shoe House even has a shoe shaped doghouse.

The Dancing Building (Czech Republic)

The Dancing Building or the Dancing House is located in Prague and was designed by architect Vlado Milunic. The building resembles a pair of dancers and symbolises the art heritage of Prague.

Errante Guest House (Chile)

The Errante Guest House is a really bizarre structure in Chile that looks likes a house in ramshackle. To some, the Errante Guest House may look like building struck by a hurricane. But whatever you think, its unusual and strange structures makes it attractive and eye catching to any tourist visiting Chile.

The Blur Building (Switzerland)

When a child, I always dreamt of living in a cloud. Now, I think that my dream can become true on Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland. Designed by architects Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio, the Blur building is a cloud of man-made fog which shrouds a suspended platform.
Regarded as 'structure which blends into its surroundings', the Blur building is made by spraying tiny drops of lake water from 31400 jets. The strange structure can hold 400 visitors at a time.

Corpus Museum (Netherlands)

This is undoubtedly, one of the strangest museums in the world. The building is a 35 meter high, transparent structure that outlines a sitting human form. Inside, fiberglass is used to resemble the real inside of a human being body. This weird museum allows you to explore the human body through a whole new dimension. The museum uses 3D effects and amazing sounds to showcase all aspects of human body.

Cubic Houses (Netherlands)

Bored of those usual house designs. Why not try something odd? How about living in a cube? This is exactly what the Dutch has done. These strange and innovative Cubic Houses have been built in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. These have been designed by architect Piet Blom.

Blom tilted the cube of a conventional house 45 degrees, and rested it upon a hexagon-shaped pylon. His design represents a village within a city, where each house represents a tree, and all the houses together, a forest.

12:02:00