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Top 10 Best Waterfalls in the World

These are the best waterfalls from all around the world, including Zimbabwe, Argentina, India, Africa among others. Everyone has heard of the Niagara Falls, the list here has some lesser known ones too! Be amazed by the power of mother nature and the power she wields!

 

 

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Libraries represent man's most successful attempt in democratizing knowledge. In the modern age, these magnificent institutions have also developed into important social structures that facilitate not just the reading of books, but a meeting point of different people, different ideas, discussion and debate. Libraries, especially the ones featured on this list tend to be the epicenter of activity in neighbourhood in which they are located. Here is a list of 10 of the best libraries in the world, ones that we wished we could spend whole days in, if only they were closer home.

#10 The Library of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
The Library of Alexandria was the greatest library in antiquity, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The new rebuilt Library of Alexandria hopes to one day match the precedent set by its illustrious predecessor. The Library cost $220 million to build and was completed in 2002. The Library doubles as a cultural center, and contains a planetarium, a manuscript restoration lab, art galleries and exhibition space, museums, a conference center, as well as libraries for children, young adults, and the blind. While the library contains space for over 8 million books, the library growing number of available titles currently stands at around 500,000.

#9 George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland
The George Peabody Library is the research library of Johns Hopkins University. The Library was a part of the Peabody Institute from 1878 until 1967 when it became owned by the city of Baltimore, eventually passing to Johns Hopkins in 1982 where it now holds the University’s special collections. The library is well known for housing the worlds foremost collections of Don Quixote editions, and many of the other titles date back as far as the 19th century. Often described as a “cathedral of books.” - the interior features a 61 foot high atrium, a beautiful black and white marble floor, and many balconies and golden columns. The library is open to browsers.

#8 Jay Walker’s Private Library
Jay Walker is an American inventor and entrepreneur who used his wealth to develop a notable private library. Walker calls his Library “The Walker Library of the History of Human Imagination.” Located in his home in Connecticut, the library contains more than 50,000 books including many early titles and books worthy of making it to the most premier museums in the world. The surreal architecture takes its inspiration from the work of M.C. Escher. Wired Magazine called the library “the most amazing library in the world”. The only reason the library is so low on this list is because it is not open to public.

#7 Abbey Library of Saint Gall, St. Gallen, Switzerland
The picture postcard Abbey Library of Saint Gall is the oldest library in Switzerland and boasts about 160,000 volumes. This is one of the oldest monastery libraries in the world, and holds manuscripts from as far back as the 8th century. The library is also a World Heritage site since 1983. Many of the rare manuscripts that the library holds can be accessed through an online portal, and the public is welcome to use the library, although books dating before 1900 can only be read on site.

#6 New York Public Library, New York, New York
The famous New York Public Library is awe inspiring in its layout, scope and size. It is the the third largest library in North America, has over 50 million items in its collection. It consists of 87 libraries serving 3.5 million people. The Rose Main Reading Room is a treat for the eyes too. The Library special collections include the first Gutenberg Bible to come to America. One of the most recognizable libraries in the world due to its appearances in many Hollywood movies, and even a key setting in the movies “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Ghostbusters”.

#5 Seattle Central Library, Seattle, WA
The breathtaking Seattle Central Library opened in 2004 and features a beautiful glass and steel modern design created by architects Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus of OMA/LMN. The goal of the design was to make an inviting open and airy space, and breaking the popularly held notion of libraries being dark and stuffy, and thus hopefully inspiring a whole new demographic of previously uninitiated library users. The library can hold up to 1.45 million books and materials, and serves over 2 million patrons a year.

#4 Boston Public Library
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library was the first publicly funded library in the US. It has since grown to its present collection size of 22 million items, making it the second largest library in the United States. The library's McKim building was built in 1895 and contains many beautiful murals, including Edward Abbey’s most famous that depicts the legend of the Holy Grail. The main room of the McKim building is Bates Hall, known for its grand coffered ceiling. The research collection at McKim is made up of over 1.7 million rarities including many medieval manuscripts, incunabula, early Shakespeare that includes a First Folio, colonial Boston records, a major Daniel Defoe collection, and the libraries of many famous men of history including John Adams, William Lloyd Garrison, and Nathaniel Bowditch.

#3 Reading Room at the British Museum, London, England
The Reading Room at the British Museum is found in the center of the Great Court of the British Museum. It features a domed roof, with the ceiling made of a variety of papier-mâché. For much of the Room’s history, access was only granted to registered researches, and during this period many notable figures studied at the Library, including Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, Mahatma Gandhi, Rudyard Kipling, George Orwell, Mark Twain, Lenin, and H.G. Wells. The Library’s collection was moved to the new British Library in 2000 and the Reading Room now houses an information center and a curated collection of books relating to history, art, travel and other subjects relevant to the collection’s of the British Museum.

#2 Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK
The Bodleian Library is the library of the University of Oxford. Established in 1602 it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. The Library has over 11 million items, and many items of historical import, including four copies of the Magna Carta, a Gutenberg Bible, and Shakespeare’s First Folio (from 1623.) The Library consists of multiple buildings, perhaps the most visually interesting of which is Radcliffe Camera. It’s the earliest circular library in England, and has appeared in multiple films, including “Young Sherlock Holmes”, “The Saint”, “The Red Violin”, and “The Golden Compass”.

#1 Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
The Library of Congress is effectively the national library of the United States and the oldest federal cultural institution in the US. The library consists of three different buildings and is the largest library in the world. The library is open to the public, but only members of congress and other important government officials may check out books. The library also serves an important function as the “library of last resort” in the US, ensuring the availability of certain items to various libraries around the United States. The holdings of the library are extremely impressive, they include - over 32 million books, more than 61 million manuscripts, a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, a perfect vellum copy of the Gutenberg Bible (one of only four in the world), over 1 million newspapers from the last three centuries, over 5 million maps, 6 million pieces of sheet music, and more than 14 millions photos and prints.

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Food And Stress: 7 Healthy Picks That Can Help You Relax

Usually when we talk about stress eating, we're warning you against using food to squash unpleasant feelings.

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Making a house a home is a task for anyone, but getting it to look perfect is one of the most intricate procedures. Here we will be focusing on an integral part of a house that has 2 or more floors, The staircase. A lot of people choose to stick to the run of the mill staircase but below you will find 10 designs that are unique, innovative and awe-inspiring.

Sensualscaping Stairs:
At first glance it would seem as though you are under the influence of sorts but once your eyes start to focus you will see how free flowing and beautiful the thought behind this design really is. The stairs seem to melt together perfectly.

Flat F.M:
One of the most commonly used ideas in 2 storey houses, if you want to be 'creative', are the plank sticking out of the walls. These are perfectly crafted and distanced from each other to make an eye catching staircase design.

Tree Stairs:
The stairs part of this design aren't so creative, they are just plain stairs linking the upper floor with the ground. The design element is in the hand rail, that mimics a tree sprouting from the bottom most stair growing upwards to look like a hand rail for the stairs.

Spiral Staircase Slide:
Spiral Staircases have been an integral part of architecture for the longest time. This particular one is accompanied by a slide fit for the kids, unless you were feeling a little lazy to climb down all the way.

The Rainbow House Stairs:
The Rainbow House is a magical oasis on a busy road filled with the rustle and bustle of everyday people and noise. When you step through its front door, you enter a universe of fun, colour, movement and sensuality, leaving the ordinary world far behind. Like the colors of the rainbow, it gradually changes as you go higher.

Blood Vessel Stairs:
The staircase has an overwhelming resemblence to blood vessels with scarlet red inculcated into the staircase. It's like a mechanical extension of the body.

Barbie Shanghai Store:
This staircase located inside the Barbie store in Shanghai has 800 Barbie figurines in glass showcases that surround the spiralling staircase.

M Lofts:
At first glance it looks like a staircase that might take a bit of work to climb but when you look closer it seems very simple. The alternate tread stair was designed to be a perfect union of functionality, structure and form. With regard to functionality, the stair is comfortable, safe to climb, and spatially efficient; the open sides of the stair provide ample and well-placed grip locations. It serves as a book shelf underneath the stair case.

Bookcase Staircase:
Limited by space, the idea of a staircase was melted with the client’s desire for a library to form a ‘library staircase’ in which English oak stair treads and shelves are both completely lined with books.

Timber Stripes:
These sculptural stairs are the focal point of the entire building. With an irregular shape, the balanced swirl of color disrupts the homogeneous appearance of the interiors and remind visitors that this is indeed, a place of creativity. Its design is fun to observe from any standpoint and probably makes climbing up the stairs easier too.

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Notions of past grandeur have always captivated the human mind. The idea that we are the result of a long line of developments, and cultural transformations pulls us out of the prison of time and urges us to imagine what life would have been were we born in different times. Yet, a lot of civilizations and prosperous cities never made it into modern era, destined instead to fall as quickly as they rose. This is a list of 10 of the most breathtaking lost treasures of human civilization. Cities that were either destroyed, or abandoned, and all but forgotten, only to be rediscovered much later so we may marvel at their once magnificent stint at the helm of human progress.

Pavlopetri, Greece

While there is no strong evidence that the legendary city of Atlantis existed outside popular myth and folklore, many parts of the world have fallen prey to the ever changing wishes of the fickle mistress that is the Sea. Pavlopetri was a town of pre-Classical Greece that was settled in the Stone Age and persisted until approximately the tenth century BC, and is the oldest submerged town in the world. Archaeological in particular have taken a fond liking for the site, since the fact that it is submerged has presented a evocative case study of a civilization that has been very well preserved and not contaminated by the remnants left behind by the occupants who followed soon after. The existence of this site gets one thinking about how many such sites must exist around the world, as surely, sea levels have risen and fallen for thousands of years, and early human settlers have tended to stay at sites such as Pavlopetri - sites that have proximity to water sources and trade routes.

Akrotiri, Santorini

There is little written material left by the Minoan Civilization thus they were largely left forgotten until the renewed push behind archaeological efforts in the 20th century. The discovery of the palace at Knossos revived interest in the Minoan Civilization. Similarly, on the small island of Santorini, there exists the minoan outpost of Akrotiri. The island is also home to the Thera volcano. Many possible explanations for the glorius minoan civilizations coming to an end have been postulated, but the most likely one points to the island of Santorini and its volcano. While the city was in its prime, the very volcano that brought about its eventual demise provided a natural water heating system for the minoans that was in probability the first city-wide hot water system in the world. The city also features exceptionally well preserved frescoes, homes up to three stories high, and a complex planned settlement.

Tikal, Guatemala

Once the capital of the Mayan Kingdom, Tikal was occupied from the 2nd to the 9th century AD. Thanks to the almost perfect preservation of the city the details of the culture that once flourished here are very well known, and very little is left undiscovered, and this offers an opportunity to the interested tourist to get a true picture of life in those times. Tikal was eventually abandoned because it was unable to sustain a growing population. Abandonment occurred over a number of years and the city was left for the jungles to grow over. Yet rumours of a lost city persisted and the city was found in 1848. Tikal is the largest surviving archaeological site in the New World and features 70m high pyramids, palaces, and even a playing arena for the Mayan ball game.

Timgad, Algeria

Timgad was founded by emperor Trajan in the middle of the desert and yet it become a large vibrant trading city, and survived many ups and downs. It even went through a period where it was known as a center of Christianity after it was ransacked in the 2nd century and had to reinvent itself. It could not survive the 7th century sacking by the Vandals though - an event which led to its eventual abandonment. The desert sands then buried the city until 1881, when it was rediscovered. The rediscovered ruins offer a brilliant glimpse into Roman administrated cities in Africa. The magnificent Arch of Trajan still forms the gateway to the city, with other attractions including the baths and the temple of Jupiter that rivals the Roman Pantheon in size. An inscription in the forum reads : “To hunt, bathe, play games and laugh. This is life!”

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is the quintessential lost city. This old Inca city, set picturesquely on the top of a mountain, was only inhabited for a short period of time, before the Spanish raids brought an abrupt end to the civilization. The raids never found the city though, and the locals never revealed its location, and the abandoned city had to wait till the 20th century to be discovered again, and it is not yet certain whether Machu Pichu was used as a retreat, a full fledged city, or simply a sanctuary of some sort. The city is easy to reach in modern times, although this has brought a large influx of tourists and has prompted some to wonder whether such large numbers are sustainable.

Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan

The Indus Valley civilization is one of the worlds most ancient civilizations, reaching its peak at approximately 2000 BC. It was also one of the most advanced civilizations for its time, achieving advances in science, language and culture. The advanced nature of this civilization can be seen at Mohenjo-daro with its ordered streets and drainage system.The lack of a temple or palace at the site has led some to consider it an egalitarian civilization, but there is no confirming evidence for this claim. The Indus and its floods destroyed the city multiple times with new settlements consequently built in their The city was finally abandoned for unknown reasons around 1800 BC and re-discovered only in 1922.

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New Year's Eve is one of the most celebrated evenings all of the world. With parties to family gatherings to concerts and carnivals, New Year's Eve is one of the most eagerly anticipated nights in the year. Here are 5 of the Best places to be on New Year's Eve.

1. Sydney:

With firework displays and bright lights, and a history dating as far as 1996, the Sydney Harbour has hosted one the Best New Years Eve Parties in the world. With signature display of Pyrotechnics such as the Waterfall Effect and the Birthday Cake effect, this is one New years Eve party you just have to experience. The Party is hosted by the City of Sydney Counsil and Kylie Minogue will be the creative ambassador for the 2013 celebrations.

2. Madrid:

The city of Madrid comes alive in December, from huge street parties to intimate restaurants, you’ll find your ideal place to be on December 31st. Spend the day experiencing the best that Spain has to offer; stroll through the famous streets and experience the cultural sights, foods and people. Puerto del Sol is where Madrid's New Years celebrations are concentrated. The centre of the city is a famous landmark in its own right, and on December 31st it becomes the focal point for the whole country. A enormous clock is mounted to countdown to the New Year. Crowds gather to party the night away with Spanish cava, warming up the city in the midst of winter!

3. Time Square, New York:

By far one of the oldest recorded New Year's Eve party venue, Times Square hosted it's first New Year's Eve Party in 1904. This spectacle is a definite entry into bucket lists across the world, and deservedly so. From Muhammad Ali in 2000 to Lady Gaga last year, Times Square New York has hosted many celebrities along the years. Every year at 11:59 p.m. EST on New Year's Eve a Time call is lowered 77 feet down a flagpole, resting on the stroke of midnight to signal the start of the New Year.The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion.

4. London:

If you’re looking for an impressive street party look no further. London has a variety of street based events to lead you through into the New Year. Watch the minutes count down on the iconic Big Ben or admire the firework display at the London Eye, with the best view from Westminister bridge. The next day, if you feel up to it, join the London Parade as it makes its way through the city; drawing visitors from around Europe this is a spectacular event with local heroes, bands, clowns and much more.

5. Honolulu Hawaii:

As the last major city to celebrate the New Year, Honolulu, Hawaii is the best place to spend a New Year's Eve. Every December 31, the city of Honolulu bursts into life with festivities. If you are lucky enough to be in Hawaii during the holiday season, make sure you make yourself available for this New Years Eve Celebration. A walk down Waikiki Beach is an unforgettable way to bring in the New Year. Every major hotel on the beach hosts live music and events throughout night and there are a half-dozen different fireworks displays to enjoy. With 70 degree weather and warm sunshine in December, Honolulu is a wonderful place to bring in the New Year. Whether you prefer a dinner with family, a walk along Waikiki Beach, or a party at Aloha Tower Marketplace, it definitely is one to experience.

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Top 10 Diving Sites in the World

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Deep Sea Diving, or even snorkeling is the closest most of us will get to making contact with an alien civilization. The marine world seems to work on different laws than the world we inhabit and are used to, and taking a trip down to see what our fellow aquatic earth-dwellers can be an unforgettable experience. Here is a list of the 10 most amazing Diving Sites in the world:

 

 

#10 Little Cayman, West Indies
Little Cayman is home to only about 200 people, and that is probably the primary contributing factor to it being a lot cleaner and less explored than its other cousins in the indies. The water is very clean, and the excellent views can be enjoyed in relative privacy. Little Cayman is not very well known for having a large oceanic population, it is on the other hand, a destination for the more inexperienced diver, and has a lot to offer in terms of easy diving conditions and warm waters, as well as the classic west indian hospitality.

#9 The Maldives
The Maldives are one of the most popular and well known island/beach destinations, but dont get as much recognition as they deserve for being a perfectly beautiful diving destinations as well. Both North Male and South Ari atoll, offer amazing diving opportunities as well as wonderful opportunities to have a close look at sharks, turtles and a myriad other tropical fish.

#8 Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island
Being the only Malaysian Oceanic island, Barracuda Point at Sipadan Island gets a lot of attention from divers in the area. The reef is especially known for its incredible beauty and rich marine life. The island itself is a living coral rising 600 metres above sea level, with Barracuda point being its best diving zone. Barracuda point, as the name implies also offers a good vantage point for watching barracudas, turtles, and sharks. Less experienced divers though must beware, as the waters around the island are known to have strong currents.

#7 Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands
More famous for the nuclear bomb testing and radiation contamination, the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands are located between Australia and Hawaii and offer stunning and relatively unexplored diving opportunities. An added attraction to divers who brave these waters are the large number of shipwrecks, that are always fun to explore.

#6 Rocktail Bay, South Africa
This one is more for the thrill seekers, as South African waters and Rocktail Bay in particular are known for their large shark population, and are a great diving destination for those unafraid, or even seeking a close encounter with these magnificent creatures. Whale sharks and Tiger sharks are more usual in this cool water bay. Leatherback Turtles make a cameo appearance on the bay between the months of November and February and are a great added attraction for visitors.

# 5 Rangiroa, Polynesia
Rangiroa is world’s second largest atoll in a region widely recognized to be one of the most beautiful marine environments on the planet. At the edge of map, Polynesia is also not teeming with crowds, and offers a calmer more relaxed vacation Meanwhile under the water, there is an unbelievable burst of activity, with the beautiful corals, and teeming marine life. Grey reef sharks, Hammerhead sharks, manta rays and dolphins are some of the species you can expect to catch when diving here.

#4 Red Sea, Egypt
The Red Sea is known for being a marvelous sight to behold due to its turquoise clear water. However, those who venture underwater are in for a treat. The single factor that sets the Red Sea apart from other diving spots is the fact that its clear water presents a better opportunity to enjoy the vast diversity of marine life than most other diving spots in the world. There’s also an opportunity for wreck diving at Sha’ab Abu Nuhas.

#3 Kailua Kona, Hawaii
While Hawaii is far more popular as a beach destination, it is also one of the most beautiful places in the world underwater. Kailua Kona is particular stands out as it offers the out-of-the-world experience of night diving. Lights placed at the ocean floor provide visuals and experiences that are truly breathtaking and impossible to forget.

#2 The Blue Hole, Belize
The famous Jacques Cousteau named it as one of the best diving sites in the world and that should be reason enough to make it to this list. With crystal clear water and a wide variety of sharks including grey reef sharks, bull sharks and hammerheads - The Blue Hole is one of the premier diving destinations in the world, especially for those who are unafraid of sharks.

#1 Great Barrier Reef, Australia
At 1200 miles long, a figure almost impossible to fathom, Australia's great barrier reef is the definitive diving experience on the planet, with something to offer somewhere on this watch stretch of coral for divers of every appetite. The reef is populated with over 1500 species of fish and other forms of marine life.

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