Natural born explorers

Alaska's flag

2012-02-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

The Big Dipper and the North Star

Benny Benson memorial site, the designer of Alaska's flag.
Alaska's flag displaying the Big Dipper and the North Star
on a blue field is shown on the memorial stone.

In 1927, Alaska (not yet a state at that time) organized a competition for children to design a flag for Alaska territory. Since the US purchased Alaska from Russia, there was no official flag for thatterritory. From over 700 submitted designs, the blue field with the Big Dipper and the North Starsubmitted by Benny Benson, was original enough to win the competition.

Most of the other designs featured bears, northern lights or gold rush artifacts for the future Alaska's flag. First level of the Alaska's flag competition was a local school contest. Ten best local designs were submitted to the central competition in Juneau. Benny's design was chosen as the best and became the official flag of Alaska by decision of Alaska Territorial Legislature in May, 1927.

The winning design was not the only one prepared by Benny Benson. The original design has been modified by removing year 1867 from below the Big Dipper.

Benny Benson design for the Alaska's flag was submitted for the competition with the following description:

The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear—symbolizing strength.

Benny Benson and Seward, Alaska

Alaska's flag on a Kenai Fjords tour boat in Seward, Alaska

Benny Benson at the time of the Alaska's flag competition was a 13 year old boy living in the Jesse Lee Mission Home, an orphanage in Seward, Alaska. Benny was a native Alaskan and was born in 1913 to Russian-Aleut mother and Swedish father.

For the design of the Alaska's flag Benny was awarded a gold watch with his design engraved and $1000. The watch has been donated by him to Alaska State Museum in 1963.

Benny Benson spent most of his adult life in Kodiak, Alaska. Benson died in 1972. Seward celebrated his contribution to Alaska by setting his memorial site in the town.

Springfield in one day

2012-02-07T20:33:00.000-08:00


State Capitol building	Old State Capitol building	Sundial at the back of the State Capitol

First impression

We spent a winter weekend in Springfield and the town seemed to be deserted. One could see only few people on the streets. However, most of the museums and restaurants had people visiting them. Downtown of Springfield is nice and relatively small. All major attractions are available within a walking distance. If you decide to stay in a hotel in the downtownarea you will not need a car. Taking train to Springfield and staying in downtown area seems also like a good idea. Although the town seemed deserted, museums and restaurants were allopen. Downtown does not have many shops and most of the interesting things in Springfield can be seen in one day.

Old State Capitol

Old State Capitol is very well preserved and all open rooms are equipped with furnitures from the middle of XIX century. One can follow a tour or walk around without a guide. Walking around the Old State Capitol you will see how compact and wellorganized was the Capitol more than 160 years ago. You will notice there equivalents of allmajor modern state institutions.


Old State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois.

From the information placed at the Old Capitol:

Old State Capitol

The Old State Capitol was the fifth State House in Illinois history.The building served as capitol from 1839 to 1876. Its cornerstone was laidduring ceremonies held July 4. 1837.

During the 1840s and 1850s the building dominated Springfield's square and became a center of public life. Benefit dinners and other civic affairs took place in its rooms. The legislative chambers were the scene of frequentpolitical meetings. Cultural programs often accompanied legislative sessions,which attracted citizens from throughout Illinois to the capitol city.

Abraham Lincoln frequented the building from 1839 until he departed in 1861to assume the presidency. As a lawyer he often practiced before the Illinois SupremeCourt. Lincoln delivered several important speeches, including the 1858 "Housedivided" address. In representatives' hall the governor's room served as his informal headquarters during the 1960 presidential campaign. In 1965 citizens paid their last respects to the assassinated president in representatives' hallbefore burial at Oak Ridge cemetery.

In 1876, a new State House replaced the Old State Capitol, which became theSangamon County Courthouse. Legislation passed in 1961 led to the state's purchase and reconstruction of the building to its Lincoln-era appearance. The three-year project was completed in 1969.

Erected by The Illinois State Historical Society
and The Illinois Department of Transportation, 1991



Inside of the Old State Capitol

State Capitol

New State Capitol contrary to the Old State Capitol is not very inviting. We were trying toget there twice, both times with no success. Building is very impressive from outside but justafter you enter the building, security informs you that "one can not walk around by yourself" and that one has to wait for guided tour. In front of the Capitol there is a large statue of Abraham Lincoln and on the back a very nice sundial (on the picture above). The current Capitol building is the sixth Capitol in the history of Illinois and the second one in Springfield. First Capitol was built in Springfield after Abraham Lincoln and his colleges advocated for moving the capitol of Illinois from Vandalia to Springfield. Old Capitol has been turned into a museum.


Springfield, State Capitol

Lincoln's Museum

Springfield has quite many museums for its size. One that is definitely worth visiting is the AbrahamLincoln Museum connected to the Presidential Library. Museum is very modern and extremely multimedial.It pictures life of Abraham Lincoln from his childhood, through first jobs, his time in Springfield and work as a lawyer to his presidency and assassination. Museum collected an impressive number ofitems related to Abraham Lincoln. It takes more than an hour to walk through the whole museum. At theend, one should definitely stay for the impressive multimedial presentation of the museum and the presidential library.


Lincoln's Museum from outside	Abraham Lincoln with family	Lincoln's wife

Lincoln's House

Old part of Springfield including whole neighborhood of Lincoln's House has been turned intoa museum. Guided tours are available for visiting Lincoln's House and the Old Downtown.


Abraham Lincoln's House in Springfield

Lincoln's Tomb

Visiting Springfield one cannot miss the Lincolns Tomb. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery and it is a very impressive monument. The Tomb is closed during the winter. However, outside of the Tomb is alsovery interesting. The Oak Ridge Cemetery has more interesting graves and tombs. The cemetery is quite large and at its very end one will find war memorials.


Lincoln's Tomb

Springfield by night

After a whole day of sightseeing you may want to relax over a nice dinner or a drink. The downtown area is full of nice restaurants. Most of them offer American food and itmay be harder to quickly find an oriental kitchen. Although there is a lot of bars around, the most fun seems to be the top of the Hilton hotel. Hilton on its 30th floor has a bar and a restaurant. Both of them have stunning views over the panorama of Springfield with nicely illuminated Capitols.


View from the bar on the top of Hilton hotel		State Capitol

Other attractions

Springfield Museums center including

Michele & Donald D'amour Museum of Fine Arts
Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum
Springfield Science Museum
Connecticut Valley Historical Museum

List of all historic sites in Springfield: Historic Sites Commission of Springfield, IL
Frank Lloyd Wright designed Dana-Thomas House [Official site]
Oak Ridge Cemetery
Museum of Funeral Customs (closed in 2009)

Frank Lloyd Wright house in Springfield

2012-01-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

Dana-Thomas House, Springfield

Dana-Thomas House in Springfield is probably the largest and the best preserved Frank Lloyd HouseI have seen so far. The house was completed in 1904 as a reconstruction of the Lawrence family housein "Aristocrat hill" in Springfield, Illinois. Susan Lawrence Dana was a leading independent woman in Springfieldand heiress of a substantial fortune.

Ordering the house design from Frank Lloyd Wright, she has requested to have a large dinning room, which after the house was completed could accommodate around 40 people. As the only house except Frank Lloyd Wright own, Dana-Thomas houses dinning room includes a "cylindric" shape roof. Except the house itself, Wright designed stained glasswindows, ornaments based on the sumac leaf shape and oak furniture.

Dana-Thomas house today

Dana has been married three times and although she inherited substantial fortune, over the yearsshe has felt into poverty. Her house was bought together with other properties in Springfield to payback her debts. However, the buyer was more interested in the buildings that could have been turned into shops and had very little interest in the Frank Lloyd House and decided to destroy the house. However, a publisher Charles C. Thomas bought the house in 1944 and kept it until 1981 when the Frank Lloyd house was sold to the State of Illinois. Currently the house is open to public and guided tours lasting about an hour show the well preserved house with its original furniture.

the unconventional public campaign

2012-01-18T19:16:00.000-08:00

Bartłomiej Topa, screen from the campaign movie, Synapsis Foundation

Odd behavior attracts attention

Everyone likes to gossip and most people like to gossip about celebrities. Whenever a celebrity behaves odd, most of us think that they are under influence of alcohol of drugs. People start posting, tweeting, hunting for possible movies where the embarrassing behavior is exposed. Most of us now of stories like that from celebrity news. Polish actor, Bartłomiej Topa, that played for example in movie "Three colors: White", has been caught on camera when he did not behave quite like himself. First, while interviewed on TV, he has been distracted,did not answer any questions and seemed to be hyperactive. After that he has been filmed twice, on thetrain and in the shop. Both films show him quite distracted and having problems with adapting to the surrounding him place.

Rather drunk than insidious

All of the Polish celebrity pages and newspapers noticed the anonymously posted amateur videos and published articles and pictures commenting behavior of Bartłomiej Topa. Many different theories followed the published movies. Everyone thought that the actor is either drunk, took some drugs or is going through some mental problems. However, few days after the movies and articles were published, the actor and Synapsis Foundation explained what has happened.

Autism misleads senses

Behavior of Bartłomiej Topa was part of a social campaign aiming to increase the awareness of autism.The unconventional behavior of Bartłomiej Topa was for him "an acting exercise, for many people it is their wholelife" (from the Synapsis campaign movie). The campaign was carried in media only and was keept in secret even from the involved media themselves. Movies were done by Tomek Wlaziński and Bartłomiej Topa and published between 11-14 of January 2012.

EPAR - the next big discovery

2012-01-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

Energy Accumulating and Dissipating Converter

Big discoveries do not happen very often and in modern world are very rarelya work of a single person. However, EPAR (abbreviation from Polish name) or Energy Accumulating and Dissipating Converter is a work of a self-taught Polish inventor Lucjan Łągiewka. EPAR is a device that absorbs kinetic energy, quickly converts it and slowlyscatters. The potential of the device is clearly shown of the movie from the EPAR presentation.

Lucjan Łągiewka

Lucjan Łągiewka. Picture taken from the EPAR project website

Lucjan Łągiewka, the inventor and constructor of the EPAR device, was born in 1949 and for more than 40 years is an active inventor and experimentalist. The idea for the device came from dynamics of fluids. The first presentations of the device, then in a form of a specially constructed bumper installed on a small FIAT car, were done in the late 90s. At that time Łągiewka filed also a patent application, which was unfortunately rejected because of the formal issues. Over the last decade Łągiewka was awarded with many international prizes for his inventions and he reached a wide recognition for his invention in a inventors communities. Today he leads together with his son the EPAR project development company. A large focus of the company is to implement EPAR idea into a safety elements of the infrastructure e.g. road barriers. Łągiewka did not get the attention of academic communities with the exception of his long-term collaborator Prof. Stanisław Gumuła from AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland. Łągiewka together with Gumuła claim that the EPAR device works against Newton laws.

Łągiewka vs. Newton and Smith

Lucjan Łągiewka did not earn any patents that he applied for in the late 90s. However, he noticed that Oxford University professor Malcolm Smith later constructed a device that works based on the same principles. Prof. Smith successfully patented in the US a device that has been later used in Formula 1 races as a J-Damper. J-Damper was suppose to extinguish the suspension vibrations and effectively gave the Formula 1 bollid better traction which resulted in approximately 0.5 s advantage per lap. J-Damper was used first by Kimi Räikkönen and gave him almost 30 seconds advantage in the whole race.

General idea behind the EPAR project. Energy is absorbed, converted and slowly scattered.

Picture taken from the presentation of the EPAR on www.epar.pl

As unfortunate as it sounds, self-taught Łągiewka is in a constant battle with scientists. First with Newton, claiming that his device works agains Newtons laws. Now in a battle agains Prof. Malcolm Smith from Oxford for recognition of Łągiewkas contribution into the invention of the idea/device. These complains are now investigated by the European Patent Office. Battle with Newton and the recognition in academia may be more difficult that the one in EPO.

Car test done with and without the EPAR device. Left picture shows a small car FIAT 126p

after it hit a wall at the speed 50 km/h with the EPAR device installed on the bumper.

Right picture shows the same model after the impact at the speed 40 km/h without the EPAR device.

Picture taken from the official presentation of the EPAR project.

weird weather phenomena - part 2

2011-11-19T19:08:00.001-08:00

Red sprites

Lightnings are phenomena that we all are used to seeing during thunderstorms. However, the white and light blue strikes are not the complete picture. Second type of a lightning phenomena occurs above the clouds. Directly above the cloud-to-ground or cloud-to-cloud lightning stikes, appear weak but massive flashes. The mostly red illuminations apear from the tops of the clouds up to 95 km above. Red sprites are very difficult to spot with an naked eye. Since the sprites occur above the active thunderstorm, to spot them one has to able to see above the clouds (for example when a thunderstorm occurs on the horizon).

Blue jets

Blue jets, similarly to red sprites, are observed above the active thunderstorm. They appear as blue illuminations from the core of the lightnings rich region of the thunderstorm. Blue jets disappear about 40-50 km above the clouds. The blue color is assumed to come from nitrogen emission caused by high energy collisions with oxygen. Together with red sprites, blue jets have been reported first time in 1989.

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weird weather phenomena - part 1

weird weather phenomena

2011-11-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

Catatumbo lightning or Lighthouse of Maracaibo

Catatumbo lightning is a phenomenon occurring in Venezuela at the estuary of Catatumbo river to the lake Maracaibo. Very intensive lighting occur there from 140 to 160 days a year, for approximately 10 hours a day. During one hour one can observe about 240 lightning strikes. Taking into account the large number of lightnings this region is probably the largest natural source of ozone in the atmosphere. Light of the strikes is seen from hundreds of kilometers from the source which gave the spot a name "Lighthouse of Maracaibo".

Lunar rainbow

Everyone is used to seeing rainbows during a daytime. The phenomena may be also observed during the night from the light given by the Moon. Lunar rainbow is also known as a moonbow or white rainbow. It is incredibly difficult to see with a naked eye. However, a camera with a long time exposure may easily capture the moonlight rainbow. A lunar rainbow may be easiest seen over a waterfall during a full moon.


Moonbow at the Lower Yosemite Fall	Moonbow over Victoria Falls, Zambia.

Rain of fish

Rain of fish or Lluvia de Peces is a phenomenon occurring in Honduras. Together with falling rain people notice small fish. There are legends and even chronicle entries from many places all over the world talking about a similar phenomenon. However, in Yoro in Honduras rain of fish is observed every year usually between May and July. Local people got used to this event occurring and collect small fish from the streets. The rain of fish was first reported in 1970 when the National Geographic Magazine journalist visited Yoro and witnessed the rain of fish.

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Super Mario

2011-11-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

Silvio Berlusconi has stepped down and Mario Monti replaced him as a prime minister of Italy. Mario Monti or "Super Mario" as call him journalists, is suppose to create a government of experts, not politicians. His program and his decisions in the next few months are to help Italy overcome its present financial situation. Italy as a fourth largest economy in Europe is currently following Greece with 119.1% debt-to-GDP ratio (estimate at 2010, CIA factbook). Italy has after Greece (142.7%) and Iceland (126.3%) has the largest debt-to-GDP ratio in Europe.

Mario Monti may not get large support in the Italianparliament where large fraction is Berlusconi's party. Monti is a professor of economics and is an experienced politician. Monti concluded plans and ambitions for his government with words "Italy must take up the challenge of liberation from the crisis, must again be a symbol of strength, not weakness in the European Union".

Silvio Berlusconi zrezygnował i Mario Monti objął po nim stanowisko premiera Włoch. Mario Monti albo "Super Mario" jak nazywają go dziennikarze, ma za zadanie zbudowac odpolityczniony gabinet ekspertów. Jego program i podejmowane decyzje mają pomóc Włochom uniknąć bankructwa. Włochy jako czwarta europejska gospodarka podążają drogą Grecji z długiem publicznym na poziomie 119.1% PKB (szacunek na 2010 rok, dane z CIA factbook). Włochy po Grecji (142.7%) i Islandii (126.3%) mają obecnie największe zadłużenie w Europie.

Mario Monti może nie znaleźć poparcia we Włoskim parlamencie gdzie znaczącą część zajmuje partia Silvio Berlisconiego. Monti jest profesorem ekonomii z dużym doświadczeniem politycznym. Monti podumował plany i ambicje swojego rządu słowami "Włochy muszą podjąć wyzwanie wyzwolenia się z kryzysu, muszą znów być symbolem siły, a nie słabości w Unii Europejskiej".

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park - photography

2011-10-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

Park in September - late photos

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Frank Lloyd Wright house in Chicago

2011-10-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

Open house Chicago

Last weekend (October 15 and 16, 2011) Chicago Architecture Foundation organized an open house event. Many sites that are usually closed to public, open just by invitation or are occupied by businesses were during these two days open for everyone. From many sites one of the most interesting was the house in Rogers Park designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house is not large and is placed next to a small bed and breakfast called Cat's Cradle. Cat's Cradle was a site in the open house itself and is very interesting place.

Frank Lloyd Wright house - photography

About the house

Information placed in front of the house

Chicago Landmark
Emil Bach House
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect
1915

One of the last of Wright's small urban houses,
the Bach House combines elements of the Prairie
style with a compact plan well suited for an interior
lot. The inward orientation of the house ensures
the privacy of its residents and reflects Wright's
idea of the importance of family life.

Designated a Chicago Landmark on September 28, 1977
by the City Council of Chicago.
Michael A. Bilandic, Mayor

Commission on Chicago
Historical and Architectural Landmarks

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transgender members of parliament

2011-10-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

Anna Grodzka, Poland

Anna Grodzka

Anna Grodzka became a member of the Polish parliament in the recent election on October 9th, 2011.Anna Grodzka is a member of a Palikot Movement party which collected enough votes to become a third major force in the current parliament. Grodzka is currently the only transgender member of parliament worldwide. She is a long-term activist for the LGBT rights. Grodzka is a founder and activist of the Trans-Fuzja foundation which is devoted to help transgender community in Poland. Her transformation to be a woman has been presented in HBO movie Trans-Akcja and presented in 2010. Among Grodzkas goals for the parliament are to help LGBT community, equalization of opportunities for woman and raise of the minimum wages.

Georgina Beyer, New Zealand

Georgina Beyer

Georgina Beyer is the worldwide first transgender member of parliament. She has served in the parliament of New Zealand between 1999 and 2007 on behalf of the labour party. Beyer underwent the sex reassessment surgery in 1984. Her public career has started from election to school board and consequent election as a city mayor. Beyer had tried to include "gender identity" term in the list of Human Rights Act. Georgina Beyer has been elected three times, in 1999, 2002 and 2005. In 2007 she has resigned from the seat.

Other members

Vladimir Luxuria

The first member of parliament in Europe that has openly admitted transsexuality was Vladimir Luxuria. Vladimir was a member of parliament in Italy during Romano Prodi's government. Vladimir functions in public life entirely as a woman. However, Vladimir has never undergone the medical or the legal procedure of the sex change. Luxuria has been involved in organizing Italy's first pride parade in early 90's and has continued LGBT rights activism during her appointment in Italy's parliament.

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autumn - photography

2011-10-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

Few pictures that I have taken on my walk today. Very sunny day gave a perfect opportunity to take some nice pictures. European yaw or hawthorn look particularly pretty in autumn, leafs changing colors are always very photogenic.

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park - photography

worlds most scenic castles

2011-10-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Egeskov Castle, Denmark

Egeskov Castle is a renaissance castle located in southern Funen in Denmark. The Castle has been built as a fortification on a lake and originally one could reach it only by a waterbridge. The name of the Castle means "oak forrest". Egeskov Castle is surrounded by gardens featuring different topics. Whole area with the Castle functions now as a museum and is one the most important tourists attractions of the island.

Egeskov Castle, Denmark. Pictrure from www.egeskov.dk.

Leeds Castle, England

Leeds Castle was built at the beginning of XII century and shortly after that became a royal residence. Over the centuries Leeds Castle was a residence of English royal family. Last private owner acquired the Castle at the beginning of the XX century and in 1976 was open to the public. The Castle was afterwards place of peace negotiation between Egypt and Israel and Northern Ireland peace talks.

Leeds Castle, England

Malbork, Poland

Teutonic Castle in Malbork is the worlds largest gothic castle. Malbork was the capital of the Teutonic Country and was occupied by the Teutonic Grand Master. Castle is well preserved and all of its parts are open for tourists. Over two centuries the Castle in Malbork became the most guarded town in the Teutonic Country. Castle was partially demolished at the beginning of XIX century but shortly after reconstructed. The museum is the Castle has also very large amber, art and military collection.

Malbork, Poland

Kalmar Castle, Sweden

Kalmar Castle was build in XIII century and since then played significant role in Scandinavian history. The union of Denmark, Sweden and Norway was finalized in the Kalmar Castle in XIV century. Kalmar Castle was heavily damaged XVII century and not restored until the XIX century. Nowadays Kalmar is one of the best preserved Swedish castles and is open to the public.

Kalmar Castle, Sweden

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle is a XIX century palace in southern Bavaria in Germany. The Palace was planed to act as a royal residence but has been open to public immediately after the construction. The magnificent scenery of the Castle was an inspiration for many movies. Today the Castle is a popular tourist destination.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

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Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland

graduation towers - different face of spa

2011-10-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

Graduation tower in Ciechocinek, Poland

What is a graduation tower?

A graduation tower is a wooden construction traditionally in a shape of long tower. Tower is filled with blackthorn branches.The purpose of the graduation towers in the past was to increase the concentration of salt in saline solution and to obtain salt. Nowadays graduation towers are used in spa towns for artificially creating salt concentration in air similar to sea shore area. Mineral rich water obtained from a local spring is run slowly from the top of the tower. Droplets of saline evaporating and breaking on the branches create a mineral rich aerosol in the vicinity of the tower. The condition of the air around towers highly depends on the weather and is the richest in minerals when evaporation is high, that is sunny and warm days.

Graduation towers in the world

Graduation towers can be found only in Poland, Germany and Austria. In all of those counties towers have been build in towns with mineral rich natural springs. Previously used for salt production, nowadays are a tourist attraction and turned towns into health resorts. Large complex of graduation towers is located in Poland in town Ciechocinek. Ciechocinek became a health resort mainly used by people with respiratory tract problems.


Bad Nauheim, Germany	Ciechocinek, Poland

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the largest earthquake and tsunami in North America

2011-10-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

The largest earthquake in North America

Very close to Seward, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on Good Friday March 28, 1964 took place the largest earthquake recorded in North America. The magnitude of the earthquake reached 9.2. The earthquake caused a tsunamis more than 200 feet (60 meters) hight. Tsunamis reached Oregon and California causing fatalities. Despite a large magnitude of the earthquake only 131 people died, mostly as victims of the tsunamis. The largest damage was caused in Anchorage as a direct result of the earthquake. Other areas damage was mostly caused by tsunamis. The strength of the Alaskan earthquake has been noticed worldwide and as a result even level of wells in Africa has changed and boats sunk in Luisiana. The great Alaskan Earthquake is worldwide second largest earthquake ever recorded. Only the Great Chilean Earthquake that stroked in 1960 was larger and reached 9.5 on the magnitude scale.

View Americas largest earthquake in a larger map

On the map above the epicentrum of the Great Alaskan Earthquake is marked in green, in blue we marked Anchorage and Seward.

Alaska after the largest earthquake

Althout only 131 people died in the Great Alaskan Earthquake, large region suffered great damage. Anchorage suffered the most damage. About 30 blocks of commercial buildings in downtown Anchorage were heavily damaged. Smaller coastal towns, like Seward, suffered also great damage caused mainly by tsunamis. After the earthquake plans of towns were adjusted and new buildings or constructions have been put new more save areas. Damage in Alaska has been estimated at 2 billion dollars (at todays value). Results of the tsunamis are still visible as a death forest that is nowadays preserved. Salty water brought inland by tsunamis destroyed trees in large coastal area.

Tsunami hazard in Alaska

Alaska as one of the most seismically active region on the planet is at constant earthquake and tsunami hazard. Most of the earthquakes and vulcano eruptions do not cause big damage since the most active region of the Ring of Fire is sparsly populated. However, the southern Alaska is not only in danger of tsunamis and earthquakes caused in the region. As an coast open to the Pacific Ocean, it is in the tsunami hazard area of more distant earthquakes like those in Japan, Hawai, California or South America.

The tsunami hazard zone, the evacuation route and area are well marked in all tsunami hazard areas. Seward in Alaska has daily test of the tsunami alert, similar to other towns in the hazard zones. Below we show road signs used in Alaska for the hazard area.


Tsunami hazard zone US road sign.	Evacuation route, road sign from Alaska.	Evacuation area for tsunami hazard, Alaska.

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slavery in the modern world

2011-10-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

Slavery in the world today

One may think that the slavery is a concept of the past centuries and that in a modern society every person is free. According to the Oxford English Dictionary the word "slave" has wider meaning than the commonly used one.

A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
a person who works very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation
a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something

Slave Trade Abolition was passed in March 1807 and both United Kingdom and the United States enacted the law in 1807 and 1808 respectively. However, more than 200 years after that countries around the world fight with slavery. Nowadays the most victims of slavery are children and woman that are sold as servants, factory workers or sex slaves. Problem mainly concerns poor regions of Middle East and Africa but America and Europe are not free of the slavery problem either and have noticeable amount of sex slavery cases. In Europe and America immigrants from poorer countries are sometimes taken advantage of and forced to work for smaller than minimal or no salary.

Facts about slavery around the world

Few examples of slavery in modern world and todays slave trade

In 2005 UNICEF and United Arab Emirates signed the agreement to free more than 1000 children slaves from Middle East involved in camel racing.
Remnant of the cast system in India exacerbate the children slavery problem which are often forced to work in carpet factories. Although carpet manufacturers and carpet importers to the US and Europe deny it, South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude estimates that between 200 000 and 300 000 children are slaved in India. Estimated numbers for Pakistan and Nepal are of the same order.
Led by false promises of employment in hotels or restaurant women immigrants are sold and forced to prostitute in Europe and North America.
Sugar cane slavery is problem in Dominica Republic where people are kidnaped by or sold to Dominican soldiers and forced to harvest sugar cane for low or no wages.

Your slavery footprint

If you are curious if and how many people were abused or worked as slaves to manufacture goods that all of us use everyday check your slavery footprint. Service slaveryfootprint.org after collecting some informations about place you live and what is in your house and what do you eat everyday will show you how many people were abused making yourlife as it is. Service will also display a map with distributed fraction of slavery in your footprint.

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worlds most amazing hotels

2011-10-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hotel from Ice in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

Town Jukkasjärvi in the northern Sweden is fameus from Ice Hotel. The Ice Hotel is entirely made of ice and snow and is build every year and opens around December. Ice Hotels bar glasses are also made from ice. Hotels bar was open in partnership with Absolut Vodka and is a precursor of Icebars in London, Stockholm and other cities. Hotel accommodates around 100 people and rooms, main hall, church, reception area are uniquely designed and rebuild every year from scratch. Icehotel is the largest ice and snow structure spanning over 6000 square meters. Guests can spend a night in temperature below zero, sleeping in warm clothes and boots on a ice-block bed.

Salt Hotel, Bolivia

In Salar de Uyuni desert in Bolivia one finds a hotel entirely made from salt. The desert is a remnant of a dry salty lake. The hotel is build from salt blocks and other natural materials from the Andes. Few years ago the hotel had to be demolished after missmanagement but was rebuild in the eastern edge of the desert under the name Palacio de Sal. Floor, walls, even the furniture including chairs and beds are made from salt and guests are forbidden to lick the equipement.


Pictures from www.boliviatravelsite.com

Tree Hotel, Sweden

Sweden is home for few of the most unique hotels. It is not only that they have an Ice Hotel but Swedish people put a new meaning to the word tree-house. Tree Hotel features six uniquely designed and fully equipped tree-houses. All rooms have different shape, from a bird's nest to UFO. The hotel is located in town Harads in northern Sweden. Each of the six houses is eco-friendly and has been put from 4 to 6 meters above the ground are 15-30 square meters large. Although hotel is located in northern Sweden, it is open all year long.

Bird's nest room. Picture from www.treehotel.se

Sleeping capsules, Japan

Japan has probably the worlds most minimalistic hotel. 9 Hours is not only hotel with different design but also different concept of running a hotel. The hotel does not have rooms in the classical meaning and guests are sleeping in the individual capsules. Most of the hotel is shared between guests and the private area is restricted to the 2.5 meter long and 1 meter high capsule. Except a TV and a small shelf the capsule contains just a mattress covering the floor.


Pictures from 9hours.jp

Cave Hotel, New Mexico, US

New Mexico, US has a hotel made in a cave. Kokopelli's Cave is located 70 feet below the surface and has cave cavity turned into a hotel room. Access to the cave may be not easy depending on the guests condition. The cave was first the office and private home before it has been arranged as a hotel room. The room is fully equipped with full kitchen and even a jacuzzi and everything is put between 65 million years old walls.


Pictures from Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast, www.bbonline.com/nm/kokopelli

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Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland

2011-10-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Teutonic Knights Order

Order of Teutonic Knights has been created after the crusades in Jerusalem.Together with Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller was one of the largestthree orders created on the legacy of crusades. Teutonic Knights Order was basedon participants of the crusaders of German origin. Initially order was to act asguards of injured and sick knights of German origin. Pope Clement III officiallyfounded the order when the knights moved from Jerusalem to Akka. After the conquestof Akka the Pope gave the city and its neighbourhood into the power of the order. Over many years of diplomatic efforts of the Grand Master Hermann von Salza, Teutonic Knight become a powerful and respected force in Europe. Vatican and the Holy Roman Empire awarded the Teutonic Order with land and many privileges in Palestine and in Europe. The ambitions of the Grand Master were to create an independent Teutonic Country. Teutonic Order obtained great land donations in Transylvania in Hungary in 1211. However, the donations have been withdrawn after the Teutonic Knights broke the agreement of the donation in 1225. In 1226 the Order has received a lese of land in Poland from Konrad I of Masovia.

Teutonic Knights in Poland

Duke of Masovia, Konrad I of Masovia invited the military religious Teutonic Knights Order to Poland having problems with Prussian rides over his land. Main role of Teutonic Knights was suppose to be christianisation of pagan Prussia and keeping peace on the border with Masovia. Teutonic Knights conquered Prussian land and created their own country. Ambitions of the Order become even larger and in the next century great Polish - Teutonic war has started. The war has definitely ended in 1525 when Teutonic Knights lost their land in Poland and keept only their possessions in the Holy Roman Empire.

View Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland in a larger map

On the map above we marked all Teutonic castles in Poland. Well preserved castles have been marked in red and ruins in blue. The largest Teutonic castle has been build in Malbork that became a capital of the Teutonic Country. The castle in Malbork is until today the world largest castle.

Present Teutonic Knights

The Teutonic Order functions until today. Its headquarter is located in Viena and the Order possesses many locations in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Order is nowadays focusing on running hospitals, helping older people and running nursing homes. Bruno Platter is the Great Master of the Teutonic Order since 2000. At the 600th anniversary of the the great Polish-Teutonic battle in Grunwald, Bruno Platter visited Poland and was a guest of Polish president.

The legacy of Teutonic Knights in Poland is a great tourist attraction. Many of the castles have been destroyed during wars, but large fraction of them with the castle in Malbork for example have been very well preserved and turned into museums.

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See also :
10 reasons to visit Poland
EURO 2012

10 reasons to visit Poland

2011-10-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

Perfect time to visit Poland, 10 good reasons

If you are planing to travel to central or eastern Europe you should definitely visit Poland. If you are looking for destination and have not decided yet, look at the things that are waiting for you in Poland and reconsider your next years holidays.

The oldest settlements

The archaeological site in Biskupin contains reconstructed fortified settlement and village from approximately 750 year b.c. The museus is open all year long and reenactments of peoples life and culture are organized every summer. The village is situated by the scenic lake and is close to Bydgoszcz which is one the main metropolis of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The settlement has been accidentally discovered in 1933 when local drainage works have lowered the level of the lake. Since 1934 Biskupin is an active archeological site .

Kraków old Polish Capital

Kraków is the main metropolis in the southern Poland. Before the capital has been moved to Warsaw, Kraków was home of the royal castle. Kraków is one of the oldest Polish cities and is the location of the oldest Polish University. Jagiellonian University has been established in 1364 and is one of the world oldest universities. Kraków is well preserved and suffered very little damage over the wars. Many of monuments in Kraków have been put on UNESCO Worlds Heritage Sites.

Gothic Castles

Teutonic Castle in Malbork

Almost every city and town in Poland has a well preserved caste or its ruins. Town Malbork at the north of Poland is home for the world largest castle that more than 500 years ago was a capital of Teutonic Knights country. Ruins and castles are open for tourists and wait with a museum and a guide.

Castle in Kwidzyn and Malbork are examples of the best preserved castles on the Gothic Castles Tour.

Spas

Many of the Polish towns are located in regions rich in natural resources with salty spring waters or hot springs. Around those towns people have build spas and unique health resorts. Graduation towers are one of the most unique constructions. One the pictures below from the left are graduation towers in Ciechocinek and Inowrocław in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Spa in Ląndek Zdrój at the south of Poland.

See the bisons

Białowieża Forest is one of the last places in Europe to see wild bisons. Białowieża Forest is one of the largest forest in Poland and lies on a border of Poland and Belarus. The forest contain ancient oaks and the National Park organizes bird and bisons watching tours. Białowieża Forest was partially protected even in XV century when habitation and goods harvesting from this forest was forbidden.

Toruń, Copernicus hometown

Toruń is a gothic town in the middle of northern Poland. Its unique and well preserved gothic architecture make its old town one of the most beautiful in Poland. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Toruń and his family house is a museum of his life and work. University in Toruń is named after Copernicus. For long time Toruń was a border city with the river dividing Poland and Teutonic Country. Modern Toruń has ruins of castles on both sides of the river.

Fallen and rebuild Warsaw

Although Warsaw is very old city, it had a very turbulent history and has been destroyed during the II World War. Warsaw is a capital of Poland since the XVI century and nowadays is home for all main government institutions. Warsaw's Old Town is location of a Royal Castle with a column of Polish king Sigismund III Vasa. Modern Warsaw has in its borders many royal palaces that are open for tourist. Warsaw has two major universities. A Palace of Culture and Science in the center of Warsas is one of the more recognizable buildings common for Eastern European capitals.

Gdańsk and Baltic Sea shore

The north of Poland has a major metropolis consistent of three major cities Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. Gdańsk is the oldest and most scenic of the three cities. Part of Gdańsk called Westerplatte is a site where II World Was has started in Poland. In 2012 Gdańsk in one of the four Polish cities hosting EURO 2012 games. Old Town in Gdańsk very scenic and is home of Polish most fameus Neptun sculpture that has become a symbol of Gdańsk.

EU presidency 2011

Polish EU presidency logo,
picture from pl2011.eu

European Union changes a president country every 6 months and between July and December 2011 Poland takes this function. Poland at that time will be leading the EU Council, setting its agenda, negotiating with new members, managing and administrating the EU Council, host and organize the Council meetings. Poland takes the presidency for the first time and together with the administrative part it also promotes Polish culture in the EU and outside intensifying the number or Poland related cultural events in Poland and abroad. More informations about the cultural program of Polish presidency may be found on www.culture.pl.

EURO 2012

EURO 2012 logo

EURO 2012 will be organized by Poland and Ukraine. Poland will host football games in four very scenic cities : Gdańsk, Warsaw, Poznań and Wrocław. All of those cities are worth visiting regardless of the EURO. However, EURO 2012 may be a perfect opportunity to see the games and cities as well. All cities have airports and are easily reachable from any major European airport. Maskots of the EURO 2012 are two football players with traditional sounding names Slavek and Slavko. The first match of the EURO 2012 will be in Warsaw on 8 June and final will be played on 1 July in Kiev.

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EURO 2012
Teutonic Knights' castles in Poland

the winner is Egypt

2011-09-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

World Travel Awards have been given and Egypt is on top of the winning traveling spots. Althout all political problems of Egypt this year, it was not abandoned by tourists. In category "Africa" Egypt has won in categories like Africa's Leading Attraction with The Pyramides, Africa's Leading Beach Destination with Egyptian Sharm El Sheikh, Africa's Leading Beach and City hotels, resort and villa. However, Africa's Leading Destination was in 2011 City of Cape Town in South Affrica.

Cheops pyramide, Egypt

The awards are given in categories based on their location and are grouped in continents. Awards are given since 18 years ago. During that time Egypt was the twice Africa's Leading Destination (Cape Town was awarded most often in this category).

EURO 2012

2011-09-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

2012 UEFA European Football Championship

UEFA EURO 2012 official logo.

European Football Championship (EURO) in 2012 will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine together. Shared organisation of such event was done before in 2000 by Belgium and Netherlands and in 2008 when Austria and Switzerland hosted EURO 2008 together. Poland and Ukraine are preparing for this event since few years. New stadiums had to be build and infrastructure around them prepared for all the football fans that will come to see this unique event. Hopefully Maya people were wrong and world will not end before EURO giving Spain a chance to defend their championship from 2008.

For those who are not familiar with EURO, it is an equivalence of World Cup but only for teams from Europe. Some countries like UK have more teams that enter EURO and represent for example England or Scotland separately. However, most of countries are represented by their national teams. Games that are played during EURO are the finals and eliminations are happening long line before the actual event. However, EURO is divided into group part, where all teams play agains all from the same group and play-off part. The champion holds the title for four years until the next EURO.

Games will be played in four cities in Poland and Ukraine. Map below shows all cities that will host games during EURO 2012 in Poland (marked in red) and Ukraine (marked in blue).

View Poland-Ukraine EURO 2012 in a larger map

See also :
10 reasons to visit Poland

where is the Amber Room?

2011-09-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

Amber Room

The Amber Room is a chamber with gold and amber decorations. It was made in XVIII century and disappeared during the II World War. It is estimated to be worth nowadays over 500 millions dolars and is considered an "Eighth Wonder of the World". The Amber Rooms known history ends suddenly and leaves many possible locations for its place of hiding. Since its disappearance many treasure seekers were involved in the search. However, none of them succeeded yet.

Amber Room, picture taken before II World War

History of Amber Room

Frederick I of Prussia at the beginning of XVIII century ordered a decorative room for his palace. The room was designed by Andreas Schlüter and made in Denmark by Gottfried Wolfram from amber. Initially the Amber Room was installed in Charlottenburg Palace near Berlin in Germany. In 1716 Frederick I gave the Amber Room to Peter the Great to strengthen their alliance against Sweden. Peter the Great got the Amber Room installed in his Winter Palace in St. Petersburg as a part of the European art collection. The Amber Room has been moved again in following decades and while being adapted to the new location it has been also expanded. After years it covered more that 50 square meters and included approximately 6 tons of amber.

Charlottenburg Palace

Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

The last legitimate location of the original Amber Room is Catherine Palace in Pushkin close to St. Petersburg. The palace is also a location of the modern reconstruction of the Amber Room. In its history, Amber Room was used by Peter the Great, Czarina Elizabeth, Catherine the Great and Aleksander I.

Catherine Palace in Pushkin, Saint Petersburg

During the II World War and German invasion of Soviet Russia, the Amber Room was moved by Germans to Königsberg Castle and installed there. The Castle during the II World War functioned as a museum. In 1943 Alfred Rohde, working as a director of the museum, was in charge of moving Amber Room to different location. In 1944 the castle was burned down as a result of bombing. Königsberg Castle is the last known location of the Amber Room.

Königsberg Castle, Kaliningrad, Russia

Where the Amber Room is now?

Known history of the Amber Room ends in the Königsberg Castle. The Amber Room was suppose to leave the castle and there is no information saying that it was there when the castle was destroyed. There is many theories what happened to the Amber Room after it left the castle. One them says that it is in Wilhelm Gustloff ship wreck that has been sunken in 1945 by Russians in Baltic Sea. Other informations lead to Castels in Lower Silesia in Poland occupied by Germans during the II World War. One of the people that had informations about the Amber Room was Erich Koch that was leader of NSDAP in Eastern Prussia during the war. After the war he was sentenced with a death penalty which was never performed. He died in 1986 by natural causes in a prison in Barczewo, Poland. Over many years he was number of times interviewed about whereabouts of the Amber Room, never (officially) revealing any secrets. Other theory says that a secret organisation ODESSA that was suppose to help fugitive Nazis, could be responsible for its disappearance and possible current location. Treasure seeker from all over the world mention about 200 possible locations of the Amber Room.

Reconstruction of the Amber Room

The Amber Room has been reconstructed in Catherine Palace and is now a great turist attraction. Information how to get there may be found on http://amber.tzar.ru, the site is for the moment only in russian. However, you may use Google Translator to get more informations until the english version apears.


Reconstruction of the Amber Room in Catherine Palace

colors of Fall

2011-09-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

Why do leaves change color?

Middle of September is usually the time when one can feel Fall coming. Fall is close and I am curious, whether you have ever wondered why leaves change color at this time of the year. Leaves contain many pigments in their tissue and during the growing season the green one dominates. Chlorophyll is taking an important part in the photosynthesis process and is part of the light harvesting complex. It is chlorophylls that makes plants and leaves green. During the photosynthesis process chlorophyll breaks down and has to be systematically produced. Shorter daytime and lower temperatures turn plants into their "energy saving mode". The transport of water and minerals from the roots to the leaves will be gradually reduced and finally stopped. The chlorophyll reserves in the leaves will be gradually used and not renewed. The lack of the dominating in the vegetation season green pigment reveals other pigments that determine the leaves' color in Fall.


All pictures from Wikimedia Commons

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See also:
autumn - photography
park - photography

hot air ballons show, Indiana

2011-09-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hot air ballons

After our first visit in the Indiana Dunes State Park I went to their web page to find some more informations about the park. I could not be more happy when I saw that in the neighborhood of the park, in Valparaiso in the following week there will be a Hot Air Ballons fest organized by Kiwanis Club of Valparaiso. The following week we headed to Valparaiso and enjoyed my first Hot Air Ballon show.

Air ballons group take off

When we arrived the hot air ballons were not set up yet and only one of them was partially filled with air and open for people to walk inside. Other ballons were spread on the grass and ready to be filled with hot air. Except the hot air ballons, there was a stage on the fest with local dance groups entertaining guests while they were waiting for the ballons to take off. Ballons were prepared to take off around 6PM and the weather did not delay it. About 12 hot air ballons take off together, almost at the same time. The take off and the flight took approximately 30 minutes and after that time we could see only few ballons on the horizon. All ballons were suppose to be brought back and set up again for the hot air ballons glow after the sunset. The ballon rides were not offered this year but they were advertised for the next years ballon fest.

All ballons were in the classical shape and different colors. From solid purple ballon with a large sign 'Plum Crazy' that we particularly liked to very colorful ones, all ballons looked very nice and all took off without any problems. Later during the evening it was announced that all ballons were part of a competition for a precision landing.

When the pilots and their teams were landing and bring the ballons back to their take off spots, local tap dancing group from Valparaiso performed for about an hour. After them the local police department organized demonstration with K9 departments dogs and a bomb squad.

Ballon glow

After the sunset, around 8PM all ballons were suppose to take part in a hot air ballons glow. However, some of the participating ballons had problems setting up again and only half of the ballons glowed at the end. The hosts made them glow to the rhythms of the music which looked spectacular. Whole Air Ballon Fest was very nicely organized and although few hundreds of people came to see the show, it did not feel crowded at all. If you are in the neighborhood of Valparaiso, you should check out the next years fest and maybe get a hot air ballon ride.

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Indiana dunes

2011-09-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Dunes in Indiana

One day we went to see the dunes in the northern Indiana. Large part of the Michigan lake shore was turned into Dunes State Park. Although most of people go there for nice sandy beaches, the park has much more to offer. Lake shore is surrounded by forest with a lot of sandy, hilly trails. If you thought that the shore is a flat piece of land you will be very surprised. Deciding on the route to follow during your hike, you should know that even the middle difficulty path will involve a lot of uphill paths. From the top the sandy hills you will have a great view on the Michigan lake and dunes in the park.

Chicago skyline seen from Indiana Dunes

During your visit you will see the skyline of Chicago. Chicago is clearly seen better from Indiana than the other way around. Of course you will only see the tops of the buildings but the view is great. Dunes are very impressive and you may be surprised how can something grow on such a sandy soil. Do not expect plants sparsly scattered on the dunes. Whole hills are very green and fruitful. If you chose to visit the Dunes off the holidays season you will enjoy the nature not interrupted by many people. Southern part of the Dunes State Park has turned into a marsh and is a great place to spot a rare bird. If you are a fan of bird watching the Nature Center in the park will be definitely spot worth visiting.

Bird watching in Nature Center

Do not forget to visit the Nature Center in the dunes state park. The center is not only the information spot about the park and starting point for hike trails. The very back room faces the area behind the Nature Center building, that is not open to visitors. However, the Nature Center visitors may watch birds in their feeding spot without interrupting them from inside. You may easily see a blue jay, finches, hummingbirds and cardinals.


American gold finch	Blue Jay

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honeymoon in Alaska - part 3

2011-09-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward

The very south spot of the main street in Seward is a home for the Alaska SeaLife Center. If you do not have luck to see a puffin or seal from close distance then this is the perfect place to do that. The bird room can be viewed from above and from under the water. You will see diving puffins, among the fish native to Alaska. You will have opportunity to see and touch various starfish, see salmon in different stages of life, see sea lion and much more. Park rangers give lectures about Alaska and native Alaskans, and if you like you may feed birds or have a close octopus encounter.

Anchorage museum

At the end of our Alaska adventure we spent one day in Anchorage. During whole week we got very nice weather, except our Anchorage day. From wondering around the town in rain or visiting museum we have chosen the Anchorage museum. The museum is divided for many sections and is not only about Anchorage. There is a popular science section, history of Alaska, native Alaskan, Alaskan modern art. Museum is definitely worth visiting.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Between Anchorage and Seward, at mile 79 of Seward Highway you will find Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center which is a great place to see animals that you may have missed in your Alaska adventure. You will find adult moose, muskoxen, elk, brown and black bears, bisons and much more. Center is also home for orphaned moose calves and brown bear cubs. You can drive around the center or leave your car and take a walk and watch animals.


Moose	Muskoxen	Elk

Brown bear	Brown bear cubs	Bisons

Food and drinks in Alaska

I like fish and chips with beer so Alaska was heaven for me :-) Fish and chips is available with any fish you want and you can be sure that is fresh and comes from a local fisherman. From halibut, salmon and cod to rock fish, all delicious. Selection or beers that are brewed in Alaska is also very nice. All have a unique flavor and you should probably try them all, Alaskan Summer Ale was my favorite.


Halibut and chips	Selection of alaskan draught beers

We will be back!

Our trip to Alaska was a wonderful experience. An escape from a city life to small quite town surrounded by beautiful nature. Weather you are a mountain or ocean lover, Seward has both of them separated by a small cozy town. I strongly recommend it for everyone! We certainly will go back!


Cormorant and seagull	Kenaj fjords tour boat at Fox Island	Kenaj fjord national park

Bird view point at the Seward highway	Three window point	Seward

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honeymoon in Alaska - part 2

2011-08-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

Fishing in Seward

For everyone who likes finishing and for all who just enjoy being in a small but very busy fishing port, Seward is an excellent place. There is many sport finishing companies that will take you for whole or a half day fishing tour in the local fjords. We have not gone for a finishing tour but we have seen many times boats coming back to the port. If you happen to be in the Seward port around 6PM you will see big fish and happy fisherman all around. Most of people catch halibut, rock fish and various salmons. There are two fish cleaning spots in the Seward port and around those places people gather, hang the biggest fish that has been caught and take pictures. If you decide to go for one of these trips, you wont have to worry about anything else but catching the biggest fish you can. The rest will be done for you. Fish be will be cleaned, packed and frozen for you to take it home :-)

Exit glacier

Just few kilometers from Seward lies Exit glacier. It is not in a walking distance from Seward, but many companies are running shuttles that will get you to the glacier and after an hour pick you and get you back to Seward. Exit glacier is part of the national park and the park rangers make guided trips from the bottom of the hill to the glacier. It is fun to walk with a park ranger. They will tell you the history of the glacier, park and probably few stories about animal encounters. There are two two paths up the hill, both get you to the glacier. However, if you turn right then you get then faster and easier. On your way from Seward to Exit glacier or on your way back to town you should see marks of the glacier extent during different periods of time. You may be surprised how much did the glacier shrink during the last decades.

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why eggplant is called eggplant

2011-08-23T22:32:00.001-07:00

Eggplants name

Have you ever wondered why an eggplant is called like that? The most common is a purple eggplant, that despite being a fruit is eaten as a vegetable, and does not like an egg at all. However eggplant has more variaties of colors and shapes. A white eggplant is the one that suggests the origin of its name. White eggplant fruits look like goose eggs hanging from a bush.


Purple eggplant flowers	Purple, most commonly sold and grown eggplant.	White eggplant.

Eggplant facts

Eggplant originates from India and has been introduced to Europe by Arabs through Mediterranean region. Currently eggplant is cultivated worldwide with China being the main producer. Eggplant is the nicotine richest eatable plant. However, the amount is very small and 9kg of eggplants contain as much nicotine as a cigarette [1].

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underwater sculpture park

2011-08-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

Human made coral reef

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Underwater sculpture park crated by Jason deCaires Taylor near Grenada in Caribbean Sea has turned into an artificial coral reef. Since 2006 artist has collected many human depicting sculptures in a variety of installations. Water gives a unique experience since it constant movement and scattering of light give the viewer different perspective from many different angles. Sculptures are made from a material that has been chosen to be natural coral friendly. Since 2006 many of the sculptures have been naturally habited by corals and fish. The sculpture park lies in a clear and shallow water and is accesible for divers and snorkelers.

Similar projects followed in Cancun, Mexico and in a smaller scale in Canterbury, UK.

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honeymoon in Alaska - part 1

2011-08-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

Together with my wife, we decided to go for our honeymoon to Alaska. We got married in July so there was no better time to go there. We did not take a cruise but instead we decided to go to one town and spend a few days tere. We flew in to Anchorage, spent a night there and in morning we went to Seward.

From Anchorage to Seward

We decided to take a bus from Anchorage to Seward. After that we have been told that trip by train is much more scenic and one may spot an animal much easier. However, the bus trip is just fine. Although, one is on a highway, it leads between the ocean and mountains for almost the whole way. Bus ride takes about 3 hours. Highway from Anchorage to Seward is considered as one of the most scenic highways in the US. Part of the road goes through a dead forest, remnants of the forest killed by a salt water brought by a tsunami after a great earthquake in 1964. If you happen to drive the Seward highway, you will have many opportunities for birds and beluga whales watching.


Alaska dead forest. Residue of a forest killed and preserved in this form by the salty water brought to land by a tsunami wave.	Alaska railroad, train operating between Anchorage and Seward. Alaska railroad.	View from a bird watching point in the Seward highway.

Seward, Alaska

Seward is a town with population around 3000 people but during the summer number of residents grows to more that 10000. Main street leds from the Seward highway through a small boat harbor to downtown area. The bus and train arrive to Seward and depart from the neighborhood of the harbor. Most of the town life is concentrated around the harbor. There grocery store is hard to find and is located at the north of the town (about 15 min walk north from the harbor). Most of the attractions and turist companies are located in the harbor. Following the main street will lead to the southern part of the Seward, where downtown is located (about 15 min walk south from the harbor).


Sculpture on the main street of Seward.	Alaska flag designer, Benny Benson memorial stone.	Main street of Seward.

Kenai Fjords

Kenai Fjords National Park and Kenai Fjords Tours organize boat tours on the fjords. This is one of the biggest attractions. The tour takes whole day, starts in the Resurrection Bay and follows in the neighboring fjords. You will certainly spot many animals like orca whales, humpback whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters and various birds. Most of the tours will take you to glaciers and best spots for marine wildlife and scenery. Tours end on the Fox island where you will be served a steak and salmon "all you can eat" buffet.


Orca whale	Sea lions	Glacier

Puffin	Sea otter	View from Fox Island

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See also:

Honeymoon in Alaska - part 2

Honeymoon in Alaska - part 3

preface

2011-08-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

About the blog

Natural born explorers will be my page featuring things that are worthwhile seeing, things that are interesting and intriguing. If you like exploring, no matter big or small places, you may find something

for yourself here.

About me

My name is Marcin. I was born in Poland, after finishing school there, I moved to Denmark and studied there, now I live in the US and work as a researcher. By education I am a chemist, but my passion is nature in general. My goal for this page is to share my interest in traveling, nature stories, discoveries and much more. I hope you will find it interesting.

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