Wild Earth Wednesdays - Aokigahara Forest

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays

Aokigahara Forest

Due to Halloween coming up, we focus on a CREEPY destination for this week's Wild Earth Wednesday!  Aokigahara is a forest in Japan near Mt. Fuji.  It has some appeal to tourists due to to its ice caves, but its true appeal is with something else.  Aokigahara Forest is apparently the most popular place in Japan to commit suicide, which is already kind of a problem.  Japan actually has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and it has been rising over the past two decades.  This has been explained due to a culture with a lot of work related stress.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="617" caption="Notice how it got much worse in the late 1990s."][/caption]

The forest has seen over 500 suicides in the past 60 years, making it one of the most popular suicide destinations in the world.  This started because of some mythology surrounding the place relating to demons. There is even a sign out front that reads ""Please reconsider" or "Please consult the police before committing suicide."

Wild Earth Wednesdays - Blood Pond Hot Spring

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays

Blood Pond Hot Spring

This week we look at Blood Pond Hot Spring in Beppu, Japan. These hot springs obtain their natural red color from the iron and minerals in the water. The spring’s water is heated due to the geothermal heat coming from underground. Although the area has many hot springs, I do not believe this one is open for swimming in. Especially given the dangerous temperatures it can reach.

It was originally believed that the spring obtained the red color from someone pouring in a few packets of Kool-Aid powder. This has since been disproven as the pitcher has not been seen in the area. OH YEAH!

-Jason of TWiBT

Wild Earth Wednesdays - Blobfish

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays

Blobfish

Normally, the Wild Earth Wednesdays series covers locations, but we at TWiBT appreciate all of the wonderfully bizarre things this Earth has to offer.  We cannot stress BIZARRE more than ever with this week's post!  Behold one of the world's most beautifully hideous creatures on Earth...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="421" caption="The Blobfish"][/caption]

This cartoonish-looking fish lives in the deep ocean, near Australia.  Its gelatinous flesh is less dense than water, allowing it to float around and blob all day, or whatever it feels like doing down there.  There's not a ton known about it or how it eats or mates (if you can bear the thought).

My guess of how it eats is that it swims around with its mouth open.  Then, when small fish look at it and stare at how horrifying it is (kinda like how you stared at the photo for a few seconds thinking "WTF?"), blobfish swims up and scoops the bewildered fish into its mouth.

Check out some more Blobfish footage:


-Jason of TWiBT

Wild Earth Wednesdays - Astana, Kazakhstan

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays

Astana, Kazakhstan

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Bayterek Observation Tower"][/caption]

My favorite destinations in this world are those in which you can see other cultures coming together. For example, in Turkey, you can see where European culture blends with Middle Eastern culture. For this week’s destination, we take a look at Astana, Kazakhstan, where Russian culture blends with Oriental for a unique result. This Eurasian city is no longer covered with dull grey Soviet-style buildings, it is undergoing a massive transformation into the 21st Century.

Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan is undertaking some interesting architectural projects. The two chief architects of the project embody the clash of Eurasian culture. Architect Kisho Kurokawa worked towards developing a more organic and somewhat avant-garde approach, while the new architect Vladimir Laptev is attempting to appeal more to the European palette. This is probably why there are now many TV advertisements to “Visit Kazakhstan” airing in parts of Europe and the Middle East. Whether you are looking to use some frequent flyer miles or you are passing through Kazakhstan on the Mongol Rally, be sure to check out some of these incredible structures.

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Inside Khan Shatyr"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="KazMunayGas - Kinda looks like Atlantis in the Bahamas"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Ak Orda Presidential Palace"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Nur-Astana Mosque"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Palace of Peace and Reconciliation"][/caption]

-Jason of TWiBT

Wild Earth Wednesdays - Ayutthaya, Thailand

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays

Ayutthaya

 

About 50 miles north of Bangkok is the ancient capital, Ayutthaya. This former trading hub in Asia had even become the most populated city on Earth as recent as 1700, with roughly one million people living there.

The pictures alone show the historical beauty of this place!











Check it out on your next trip to Asia!

-Jason of TWiBT

Wild Earth Wednesdays - L'Anse aux Meadows

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays

A look into the most bizarre, unique, interesting, and wild places on Earth!

L'Anse aux Meadows

 

French name, Norse buildings, Viking settlement…you’ll have to fly to Europe right?  Wrong!  L'Anse aux Meadows is in Canada, in Newfoundland!  It is widely accepted as the only site in North America of a European settlement before Chris Columbus landed here.  How much earlier were Vikings here?  Almost 500 years earlier!  Kinda puts all the Christopher Columbus stuff you learned in school in the garbage can.  I’m thinking we should replace Christopher Columbus Day with “Viking Day.”  Either way, you’ll have much to see should you ever choose to visit.  Take some pictures and then send them to your old history teacher!  Planning to go there, use your Chase Sapphire points to enjoy some free travel!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Norse Boat"][/caption]

-Jason of TWiBT

Wild Earth Wednesdays - Aurora Borealis

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays!

A look into the most bizarre, unique, interesting, and wild places on Earth!

Aurora Borealis

I've discussed how you can go to Alaska for free in a previous posting, so you're probably wondering where in that massive state to go!  I wrote about my fascination with Northern Alaska.  Depending on when you visit, you should check out the aurora borealis.  Basically what is happening is that atoms and energetic particles are colliding in the atmosphere (that's the simple explanation).  Whatever the full explanation is, you can't help but be in awe of this other-worldly sight!











Still curious on what causes the Aurora Borealis, watch this:


So go ahead and go to Alaska for free!  Consider finding some alternative accommodations in Alaska, since hotels can be kinda pricey and not very conducive to the Alaska experience.

-Jason of TWiBT

Wild Earth Wednesdays - Aral Sea

TWiBT Presents

Wild Earth Wednesdays!

A look into the most bizarre, unique, interesting, and wild places on Earth!

Aral Sea

My first exposure to the Aral Sea came from the Russian film Igla and seeing this scene of the guy climbing up a boat in the middle of a desert.  I soon figured out that it was not originally a desert, but rather a dried up sea.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Al Gore would not be pleased."][/caption]

If the "sunken ship" isn't enough of a clue, take my word for it that this desert was once underwater.  Not millions of years ago, but as recently as the late 20th Century.  It was a massive body of water called the Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world.  Due to REALLY REALLY REALLY bad irrigation.

The Russians in all their infinite wisdom decided to divert the two rivers that fed into the Aral Sea for irrigation use on cotton farms in Uzbekistan.  Because of this Uzbekistan is now one of the largest producers of cotton, but was it really worth it?  The area now suffers from a ton of pollution as well as a changed climate.  Because of a lack of fresh water the nearby residents suffer from lung cancer, tuberculosis, anaemia, and problems with liver, kidney, eyes, and digestion.  Kinda defeats the purpose of having the world's coolest playground to play on real sunken ships (without getting wet).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Lol, we worry about monkey bars being unsafe."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Russian Bounce House"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Fishing trip gone bad."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Aral Sea marine life."][/caption]

 

-Jason of TWiBT