Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone

Gone to God

You already know I have a thing for WebUrbanist, and from them I found Opacity which concentrates on "ruins" - love it! they recently posted the video on Michigan Central Station, and a couple of days ago this post on Abandoned churches
These churches and chapels can range from a small single room to vast spaces with multiple levels, and sometimes encompass a school, convent, or rectory. Many can be found at psychiatric hospitals, which often catered to all different faiths. Most of these structures hold extravagant details in their woodwork, stone, or massive pipe organs, and the abandonment of this craftsmanship is often astounding.
Check out the photos on the site, especially the one in Detroit with the cupola and mezzanine floor.

This is from the chapel of the Chateau de Mesen, an abandoned castle in Lede, in Flanders, in Belgium.

Winter wonderland

As the Northern Hemisphere shivers in a wintery blast, it nice to appreciate what their cold weather can achieve - like snow sculptures.

Here herds of galloping stallions emerge from banks of snow, and life size blue whales roll over the icy surface. The fluidity of these sculptures create a stunning illusion of motion.

One of my favourite buildings

In terms of the grandiose abandoned buildings, Detroit's Michigan Central Station is up there. It's amazing that I did my first post on it Abandoned in America nearly 2 years ago - December 28 2007. Recently Opacity added this page on the MCS with a video of the station just before it was abandoned.

Long live the Book

Came across this YouTube video brought out by New Zealand's Book Council, again someone with a lot of time & patience created this.

Maurice is regarded as the Kiwi's major contemporary fiction author.

Down with Canberra

Interested to see the website for the HMAS Canberra, which was sunk off the coast at the beginning of October.

Everyone has to wait to dive it till ParksVictoria deem it has settled sufficiently & is safe. But will express my interest to the dive group for a weekend away!

The secret's out

A little 'Noah Wyle', but a lovely idea.

Surviving Samoa

I watched the first episode of Survivor Samoa on TV on Tuesday night. Looks like it was filmed on the island of Savai'i with the blow-holes & black lava rock beaches.

Not sure I'd want Russell on my team.

This photo is of Papapapai-Tia Waterfall, the tallest in Western Samoa.