Fox Glaciers, New Zealand

Fox Glacier is New Zealand’s largest commercially guided glacier, situated in Glacier Country, on the West Coast of the South Island, only 21 km’s south of Franz Josef.

It offers a range of activities — snow walks, aerial flights — similar to that of Franz Josef. Unlike most of the world’s glaciers, Fox has been advancing since 1985 and, as of 2006, was moving at a rate of one metre per week.

As one of the most accessible glaciers in the world, tourists can walk right up to the terminal face free of charge to see the glacier, you can walk to the terminal face, arrange an ice-hiking adventure or book a sightseeing flight.

Source: Wayfaring

Kelimutu Mountain

The island of Flores, east of Java and part of Indonesia‘s Lesser Sunda islands, has many claims to fame. For one, it is a home of indigenous giant rat and dwarf elephants. For another archeologists recently unearthed the remains of ‘real-life hobbits‘, a race of people that only averaged a height of 1 m and a possible predecessor of the pygmy. Kelimutu Mountain is one of the best places in the world to watch the sun rise. Three volcanic crater lakes sit at its peak, and, because of the unusual geochemical conditions, the water in the lakes changes color. Photo by: Jano “Square”

At the far west the Lake of Old People has blue water, next to it the Lake of Young Men and Maidens has green water and sitting beside that is the red water of the Bewitched Lake on the southeast site of the volcano. Over time, the water changes color due to fluctuating acidity levels – what might was green one day, may be coffee colored, black or bright blue on another day. Streaks of minerals deposits leak into the lake and provide more colors. Photo by: Miepke

Visitors have to get up in a very early hours of the morning to drive up the mountain and walk the final step to the top, but it’s worth it. Watching the sun rise over an ethereal scene in the barren volcanic moonscape, with the painted pools of water behind, is an extraordinary experience. Some people say they should be on the list of the Wonders of the World. You can certainly sit for hours and enjoy the view.Photo by: inparadiso

Source: Wayfaring

Floating Swimming Pool

In 2004 Berlin added a new attraction on the Spree River. This attraction is a stunning art installation with a floating swimming pool attached to wooden decking at the water’s edge. The people in Berlin fell in love with it, a permanent pool that is even covered during the winter, is home to a bar and stays open until midnight. The whole structure looks fantastic, especially at night, and is a reminder that a small amount of creativity can go a long way.

The attraction is called Winter Badeschiff, designed by local artist Susanne Lorenz. Today the structure offers a pristine 8 x 32 meter pool. Resting almost level with the Spree’s surface the design gives one the sensation of swimming in the river itself with the city skyline as a dramatic backdrop.

An open-air recreational complex in the warm months, the curving translucent shelter and saunas were added just last December, under the direction of architect Gil Wilk, making the Badeschiff suitable for winter use.

Source: Wayfaring