A BUILDING IN HUMAN FORM

You can journey through a giant human body. You can see, feel and hear how the human body works.
CORPUS, a museum in the Netherlands, is a 35-meter high transparent building in human form. The building, at Oegstgeest 35 kilometres southeast of Amsterdam was opened in 2008. Visitors walk through the figure and view the entire body through organ theatres, such as the beating heart, the sneezing nose and the brain.
Corpus is the dream of businessman Henri Remmers and is designed to educate visitors about all aspects of human health in a manner appropriate for children.
The steel framework has been tailor made around the emergency stairs in the torso of the body and has stabilising rings at each level. It's construction was completed in March 2008.
Photo by Pedro
CORPUS Museum website.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia is fear of Friday the 13th

Some people are afraid of Friday the 13th. This is weird but it is true.

The ancient origins of this irrational fear are cloaked in mystery but it is said that 21 million people in America today still modify their behaviour around the belief that this day is bad. They do not drive, or leave the house, definately do not go to a restaurant and never invite 13 people to a dinner party. Some, for reasons I do not understand, will not change their bedsheets on this day. Why is 13 bad luck? and why is Friday and this number combined even worse?...
 

The earliest siting of the number 13 being significant is a cave drawing dating back 27 thousand years. It depicts a goddess who carries a horn with 13 distinct notches in it. Because of lack of written evidence we can only surmise what this means. Both the Vikings and the Hindus believe 13 to be an unlucky number. The ancient egyptians associated the number with death and the afterlife.

 

 

Many hotels do not have a floor numbered 13. According to the bible there were 13 people at the last supper. The list goes on and on but there is not much concrete evidence in my opinion. Do people who have this phobia have other superstitions? Are they religious? I would love to know. Feel free to post a comment.

Festival of Liars

The International Liar's Festival in Moncrabeau, South France is held early every August. Storytellers, boasters and braggers spin their yarns in turn and the winner of the tallest tale is crowned.

The Academy of Liars was established in this town in 1748 and it's officials, who swear to parody the truth, are the judges of the competition.

When:1st Sunday in August, 5 euros to enter. Tourist office of Moncrabeau 47600 MONCRABEAU Tel. 05.53.97.24 .50 - Fax 05.53.65.67 .74

THE UNDERGROUND MOTEL

When visiting White Cliffs in NSW Australia you can stay at the Underground Motel with it's 3 star AAA rating, swimming pool, great restaurant, bar and conference rooms.

This part of north eastern New South Wales is unique not only for opal mining but as 150 of it's residents live under the ground where it stays around 22 celsius all year round, day and night.  

White Cliffs Motel. Photo thanks to Trip Advisor

Summer temperatures in Australia’s outback can be in the 50s (Celsius). The outback has many areas of opal mining, such as that of Coober Pedy and White Cliffs. Because of the mining, people live in this intense environment underground.
In fact, many old opal mines were converted into dugout homes, those of which maintain a cool and comfortable temperature year round. Continue


An opal mine in Coober Pedy outback NSW

What can you do when visiting the area: "Travel back in time and discover the secrets and history of this unique town. Fossick for the elusive opal, inspect the solar power station, sleep above or underground, visit the showrooms and galleries, be inspired by the sunsets and night sky." White Cliffs Opal Field