Air Traffic Over the World

Map of the World Fair

That would look like a world map if the area for each country is distributed according to population. This should be carried one condition: the whole country habitable. See the picture in full size.

World’s Top Ten Friendliest Countries

01. Ireland

Centuries of turmoil, conquest, famine and subsequent immigration  have certainly taken their toll on the Irish: it’s left them with a deliciously dark sense of humour and a welcoming attitude towards strangers. That famous ability of the Irish to find craic (fun times) in boom or bust times means you’re always in for a treat.
Here is the list of top ten friendliest countries of the world, after the break...

02. Samoa

What’s this? Samoa reckons they have ‘the world’s friendliest people’? Hmmm, trouble is there’s no ratifying body for such a claim, meaning the Samoans have to contend with the challenge of Fiji, which also self-applies the title. Though readers can rest assured that Samoa harbours lovely and warm people.


03. United States

Blamed for the coming of World War III, the Anti-Christ, Bon Jovi, Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson, rampant street crime and noise pollution through overloud talking, Americans just take it all in their stride. Americans may be patriotic and love their country but they’ll invariably welcome you and help you get the best out of the United States.

04. Malawi

Whereas other African nations are beset by tribal war and fighting, Malawians describe themselves as ‘the friendliest people in Africa. Anyone who’s visited will know that the rare (for Africa) cohesion of the country’s ethnic groups is solid evidence for this, as is the people’s propensity to welcome you into their homes as well as their nation.

05. Fiji

Fijians have got plenty to smile about lush islands, kaleidoscopic reefs, cobalt sea, a wealth of marine life, world-class diving, romantic coastlines, awesome cuisine and they love to spread the love around. Fijians have a rep for helping all travellers feel welcome, thereby allowing you to uncover the best from this sprawling group of islands.

06. Indonesia

It’s hard to make generalisations about a country that contains so many different cultures still, a cliché you’ll hear often is that Indonesian people greet foreigners with open arms. Fact is they do, but the media limelight is stolen by the knack of their law-enforcement officers for welcoming drug dealers and bomb makers in an altogether different ritual.

07. Vietnam

Vietnam’s another country inextricably caught up in Western images and stereotypes: napalm death; tormented American soldiers; assassins hiding in the rice fields. But Vietnam put all that behind it a long time ago and is now on a drive to become the new ‘Asian’ tiger economy.

08. Thailand

Southeast Asia’s most-visited country is bound to offer up a welter of stereotypes and clichès. Here are some of them: dazzling islands and beaches; lush and balmy weather; great shopping and great food; the ‘France of Asia’. The Thai people’s gracious hospitality does indeed take some beating.

09. Scotland

Scotland’s becoming the destination for visitors to the British Isles, winning out over London. The Scots have survived English invasion, brutal weather and the pain of having the world’s worst goalkeepers. This fighting spirit against insurmountable odds has left them with an extroverted, buoyant demeanour and a blackly humorous nationalism.


10. Turkey

It’s a shame that for such a long time the Western world’s image of Turkey revolved around the drug-smuggling film Midnight Express. Thankfully, we can report the Turkish people actually have an unsurpassed reputation for hospitality. With their heavenly cuisine, dreamy coastline and historical sites, the Turks know there’s no reason to be secretive.

Via Link

Traditional masks — Iranian Women

Ostovar - 55 years, 8 children, housewife. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Despite the fact that many eastern women say they wear their hats with masks because of religious concepts, this tradition came long before the rise of Islam. Rural populations in the southern part of Iran said that this tradition of referring the Koran, but its origins seem to go far in the nomadic period in this region, where both men and women wore hats and masks to protect people from sun and strong desert winds. More after the break...

This tradition has survived, and today in rural parts of Iran, as well as in Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia can still see these masks. Usually in such regions girl hiding from the groom their faces behind a mask until the wedding. Men here do not wear masks, but women, especially the elderly, still revere the tradition.

Roja - 12 years old, wears a mask whenever he wants.

Roya has no mask.

Fatemeh - 50 years, 11 children, a homemaker, wears a mask only to protect the skin.

Fatemeh same time without the mask.

Ostovar that was the first photo. It has three different masks.

This Ostovar without a mask.

Zeinab - about 60 years, 10 children, 6 of whom died, a homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Zeinab - about 60 years, 10 children, 6 of whom died, a homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Gohar - 26 years, two children, a homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Zobeida Ostovar - 30 years old, 5 children, homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Zobeida Ostovar - 30 years old, 5 children, homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Fatima - 65 years, 6 children, selling tobacco on the market. Wear a mask for religious reasons.

Mashad flights - 55 years old, 6 children, sells tobacco in the market. Wear a mask for religious reasons.

Gohar - 20 years, 1 child, a homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Armaneh - 35 years old, 5 children, homemaker. Wear a mask for religious reasons and to protect the skin from the sun.

Alemeh - 40 years, selling scarves on the street tray.

The Most Unusual Buildings Around The World

1. The public library in Kansas City, USA

All the buildings reflect the desire of their creators. The builders have stepped away from the ordinary standard of architecture, we can say that these prominent structures are among the unique treasures of the world, which transmit the bizarre sense of uniqueness, which shows contemporary exotic forms of external and internal design and permissible visionary architect. More images after the break...

2. Atomium in Brussels, Belgium

3. Milwaukee Art Museum (Museum of Art, Milwaukee). Milwaukee, USA

4. Church of hallgrimur (Lutheran Church) in Reykjavik, Iceland

5. Longaberger Basket Building. Newark, USA

6. Wonder works. Pigeon Forge, United States

7. Another upside-down house (Upside down house) in Shimbarke, Poland

8. Crooked house. Sopot, Poland

9. Tenerife Auditorium. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

10. Bull ring. Birmingham, United Kingdom

11. La Tete au Carre in Nice, France. Inside is a library

12. Eden project. Britain

13. Snail House in Sofia

14. Edificio mirador in Madrid

15. Nautilus house. Mexico

16. Calakmul building - a building in a giant washing machine. Mexico

17. The residential complex Habitat-67. Montreal, Canada

18. Montreal biosphere. Montreal, Canada

19. Olympic Stadium in Montreal

20. Lotus Temple. New Delhi, India

21. Wooden skyscraper in Arkhangelsk. Demolished in 2009

22. Stone House (Stone house) in Guimaraes, Portugal

23. Mammy's Cupboard. Natchez, USA

24. National Library, Minsk

25. Cubic houses. Rotterdam, Netherlands

26. Casapueblo. Maldonado, Uruguay

27. Library of Alexandrina. Alexandria, Egypt

28. Cathedral of Brasilia (Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida) - Catholic cathedral in the capital of Brazil - Brasilia. Serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Brasilia

29.

30. Denver Art Museum - Denver Art Museum

31. Graz Art Museum - Museum of Arts in Graz, Austria

32. Le Palais Ideal (Ideal Palace) in Hauterives, France. Built usual French postman Ferdinand Cheval enthusiast for 33 years (1879-1912).

33. Casa Battlo Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona

34. The National Stadium in Beijing

35. National Theatre in the same

36. Museum Ripley's Believe It or Not! near Niagara Falls in Canada

37. Palais bulles in Cannes

38. Experience music project. Seattle, USA

39. Back view

40. Skyscraper Gherkin building in London or cucumber

41. Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea

42. Dynamic Tower in Dubai. Tower, whose every floor is moving on its own axis, independently of the others. The first building that can change its shape. Still under construction.