The World’s Inaccessible Monasteries

Monasteries are usually located in remote places far from the hustle and bustle of cities and towns. It takes more than a mild determination to reach them, but some of these are deliberately almost inaccessible. The idea was to keep all but only the most dedicated followers from reaching these holy sites; while in the midst of peace and solitude, they also make the monks feel like they are closer to God and Nature. Today, however, most of these monasteries have become tourist attractions. And in favour of the tourists, several accessible methods like ropeways and stairs have been added. They still look stunning as they still require hundreds of metres of vertical trekking. Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

The Metéora (Greek for “suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above") is a group of six monasteries and one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. The six monasteries, built on natural sandstone rock pillars, are one of the most powerful examples of the architectural transformation of a site into a place of retreat, meditation, and prayer. The monasteries are built on rock pinnacles of deltaic origin, known as Meteora, which rise starkly over 400 m above the Peneas valley and the small town of Kalambaka on the Thessalian plain. During the fearsome time of political instability in 14th century the monasteries were systematically built on top of the inaccessible peaks so that by the end of the 15th century there were 24 of them. They continued to flourish until the 17th century. Today, only four monasteries — Aghios Stephanos, Aghia Trias, Varlaam and Meteoron — still house religious communities.

Access to the monasteries was originally and deliberately difficult, requiring either long ladders lashed together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. This required quite a leap of faith – the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only "when the Lord let them break". In the 1920s there was an improvement in the arrangements. Steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau.

Taung Kalat Monastery, Burma The monastery of Taung Kalat is located on a top of a volcanic plug that rises 737 metres from the surrounding in central Burma (Myanmar) about 50 km southeast of Bagan, and near the extinct volcano Mount Popa. The monastery can be accessed  by exactly 777 steps and those who reach the top are rewarded by a spectacular view.

To the north-west opens a view to distant temples of Bagan, and to the east is towering the forested Taung Ma-gyi summit. There is a big caldera, 610 metres wide and 914 metres in depth so that from different directions the mountain takes different forms with more than one peak. Many Macaque monkeys live here that have become a tourist attraction on Taung Kalat.

Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan

Taktshang monastery, also known as The Tiger's Nest, is located on a precipitous cliff about 900 metres above the Paro valley, in Bhutan. The rock slopes are extremely steep — almost vertical — and the monastery buildings are built into the rock face. The scenic monastery complex has access from several directions, such as the northwest path through the forest, from the south along the path used by devotees, and from the north. A mule track leading to it passes through pine forest that is colourfully festooned with moss and prayer flags. On many days, clouds shroud the monastery, giving it an eerie feeling of remoteness.

Sümela Monastery The Sumela Monastery is built into the rock cliffs of the Altmdere Valley in Turkey. At an altitude of about 1,200 metres it is a major tourist attraction of Altındere National Park. The monastery was founded in 386 AD during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I (375 - 395). Legend has it that two priests undertook its creation after discovering a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain.  During its long history, the monastery fell into ruin several times and was restored by various emperors. It reached its present form in the 13th century after gaining  prominence during the reign of Alexios III.

The monastery was abandoned after World War I and the start of the population exchanges between Greece and Turkey that forced some 2 million ethnic Greeks and Turks to leave their long-established communities in Turkey or Greece and return to their ethnic homelands. It lay empty for decades before being partially restored and returned to life as a museum.

Hanging Monastery, China The Hanging Monastery or Hanging Temple is located in a canyon at the foot of the Mountain Heng in the province of Shanxi, China. The temple is built into the cliff side about 75 meter above the ground, and stands propped up by hidden rocks corridor and wooden beams inserted into the mountain. Over 40 halls, cabinets and pavilions within an area of 152.5 square meters are connected each other by corridors, bridges and boardwalks.

They are evenly distributed and well balanced in height. Inside the temple are more than 80 bronze cast statues, iron cast statues, and clay sculptured statues and stone carvings banded down from different dynasties. The temple was build to avoid the terrible flood, and use the mountain as protection from rain, snow and sunshine. Today, it is one of the main tourist attractions and historical sites in the Datong area.

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Largest Funerals in History

Some people touch us in amazing ways. And when they pass, their funerals become a public affair where the masses, who have often only seen them on TV, show an outpouring of emotions. Occasionally around the world, there are those whose funerals bring millions onto the streets to mourn. Here are the largest ones. Enjoy

1. Princess Diana

 Princess Diana was known as the Princess of the People. The world was shocked by her sudden death and in the UK she turned overnight from an oft ridiculed Princess, into a national heroine. The funeral of Diana was held in London on September 6th 1997. The procession drew an estimated three million mourners, who lined the streets of London to pay homage to their Princess.

2. Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna was a racing driver who is regarded as the greatest by many of his peers. He was much more than that as his death showed. Senna’s death was considered a national tragedy by his many Brazilian fans. In fact, after his death the country had three official days of mourning. It is estimated 3,000,000 people crowded onto the roads of Sao Paulo to pay their respects. He was a true hero to the people of Brazil.

3. Michael Jackson

We have had a Princess and a sports star. Another category of people idolized in the modern world is pop stars. None have ever been bigger than Michael Jackson. His funeral was private and attended by the family. However, the service was broadcast live around the world. The roads in LA were closed as his body traveled to the Staples Center to be laid to rest. Nearly a million fans congregated outside the center to pay their respects.

4. C.N. Annadurai (Anna)

Indian people can be among the most fanatic in the world. In 1969, it is estimated that between 10-15 million people came onto the streets to watch the funeral of C. N. Annadurai – a similar amount to which live in greater New York. I can believe the only time it may be beaten is when cricket legend Sachin Tendaulker dies. This leader and revolutionary is more commonly known as Anna (which means elder brother in the Tamil language).

5. Pope John Paul II

Religious followers are very devout. The pope is considered the manifestation of God on earth and so their passing away is considered cause for pilgrimage. Between 2-4 million people are estimated to have attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in Rome on April 7th 2005. That is more people than you will usually find cars on the roads of Italy’s capital city. It was a great showing of the power that religion still shows in the world nowadays.

6. Kim Jong-il II

Sometimes you have no choice but to attend a funeral. In the winter of 2011, aged 69, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack. He was given a three hour funeral procession led by a limousine bearing a massive painting of Kim Jong Il beaming away. Millions of North Koreans crowded onto the streets to mourn. His coffin was covered in a red flag and beautiful white flowers – as it passed by soldiers struggled to keep mourners from pouring out onto the road. Or perhaps they were in fact poking them to make them cry for the cameras.

7. Umm Kulthum

A true idol of the Arab world passed away on February 5th 1975. A crowd reported to be in excess of 4 million people came out to watch the funeral procession of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in Cairo. She was a songwriter, singer and actress who had touched many hearts. In fact, more than 30 years after her death the whole Arab world still regards her as the most elegant and famous Egyptian singer of the 20th century. Her memory holds a large place in people’s hearts and minds

8. Victor Hugo

Perhaps the most beautiful example of a big funeral belongs to that of Victor Hugo. Not a celebrity as we know in the modern world, he did however touch many people’s hearts with the beautiful words that he wrote. Between 2 and 3 million people gathered to attend the funeral of Victor Hugo in Paris. Victor Hugo was a poet, author and more – he was a celebrity of the 19th century. A multi talented man, his best known works are the novels Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and the now long lasting musical, Les Miserables.

9. President Nasser

Egyptians certainly like to celebrate the death of loved ones, one can say. The crowd which came to Cairo for the funeral of Egyptian President Nasser on October 1st 1970 was also estimated at a staggering 4 million people. President Nasser had led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, removing the reigning King and bringing about a new era of industrialization in Egypt. As leader of this revolution, he was a hero to many in Egypt and they turned out in force to mourn his death.

10. M.K Gandhi

Many people remember him as the “Great Soul”. In January 1948, another multi-million person funeral was held when over 2 million people gathered to attend the funeral of Gandhi. We know Gandhi as the leading political and spiritual leader of his time and he was also thought of as India’s Father of Independence. His passion was what inspired movements for freedom and civil rights across the world and has made him an unforgettable historical figure.



Princesses, sports and pop stars, political personalities, poets, revolutionists, dictators we're all going to die. Some, though, get a HUGE funeral after departing. All you need to do is make the masses fall in love with you. Failing that, just make sure that those around you have reasons to love you and you can have your special sending away. The only thing we leave behind after this short journey is the impact we make, what we have added to this world. While you're still at it, decide what you would like people to say about you at your funeral and embody it.


Aspire to Inspire before you Expire.

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Morsimeter Says He's No Leader

I keep repeating that I'm transcending politics and that I will not write about it but I honestly fail to completely detach. I would have loved to be with all my brothers and sisters back home in those historical times of change, but for the moment I have nothing to offer but my humble words. For the first time I'm publishing an Egyptian politics-related article and I hope you like it.

Morsimeter Says He's No Leader

The Year's Best Inventions (2012)

A Drifting Fish Farm   $750,000 (estimated)

Kampachi Farms, a mariculture company in Hawaii, is devising a way to meet our insatiable desire for sushi with a farming method that has near zero environmental impact. By filling 100-ft. (30 m) copper-alloy mesh cages with fingerlings and letting them drift, tracked by GPS, in deepwater ocean, the company hopes to harvest thousands of tons of sustainable sashimi-grade kampachi. In 2011 it tested 20-ft. (6 m) pens 3 to 75 miles (5 to 120 km) off Hawaii. After six months, they yielded 10,000 lb. (4,500 kg) of kampachi, which grew twice as fast as expected.

Bahar Towers   $245 million

 In Abu Dhabi, where temperatures peak at well over 100°F (38°C), keeping buildings cool is a challenge. Al Bahar Towers feature a facade with intricately designed shades that open and close in response to the sun, reducing heat gain by more than 50%. Using less air-conditioning helps reduce the towers’ carbon emissions by an estimated 1,750 tons per year.

Baxter   $22,000

Conventional industrial robots are scary behemoths, but Baxter is a new breed. The latest brainchild of celebrity roboticist Rodney Brooks, who helped invent the Roomba, Baxter is built for light repetitive tasks like packing and sorting. And it’s cheap enough and user-friendly enough—look at that face—for small outfits that otherwise couldn’t afford a robot worker.

Body Armor for Women   $555

Women are not small men. Finally realizing this, the U.S. military is testing body armor designed expressly for a woman’s body. Current designs are too loose and too long, leaving gaps that might make some women more vulnerable to bullets and shrapnel. Even a men’s extra-small is too big for 85% of female troops. The 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade will test the new armor during an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

The original version of the article has been updated to reflect the fact that the current designs of the armor provide protection for men and women against gunfire fragments; the new version provides a better fit.

Bounce Imaging   $500 (estimated)

 An MIT student and an Army Ranger have come up with a way to provide first responders with the kind of technology elite SEAL teams have. To give firefighters and cops a full picture of a burning building or a hostage situation, the baseball-size orb is tossed into the area. Its six cameras snap pictures while its sensors detect air quality, temperature, radiation and other hazards. It then beams the data to mobile devices.

The Civilization Starter Kit   Free

 Marcin Jakubowski built a tractor in six days. Then he told the world how to do it: he made the designs, the budget and an instructional video available free online. A farmer and technologist and the founder of Open Source Ecology, Jakubowski has identified the 50 most important machines required for modern life—from the soil pulverizer to the oven—and is working to make a prototype of a low-cost DIY version of each so that anyone anywhere can build them. “If we can lower the barriers to farming, building and manufacturing,” he says, “then we can unleash massive amounts of human potential.”

The Curiosity Rover   $2.5 billion

NASA had visited Mars but never like this. Curiosity, which landed in Gale Crater in August, is a 1-ton, SUV-size Mars car with more scientific instrumentation—10 times as much, by weight—than ever sent to the Red Planet before. But it was how it got there that really made the machine sublimely cool: the rover was lowered to the ground on cables by a hovering capsule, touching down balletically in preparation for two years of exploration.

The Deepsea Challenger Submarine   $8 million

Better known as the submarine designed by filmmaker James Cameron, the 12ton, 24-ft.-long (7.3 m) Deepsea Challenger reached the oceans’ deepest point—about 7 miles (11 km) below the surface—in the western Pacific in March. Built to withstand 1,000 atmospheres of pressure (or three SUVs sitting on your toe), the sub is equipped with digital 3-D cameras and structured with a vertical axis meant to accelerate its descent.

Eliodomestico Solar Water Distiller  $50

Freelance designer Gabriele Diamanti created this solar-powered distiller for use in coastal areas in the third world that are deprived of freshwater. It is half as expensive and 67% more efficient than existing models, and his hope is that local manufacturers will adopt the open-source design and mass-produce it for local populations.

OraQuick Home HIV Test  $40

With just a swab of saliva and 20 minutes, OraQuick can identify the antibodies that signal HIV infection. It’s the first DIY test for HIV—the same one that health professionals use but without the trip to a doctor’s office or the need to wait days for results. The kit includes a 24-hour help line and resources for dealing with a positive result.

Enable Talk Gloves   $75

Four Ukrainian students have created gloves that allow speech- and hearing-impaired people to communicate with those who don’t use or understand sign language. The gloves are equipped with sensors that recognize sign language and translate it into text on a smart phone, which then converts the text to spoken words.

Google Glass   $1,500

Glass is, simply put, a computer built into the frame of a pair of glasses, and it’s the device that will make augmented reality part of our daily lives. With the half-inch (1.3 cm) display, which comes into focus when you look up and to the right, users will be able to take and share photos, video-chat, check appointments and access maps and the Web. Consumers should be able to buy Google Glass by 2014.

Indoor Clouds   Not for sale, maybe?

That’s not Photoshop. The Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde has developed a way to create a small, perfect white cloud in the middle of a room. It requires meticulous planning: the temperature, humidity and lighting all have to be just so. Once everything is ready, Smilde summons the cloud out of the air using a fog machine. It lasts only moments, but the effect is dramatic and strangely moving. It evokes both the surrealism of Magritte and the classical beauty of the old masters while reminding us of the ephemerality of art and nature.

LiquiGlide  25¢ per bottle (estimated)

Five MIT students and their professor Kripa Varanasi have come up with a way to make a surface that anything will slide off—from ketchup out of bottles to ice off airplane wings. The plant-based product, LiquiGlide, adds a microscopic slippery coating to almost any material—glass, ceramic, metal or plastic.

The MakerBot Replicator 2   $2,199

Download or create a design, hit Print, and watch as this sleek, desktop-size 3-D printer extrudes ultra-thin plastic layers, each melting into the one below to create an object—or, if you want, hundreds of copies of it. The latest model from Brooklyn-based MakerBot prints bigger, faster and more precisely than its predecessor. And with more-intuitive software and no assembly required, the upgraded Replicator means that anyone’s home can become a mini factory.

NASA’s Z-1 Space Suit   Classified

The biggest thing NASA’s first space suits had to do—aside from keep astronauts alive—was to look spacey. So ordinary test-pilot suits were simply redesigned in a nifty silver. Things are harder now as the U.S. prepares for new deep-space missions. The Z-1 space suit provides go-anywhere garb featuring more-flexible joints, radiation protection for long stays in space and a hatch on the back that allows the suit to dock with a portal on a spacecraft or rover so an astronaut can crawl through without letting dust in or air out.

Nike Flyknit Racer   $150

By knitting thread into a single layer to fit around your foot—instead of cutting and sewing together multiple materials—engineers at Nike not only made this sneaker lighter (just 5.6 oz., or 160 g) but also gave it a precision fit: the weave alternately grips and gives despite the absence of liners or reinforcements. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, with less waste left on the factory floor.

The Motion-Activated Screwdriver     $40

The sensors found in smart phones and Nintendo Wii controllers have migrated into Black & Decker’s cordless 4v MAX Gyro, billed as the world’s first motion-activated screwdriver. Tilt it right by a mere quarter of an inch and it screws clockwise to tighten; left, and it turns counterclockwise—all thanks to an internal gyroscope that senses wrist motions, which are measured by a small microprocessor that turns those movements into changes in the drill’s speed and direction.

Self-inflating tires   $200 each (estimated)

 As soon as the pressure in these Goodyear tires (which don’t have an official retail price yet) gets too low, they know it. An internal pressure regulator opens to allow air to flow into a pumping tube, and as the wheel turns, the flattened part helps squeeze air from the tube through an inlet valve into the tire. Once the air pressure hits an optimal level, the regulator closes—all without the driver’s realizing anything was wrong.

Sony RX100 Digital Camera   $649.99

Digital cameras have been getting smaller and more capable every year, but that trend took a huge leap forward in 2012 with the Sony RX100, which bridges the gap between point-and-shoots and pro-quality digital SLRs. Sony’s innovative design and 1-in. (2.5 cm) sensor allow the camera to take flawless photos even though it’s 20% slimmer than your average digital SLR—small enough to fit in your pocket.

The Switchblade Drone   $40,000–$150,000 (estimated)

At 2 ft. in length and weighing 6 lb. (60 cm, 2.7 kg), the Switchblade drone can be carried into battle in a backpack. It’s a kamikaze: the person controlling it uses a real-time video feed from the drone to crash it into a precise target—say, a sniper. Its tiny warhead detonates on impact. In effect, it makes fighters in the field their own air support.

Techpet   $59.99

Remember Tamagotchi? A new toy from Bandai, the company that gave us that classic virtual pet, goes even further. Download the TechPet app, dock an iPhone in the robotic doggy frame, and turn your phone into the cartoon face of a canine that’s eager to be fed via touchscreen. This puppy even recognizes gestures and verbal commands via the phone’s camera and microphone.

The Tesla Model S   $49,900

This electric four-door sedan has the lines of a Jaguar, the ability to zip for 265 miles (426 km) on one charge—that’s the equivalent of 89 m.p.g. (2.6 L/100 km)—and touchscreen controls for everything from GPS navigation to adjusting the suspension. Tesla is building a network of supercharger stations—six are open so far—so owners aren’t tethered to their home port.

Element 113   $3 million

After nine years of work, a team led by Kosuke Morita at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science in Japan has created three atoms of the highly unstable superheavy ELEMENT 113. As yet nameless, it has an enormous nucleus containing 113 protons and 165 neutrons.

Wingsuit Racing   $600–$2,000 per wingsuit

Flying humans wearing batlike suits competed in October in the first ever Wingsuit Flying World Championship in China. Participants descended from 5,000-ft. (1,500 m) cliffs, glided through a valley course and eventually parachuted down, covering about 3⁄4 of a mile (more than a kilometer) in about 30 seconds. The winner: South African Julian Boulle—one of just 20 people currently qualified to compete—who finished in 23.41 sec., a world record.

As seen on Times.com


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