London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. Hopefully none of these bridges will fall down because they are just plain awesome.

1.) Henderson Waves Bridge (Singapore)

It seems as if Singapore has all the cool shit. They already have one of the coolest pools in the world and now they have this bridge. It is a 900 feet long pedestrian bridge and rises 118 feet above Henderson Road, the road it’s named for. The coolest part of the bridge is that at night, LED lamps light up the bridge, making it look golden.

2.) Aiola Island Brdige (Austria)

This is more than just a bridge. The Aiola Island bridge actually has a coffeehouse, a suntanning section and a bar. At night it glows a blueish-purple color. It was created by New York artist Vito Acconci.

3.) Gateshead Millenium Bridge (UK)

Opened in 2001, the Gateshead Millenium Bridge opens up whenever boats need to pass that section of the river. It can rotate 40 degrees in a matter of minutes (4 and a half to be exact). Due to the way it opens, it has been called the “Blinking Eye Bridge.” It won the Sterling Prize for best architecture in 2002.

4.) Øresund Bridge (Sweden/Denmark)

The Øresund Bridge connects Sweden and Denmark. Part of the bridge is actually underneath the water surface. You might think it was stupid to do so, but the reason behind the tunneling was to avoid interfering with the airplanes coming in and out of Copenhagen International. It’s the longest bridge in Europe.

5.) Langkawi Sky Bridge (Malaysia)

This bridge isn’t for the faint of heart. It is 410 feet long and 2,300 feet above sea level. The curves of the bridge allow for distinct view and panoramas. The only way to actually get to the bridge is by riding in a cable car up the mountain.

6.) Ponte Vecchio (Italy)

The Ponte Vecchio dates back to Roman times. It’s noted for having shops along it. The original shop keepers were butchers but now jewelers, souvenir shops and art dealers occupy the shops. During WWII, this bridge was spared by Adolf Hitler himself as the Germans retreated to Germany. Couples would put padlocks on various places on the bridge and then throw the key into the water, becoming eternally bonded.

Continuing on with more summer themed articles, these are definitely some pools you’ll want to jump into at some point in your life. Or you can stick with your rinky dink above ground pool or kiddie pool. It’s cool. We won’t judge.

1.) Golden Nugget

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

2.) Hotel Villa Mahal

Location: Kalkan, Turkey

3.) SkyPark at the Marina Bay Sands

Location: Singapore

4.) Park Hyatt Tokyo

Location: Tokyo, Japan

5.) Nemo 33 (World’s Deepest Indoor Pool)

Location: Brussels, Belgium

6.) The Joule

Location: Dallas, Texas

7.) The Keefer Suites Penthouse

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

8.) San Alfonso del Mar (World’s Largest Pool)

Location: Algarrobo, Chile

9.) Devil’s Pool (Victoria Falls)

Location: Zambia/Zimbabwe

If you think airport security is bad, then you just haven’t seen these 9 insane airports from all around the world. You’ll be happy that you’re going through the metal detector and not landing on a mountain.

1.) Barra Airport (BRR) – Scotland

This airport is located on the tiny island of Barra in western Scotland. There is no concrete runway. Instead, BRR is the only airport in the world to use a beach as a runway. The flights to and from the airport are scheduled to coincide with the tides. Because the airport is naturally lit, flights are only scheduled during the day and early evening. However, there are emergency flights that have flown at night. How do they light up the airport? Car headlights, of course. No, I’m not kidding. In order to keep people off the beach, they have a tight security system in the form of a sign that says “Keep off the beach. When the windsock is flying and the airport is active.” Like I said, VERY tight security.

2.) Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) – Sint Maarten

Princess Juliana Airport is on the island of Sint Maarten and is one of the busiest airports in the Eastern Caribbean; over 1.6 million passengers were handled by the island airport. The airport is notorious for its short landing strip, which has a length of only 2,180 m (7,152 ft). Meanwhile, other airports like JFK or Tampa International have runway lengths between 2,500 m- 3,400m (8,000-11,000 ft). For 747s and other larger aircraft, Princess Juliana is a dangerously short runway. To make the most of it, pilots have to fly at low elevation, sometimes only 30-60 ft above beachgoers. Sometimes, people like to hang on to the fence at one end of the runway when a plane’s engines are going and try to not get blown away. There hasn’t been an incident recorded at SXM yet, despite its runway.

3.) Courchevel Airport (CVF) – France

Courchevel is the name of a ski resort in France that is served by the airport. Remember how Princess Juliana’s runway is only 2,180 m (7,152 ft)? Well Courchevel’s runway is only 545 m (1,788 ft)! In order to compensate for the very short landing strip, the runway is on an 18.5% gradient to help the plane slow down. There are mountains everywhere and oh, if you mess up, there’s no “go around and try it again.” If there’s a mess up, it would be best to hold on to something sturdy and pray to Superman. Taking off at the airport is just as dangerous. Once you leave the runway, utilizing the 18.5% decline, there’s nothing but a steep cliff and trees. If the plane doesn’t have enough speed on takeoff, it’s very possible the plane could go down the cliff.

4.) Gustaf III Airport (SBH) – Saint Barthelemy

Ranked 3rd on History Channel’s Most Extreme Airports, Saint Barthelemy’s Airport is a treacherous one. In order to land, a pilot has to navigate a steep decline before hitting a runway that is 650 m (2,133 ft) long. The end of the runway goes straight into the beach and the water. Beachgoers lay out near the end of the runway (although not directly on the path of the runway). As the above video shows, it’s not easy to slow down after descending down a steep decline.

5.) Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) – Saba

At first glance, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport looks like someone put a runway the wrong way, but nope, it’s made to be that way. In addition to its short runway (396 m/1,300 ft), the runway is sandwiched between two steep cliffs that drop into the sea. One side of the runway also has mountainous hills. The location of the airport leads to the possibility that a pilot can overshoot the runway and plummet into the sea and cliffs below. However, there hasn’t been an incident at Saba recorded.

6.) Gibraltar Airport (GIB) – Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Airport has one of the most unique designs in the world. The runway extends out to the ocean but also crosses a 4-lane highway! Yes, Winston Churchill Avenue crosses the runway as the road goes into Spain. Whoever thought it’d be a smart idea to have a highway and runway intersect was clearly inebriated. Police and gates stop drivers from crossing the runway at the wrong time.

7.) Toncontín International Airport (TGU) – Honduras

Toncontín International Airport is not for the faint of heart. There was a small hill in front of the airport that required pilots to start descending, then fly back up over the hill, then back down to the runway. The hill was bulldozed but as the video suggests, landing at Toncontín International Airport is still just as difficult. At the end of the now extended runway, there is a small cliff that has traffic underneath. Sadly, there have many numerous incidents that have happened at TGU, resulting in the deaths of many. Because of that, it was ranked the 2nd most dangerous airport in the world.

8.) Matekane Air Strip (FXME) – Lesotho

The Matekane Air Strip is truly just that. It’s an asphalt runway that is the same length as the one at Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport. The runway is located at an elevation of 2,300 m (7,544 ft) and is used by charity organizations and anyone crazy enough to try to land here. The edge of the runway leads to a 600 m (2,000 ft) cliff. Taking off from the other side is almost impossible, so pilots take off toward the cliff. In fact, planes cannot gain enough speed to become airborne until they actually fall off the edge of the cliff.

9.) Tenzing-Hillary Airport (LUA) – Nepal

Rated as the most dangerous airport in the world, the Tenzing-Hillary Airport is named after the first two people to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. At an elevation of 2,800 m (9,100 ft), the airport is popular for people who wish to climb Mt. Everest. The runway is only 460 m (1,500 ft) long, and there is no go-around for a bad landing attempt. On one side is high terrain and on the other side is a 610 m (2,000 ft) drop. The elevation of the airport also makes for high winds causing problems to the smaller planes that frequent the airport. Cloud cover and inclement weather also make for a turbulent landing. The airport is only open during the day as there are no visual aids to help pilots land. To land here, you truly have to have skill.

The new year is about to start and New Year’s Eve is one of the most widely celebrated events across the world. Not everyone tunes in to watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, much to my chagrin; Dick Clark is awesome and it’s not officially the New Year until you see him. Other parts of the world have their own version of the “ball dropping” and others have completely different customs.

1.) Spain – Las doce uvas de la buena suerte

Las doce uvas de la buena suerte, or the 12 grapes of good luck, is a Spanish tradition. At the stroke of midnight, Spaniards eat one grape for each chime. Each grape is supposed to represent good luck for each of the months of the year. After all the intense partying, Spaniards wake up and have a traditional winter breakfast consisting of hot chocolate and pastries.

2.) Denmark – Chair jumping and dish breaking

If you like breaking things, then maybe Denmark is the place for you this New Year’s. When it nears midnight, Danish people prepare by standing on chairs. Once the clock turns over to the New Year, they jump off their chairs. Jumping into January is supposed to bring good luck for the upcoming year and repel bad spirits that may try to follow into the new year. The other tradition in Denmark involves breaking dishes on your friends’ doors. The more broken dishes you have on your front door, the more friends you have.

3.) Philippines – Circles

In the Philippines, there is an intense focus on all things round. They eat round fruits such as grapes and oranges, wear clothes with polka dots and other round patterns, and throw coins up in the air at midnight. The hope is that the round shapes will help bring wealth in the form of coins for the new year.

4.) Chile – The graveyard visit

In the city of Talca, Chile, the residents participate in a New Year’s Eve mass. Once the mass is over, the residents head to the graveyard, set up their chairs and wait for the stroke of midnight. Yeah, that’s right, they hang out in the graveyard to celebrate the New Year with those no longer with us.

5.) South American countries – Underwear

Many citizens of South American countries, notably Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, participate in wearing different color underwear for New Year’s Eve. Yellow underwear is worn for those wanting wealth and prosperity. Red underwear is worn for those looking for love in the new year.

6.) Greece – Vasilopita

In Greece, the traditional cake of Vasilopita is made on New Year’s. Inside of the cake is a coin or some other prize. The Vasilopita is then cut into slices and given to everyone in the house starting in age order from oldest to youngest. Whoever ends up having the coin in their piece of cake is supposed to have good luck and prosperity for the upcoming new year.

7.) Ecuador – Burning pictures and effigies

In Ecuador, locals fill the streets with pictures of last year and effigies. Once the clock strikes midnight, they set the pile on fire as a way to get rid of the past and move on with the new year.

8.) Austria – The Waltz

Austria has perhaps the most elegant New Year’s celebration. Once the clock strikes 12, every radio and television outlet in the country first plays the sound of the bell of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. After that, they proceed to play the classic The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II. Everyone in Austria waltzes in the streets and in their houses, all the while drinking in champagne and watching the fireworks in the sky.

Image Sources:

• Spanish grapes
• Circles
• Talca Graveyard
• Vasilopita
• Ecuador burning
• Waltz

Carly Blustein is the organizer and editor of Bloggin’ America, an interactive fiction project that aims to paint a portrait of the American landscape through unconventional group storytelling. Catch her on her personal blog.

I have made enough road trips in the United States to understand a thing or two about the American highway system. It is nothing more than an outstretched circus sideshow with each act trying to outperform the next in all directions. You know you’ve seen them. The weird statues on the side of the road in each state—desperately hoping you will decide to use their kooky attraction as a pee stop. Everyone wants to say they’ve been to the site of the “World’s Largest Tire” or the “World’s Largest Artichoke,” right? And there’s no way of proving that unless you take a gazillion pictures or buy a T-shirt. We hope you brought cash. Oh, but if you didn’t… we have an ATM placed in the lobby for your convenience! Yes, these sites feed off the weary travelers looking for a cheap (or sometimes not-so-cheap) thrill. Here are a few of my favorites.

1.) The World’s Largest Chair – Anniston, AL

Don’t get too comfortable in this not-so-La-Z boy. This 33-foot chair, the trophy winner among other chairs across the country and world who have vied for this title, was built in the 1980s as an advertisement for Miller’s Office Furniture Store in Anniston, AL.

2.) The World’s Largest Thermometer – Baker, CA

It’s hard to compete with the shimmering lights and buzz of the Las Vegas Strip. Being so close to Nevada in the Death Valley region of California, the town of Baker had to do something. This location was also chosen because it is the site of America’s highest recorded temperature to date: 134 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, CA, in 1913.

I don’t remember seeing this part on my trip, but apparently, a frying pan with eggs rests on a rock nearby as a permanent testament to the boiling heat of the local climate.

3.) Harold’s Auto Shop Dinosaur – Spring Hill, FL

This is a nod to my hometown—a wacky roadside truck stop as its own – Spring Hill, FL. We may be one of the most boring towns on the Florida map, but we do have something to offer the world: dinosaurs. Our little stretch of the U.S. 19 is home to two dinosaurs, approximately two miles from each other. The first is actually the shell of a functioning repair shop, formerly a gas station when it opened in 1964.

Its neighbor dinosaur is a bright pink dinosaur who serves no apparent function other than just being a dinosaur. Both are worth seeing if you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods.

4.) King of Kings Statue “Touchdown Jesus” – Monroe, OH

Jesus really was the jack-of-all trades. We all know about his magical stunts of walking on water and turning water into wine. But he was also a celebrated football player. Monroe, OH, chose to memorialize him for his sports achievements by erecting a 42-foot, roadside statue of him in a triumphant post-touchdown pose outside of Solid Rock Church on I-75.

Unfortunately, Jesus’s victorious moment was shattered when the statue was struck by lightning and caught fire on June 15, 2010. I was one of the lucky travelers to see the spectacle before it was destroyed.

5.) Foam Henge – Natural Bridge, VA

The area of Natural Bridge, VA, is what happens when a silly roadside attraction begets more silly roadside attractions and spawns an entire town of them. This dominates highway exits for several miles and typically leads to fast-food establishments and gas stations all catering to a miniature civilization of bizarreness.

Natural Bridge is home to, of course, the Natural Bridge. Don’t mistake this for the Natural Bridge National Monument in Utah. This one was formed after a cavern collapsed and left the small span of rock that stands there today. Somehow, thanks to no geological occurrence, this cavern collapse also led to the development of a toy museum, a haunted house, a wax museum, and Foamhenge.

Foamhenge is a full-size replica of Stonehenge made entirely of Styrofoam. This was designed by Mark Cline, a fiberglass sculptor, who we will discuss more in a minute. At first glance, you would think you were in England looking at the actual natural wonder Stonehenge.

6.) The Town that Time Forgot – Glasgow, VA

Speaking of dinosaurs and speaking of Mark Cline, he also designed a dozen of fiberglass dinosaurs who are inhabitants of “The Town that Time Forgot.” A real-life Jurassic Park, this town is just your typical middle-America-kind-of-town – plus dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus Rex now stands beside the BP gas station, a Pterodactyl perches atop the hunting supply store, and a Triceratops guards the Mom & Pop Restaurant and Hotel.

7.) World’s Smallest City Block – Dothan, AL

I didn’t know how legit this was until I saw it posted as an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. No larger than a tombstone, this tiny, gravel triangle includes all the components of a city block— a mulch median, intersecting street signs, a stop sign, and a yield sign. This gives a whole new, less impressive meaning to your grandparents’ claim of walking “ten blocks” to school in the snow.

8.) World’s Largest Turtle – Dunseith, ND

What do you do with 2,000 car wheel rims lying around in your garage? Well, build a turtle, of course! In 1982, George Gottbrecht faced that dilemma and decided to create the W’eel Turtle, in honor of the famous Turtle Mountains State Park. Best time to visit is Christmastime when the turtle dons a Santa hat. I can’t think of anything more festive than an enormous metal turtle celebrating the holiday season!

Bloggin’ America is about Ami Rehnquist, a 14-year old that has lived in the small town of Sweet Home, Oregon, all of her life. She, along with the rest of her family members, have never seen any part of the country outside of Oregon. A spontaneous idea takes flight when her family decides to leave all of their everyday possessions and obligations behind for a year as they move into an RV and visit every state. Take the journey with Ami as she posts continuous updates of her trip. The story cannot be told without the readers who help create it — readers like YOU! Follow her activities through her blog or on Twitter. Give her recommendations for places to eat/visit in the states of your hometown.

There’s thousands of cultures all around the world, yet there is one thing that can unite them all – food. Who doesn’t love food, especially at restaurants that offer a unique experience? Here are 8 restaurants that are truly unusual around the world.

1.) Yellow Treehouse Restaurant

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

The restaurant started as an ad campaign for Yellow, the New Zealand version of the Yellow Pages. The objective was to build a restaurant using only materials from the company’s directories in a redwood tree. The restaurant was open from December 2008 to February 2009 but it is now being considered for use in private parties and events. 5,000 people are still on the waiting list to get a chance to eat at this beautiful treehouse.

http://www.yellowtreehouse.co.nz/

2.) Modern Toilet

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

This bathroom themed Taiwanese joint is all the rage. The seats are actually toilet bowls (unused, of course) and all the food is served in toilet bowl shaped dishes. Even the drinks are served in mini urinals. The walls have showerheads built in and the ceiling has plungers that hang. The biggest hit at Modern Toilet is the chocolate ice cream served in one of the toilet bowl shaped dishes. There are currently 12 locations with plans for more in Malaysia and Macau.

http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/

3.) Dans le Noir?

Locations: Paris, London, Moscow, Barcelona, others

Dans le Noir? offers a truly unique dining experience. After enjoying a cocktail in the lit bar and lounge (and placing your order), you are escorted to your table by a blind waiter. The room is completely pitch dark and nothing that can potentially bring light is allowed (such as cell phones or cameras). The object is that since you cannot see, your other senses are heightened, allowing for a different and unforgettable dining experience.

http://www.danslenoir.com/

4.) Dinner in the Sky

Location: Belgium/Anywhere

This high-flying restaurant lifts you 150 feet in the air. The table can fit 22 people and three staff in the middle (chef, waiter, entertainer). It can literally be taken anywhere the crane can fit. There have been dinners over Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve, over soccer matches in Australia, and even near Big Ben in London. You can even rent a second platform for a band! While you might be paying a pretty penny to rent this aerial dinner for 8 hours, it may be worth it to dine with a view unmatched.

http://www.dinnerinthesky.com/

5.) Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

Location: Rangalifinolhu, Maldives

This undersea restaurant is a stunning beauty. Located in the Hilton in Maldives, this restaurant offers guests an amazing “fish-eye’s” view of the Indian Ocean. Only 14 people can be seated in this small restaurant, and expect to pay some big bucks ($120-150 per person), but the view may be one you wouldn’t get to see during any normal circumstances. Ithaa is 15 feet below the surface and in a coral reef, no less. Wonder if you get to pick your food?

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

6.) NINJA New York

Location: New York City, New York

At NINJA New York, you get served and waited on by ninjas. At any moment in this dark restaurant, they could pop out and refill your drink or get a utensil for you. Even going to the bathroom could lead to surprises. There are no requirements to be a server/ninja here; they will put you in a ninja course to learn how to be more ninja-y.

http://www.ninjanewyork.com/

7.) Alux Restaurant & Lounge

Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico

At Alux Restaurant & Lounge, you actually eat and drink inside of a cave. The cave has different areas for the actual restaurant, the bar, dance floor, and the lounge. The stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated in different shades of yellow, blue, violet and pink, among others. Sometimes there’s even live music at Alux.

http://www.aluxlounge.net/

8.) Heart Attack Grill

Locations: Chandler, Arizona & Orlando, Florida

This hospital themed eatery can’t be accused of false advertising. Besides burgers and fries, the grill sells Jolt Cola and no filter cigarettes. Oh, and the fries are deep-fried in lard. The biggest burger on the menu, the Quadruple Bypass Burger, contains 2 pounds of beef, four cheese layers, and 12 slices of bacon for a whopping 8,000 calories. Any customer that weights over 350 pounds can eat for free.

http://www.heartattackgrill.com/

First known as EarthViewer3D, Google Earth officially came out in 2005. Since then, the program has upgraded from low resolution blurry images to the extremely high resolution images. In fact, the images are getting so clear that on the closest zoom, you can almost read the street signs. Here are just 7 images that have been found on Google Earth.

1.) Put it away Earth!

2.) Dude, where’s my fighter?

3.) Hippos gathering in Africa

This photo was taken as a part of a collaboration between National Geographic and Google to produce high-res images of Africa.

4.) WW2 Bomber

5.) I found a parking spot!

6.) Traffic Accident in Baghdad

7.) Elephants in Africa

All images courtesy of Google Inc.

Here at The Blogington, I feel as if there’s not enough articles about travel and since winter is approaching (in the Northern Hemisphere) and temperatures are plummeting, there’s no better time to introduce the 5 hottest places on earth. If you’re in the winter spirit, please read the 5 Coldest Places on Earth. We’ll start with “coldest” place and warm up from there. Bring your sunblock!

5.) Timbuktu, Mali – Highest Temperature: 130.1°F (54.5°C)

Timbuktu is one of the most famous places in Africa. The city was historically a trading outpost that connected many people from all over the known world. It’s also a themed area at the Busch Gardens theme park. Living here is rough, as the temperature only goes down, on average, to 55°F in the winter months! Despite the extreme heat, Timbuktu is not even the hottest place in Africa.

4.) Kebili, Tunisia – Highest Temperature: 131°F (55°C)

Slightly hotter than Timbuktu, Kebili is actually an Oasis in the harsh African deserts. The city was once under control of the famed Roman Empire. Kebili actually ties with the next place for highest temperature ever recorded. What’s there to do in Kebili? Well you can harvest dates. Kebili is known for having some of the best quality dates in the world. So while you get your tan in Kebili, go and grab a date or two to replenish your body fluids before you pass out, please.

3.) Ghadames, Libya – Highest Temperature: 131°F (55°C)

Sweating yet? Ghadames is another oasis in the middle of nowhere. The city’s houses resemble those seen on Tatooine in Star Wars. The city has been around since the 6th century, when Christianity was the dominant religion in town. In order to avoid the brutal heat and to avoid sand monsters, the people build their houses out of lime, palm tree trunks, and mud. This is supposed to help with the heat and cool off the interior. Ghadames also holds the distinction of being of UNESCO Heritage Site, an honor it shares with Timbuktu.

2.) Death Valley, California – Highest Temperature: 134°F (56.7°C)

An empty place with a scary name. Death Valley is the hottest, driest and lowest elevated place in North America. Sounds great, right? There’s not much across Death Valley. There is a National Park that is home to many exotic species like the roadrunner. If you think you can handle the heat, it’s not only the thing you have to contend with. At night, Death Valley can easily go below freezing. Besides, who wants to live at a place called Death Valley. Not appealing for block parties.

1.) Al’Aziziyah, Libya – Highest Temperature: 136°F (57.7°C)

Al’Aziziyah is hot. Very hot. It has the record for having the highest recorded temperature ever on September 13, 1922. If you want to get a quick tan, or lose a couple pounds quickly, this is your place. Just think, you wouldn’t need any kitchen items. You can just go and put some eggs on the sidewalk, and cook them there. You could also start a solar energy company there too, if you didn’t get heat stroke first. Despite the temperatures, over 300,000 call Al’Aziziyah home. Bring your sunglasses.

Image Sources:

• Death Valley by Jim Gordon