Cameroon: La Nouvelle Liberte

La Nouvelle Liberte is a piece of artwork in the city of Douala. Joseph-Francois Sumegne created it in 1996. Sumegne is a native of Cameroon and created the La Nouvelle Liberte, a 12-meter-tall sculpture entirely made of scrap metal. It is located in the middle of one of the busiest roundabouts in the city of Douala. The artwork is supposed to represent the culture of contemporary art but the has been nicknamed Njo Njo of Deido which means the evil or the monster of Deido because of the local protests by local media stations and native people towards the sculpture. These protests led to attacks and vandalism against the sculpture because the artist that created the sculpture was from the western part of Cameroon. In 2007 the sculpture was donated to the  Municipality of Douala. The latter funded a pedestal for the sculpture where which the sculpture stands today.

Cambodia: Kbal Spean

 

Kbal Spean or “Valley of a 1000 Lingas” is an archaeological site on the southwestern slopes of the Kulan Hills. This site has numerous rock relief carvings within the sandstone formations along the river bed and banks. The carvings are believed to be from the Angkorian era. Cambodia's Angkorian period lasted from the 9th to the 15th century but these specific paintings were probably created around the 11th to 12th century and made by hermits that lived around this area.  Most of the paintings depicted at Kbal Spean are of Hindu gods including Shiva and Brahma. Kbal Spean did not become an archaeological site until 1969 by Jean Boulbet but was cut off from research during the Cambodian Civil War which started in 1967 and ended in 1975. Kbal Spean was once again reopened for research in 1989 as well as being deemed safe for visits from the general public, to this day you can visit and see all of these beautiful pieces of ancient artwork when visiting Kbal Spean.

Cape Verde: Tarrafal Concentration Camp

 

Tarrafal Concentration Camp is a former concentration camp in the village of Chao Bom which is located in the city of Tarrafal. It was established in 1936 as a place for Portuguese political and social criminals to be held. Tarrafal is known because there were 37 different political prisoners that were killed in this prison. 34 of them were Portuguese citizens and could nor have their bodies returned to Portugal until after the revolution in 1974, there was one casualty from Angola and two from Portuguese Guinea. Following the revolution of Portugal the concentration camp closed and was no longer operational and is now a museum that travelers and locals can visit to explore the history of the prison and the revolutionary war in Portugal.

Cote d'Ivoire: La Pyramide

 

La Pyramide Is a high rise building in the country of Cote d'Ivoire in the plateau district of Abidjan. Abidjan is the largest city within the country and is home to most of the skyscrapers in Cote d'Ivoire. Construction of the building started in 1968 and was completed in 1973. The architect was an Italian man by the name of Rinaldo Olivieri. His design inspiration for La Pyramide was to capture the African market within an urban setting. In 2011 there was a renovation to La Pyramide just to keep up to date with regulations and standard changes. La Pyramide is one of the most famous buildings with the city of Abidjan due to its unique shape and design but is still mostly unknown to the rest of the world and is a wonder to see with your own eyes. 

Burundi: Chutes de la Karera

 

Chutes de la Karera is a natural beauty in the southeastern part of Burundi. The Chutes de la Karera are a set of four waterfalls near the town of Rutana. In May of 2007 it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and there is a plaque right next to the Nyakazu Fall portion of Chutes de la Karera. The four different falls within Chutes de la Karera are Nyakai i, Nyakai ii, Mwaro Falls, and Nyakazu Falls. The best way to access Chutes de la Karera is by car but you will have to park your car right next to Nyakai i and then walk along to see the rest of this beautiful natural wonder called Chutes de la Karera.

Burkina Faso: The Domes Of Fabedougou

 

The Domes Of Fabedougou are a group of withered rock within the village Fabedougou. It is located in the south west region of the country of Burkina Faso. The region is believed to be about 500,000 years old while the sandstone that makes The Domes Of Fabedougou is about 2 billions years old. Even though it is so old the sandstone looks very young for its age geologists experts say. They are preserved with numerous ripples as well as some dunes that were made from the ancient wind and water that was once in that area that can be seen in The Domes Of Fabedougou.

Bulgaria: Prohodna

 

Prohodna is located in the north central part of Bulgaria in Iskar Gorge close to the village of Karlukovo. Prohodna is a Karst cave this means that it was formed through the dissolution of soluble rock. The cave is distant because of the two eye shaped holes in the top portion of the cave. The cave is 860 feet or 262 meters long making it the longest cave in Bulgaria. The cave has a small entrance and a big entrance. The two holes in the ceiling of the cave is a great place for bungee jumping adventurous but if you are not as thrill seeking the 2 entrances are the best ways to access the cave to see inside.

Brunei: Tea Pot Roundabout

 

TeaPot Roundabout is a very interesting sight in the country of Brunei. I think that this is one of the most unique attractions that  I have written about so far due to it literally being a one of a kind sight. It is just a roundabout in the country of Brunei that has a sculpture of a Teapot. This roundabout is located in Jalan Pandan Lima Kuala Belait Brunei if you want to visit and see this amazing sight and even drive around the roundabout. The tea pot is most known around Brunei as a landmark throughout Burundi.

Brazil: Cachoeira da Fumaça

 

Cachoeira da Fumaça also referred to as smoke falls or glass falls is one of the most undiscovered and beautiful waterfalls in the amazing country of Brazil. It is the second tallest waterfall in the Atlantic Rainforest with a total of 340 meters. The tallest waterfall on the Atlantic Rainforest is the Cachoeira do Araca which is only 13 meters taller than the Cachoeira da Fumaça. I choose to write about Cachoeira da Fumaça instead of the tallest waterfall on the Atlantic because of its remarkable beauty and resemblance of smoke instead of water due to the mist from the waterfall. You can find Cachoeira da Fumaça in the Chapada Diamantina region of Brazil which is most commonly associated with adventure and thrill. If you are visiting that area of Brazil and want to take a minute from the adventure to witness an incredible waterfall than I highly recommend Cachoeira da Fumaça. 

Botswana: Manyana Rock Paintings

 

The Manyana Rock Paintings is a set of paintings and caves that are located in the Kolobeng Hills. The Kholikhoi and the San People between the years of 1100 AD and 1700 AD. The paintings are split up into five different sections. Manyana Rock Paintings is considered a national monument in the country of Botswana. Most of the paintings illustrate mammals but the mammals only have 2 legs. Some of the other paintings depict plants or completely abstract sketches. Experts think that the paintings were created by witch doctors as part of their religious activities. Rock paintings are very rare in the country of Botswana so The Manyana Rock Paintings are a very important research site for archaeologists and historians of Botswana culture.

Bosnia And Herzegovia: Štrbački buk

 

Štrbački buk is a 25 meter tall and 40 meters wide beautiful waterfall on the Una river. Štrbački buk is the largest waterfall on the Una river. The Una river is commonly rafted and this waterfall is currently on the rafting trip route. There are three different drop offs in the Štrbački buk waterfall. The easiest access to view Štrbački buk is by car on a 8km unpaved road. Some other attractions near Štrbački buk are local swimming sports on the Una river. Further upstream from Štrbački buk are a few other beautiful waterfalls on the Una river.

Bolivia: Laguna Colorada

 

Laguna Colorada is located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve which is close to the border of Chile. It is a shallow lake that is completely made with salt water, The lake contains borax islands which are white which makes the reddish color of the water contrast with each other to create a beautiful scenic natural area. The only wildlife that can be found at Laguna Colorada are three different types of flamingos, the pluma flamingo which is the most popular species that can be seen, but sometimes there are Andean Flamingos or Chilean Flamingos at Laguna Colorada. There is also a snow capped volcano surrounding the lake to add on to the very beautiful and unique landscape of Laguna Colorada.

Bhutan: Punakha Suspension Bridge

 

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• Punakha Suspension Bridge is a beautiful 520 foot (170-180 meters) long suspension bridge connecting Punakha Dzong to Shengana, Samdingkha, and Wangkha villages across the Tsang Chu River. Many of the locals believe that the bridge was built by a Buddhist monk. This suspension bridge is the longest in the country. The bridge is always covered in beautiful prayer flags all throughout the bridge. Most of the prayer flags are for the Buddhist religion. The bridge offers amazing views and stunning photo opportunities that you can not see anywhere else in the world. 

Benin: Door Of No Return

The Door Of No Return is a very sad and very emotional monument in Benin. The arch is set up on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean where back in the day European traders took the African people and loaded them on to ships to become slaves. The Arch in the shape of a door is to represent the African people leaving there homeland forcefully knowing that they will never be back home. There were numerous different designers and artists all from the country of Benin involved in this monument which I think is very special because it memorializes the suffering that their ancestors had to go through during the Atlantic Save Trade.

Belize: Barton Creek Cave

 

Barton Creek Cave is a unique case because it is an archaeology site as well as a beautiful tourist destination. It is located in the Barton Creek near the Cayo District and San Ignacio. There is an amazing amount of evidence that says that the Mayans use to frequent this cave a lot. Pottery have been found throughout the cave demonstrating that Mayan life was once in this particular cave. Other evidence that the Mayans were once at Barton Creek Cave was due to the fact 28 human remains have been found in the cave making some to speculate if this cave was once home to human sacrifices. There is also the Barton Creek that runs throughout the cave.

Belgium: Jeanneke Pis

 

Jeanneke Pis is a modern fountain in Brussels, Belgium depicting a little girl squatting and peeing into a well. The sculpture was commissioned in 1985 and was finished being built in 1987. The sculpture was intended to be a counterpart to one of the most famous fountains in Brussels, Manneken Pis which is the same concept but it has a boy peeing instead of a girl. The girl is hidden in a alley north of the Grand Palace, and on the east side of Fidelity Alley. Once you do find the girl you will notice that she is behind bars because of vandals. Make sure you do drop some loose change into the fountain though because all of the money is donated to the cancer research charity in Brussels. 

Belarus: Mound Of Glory

 

Mound Of Glory is a monument in Belarus that is roughly 21 km from Minsk, Belarus on the Moscow Highway. The memorial is a complex where soviet forces stayed during the Operation Bagration in World War Two. The memorial is to celebrate soviet soldiers that fought in World War Two and to honor the liberation of Belarus. Construction of the monument began in November of 1967 and was finally completed in 1969. In 2004 the monument did have a restoration to the structure and monument itself. This year the Independence Day of Belarus was celebrated at Mound Of Glory. The best way to view this amazing monument is through one of the Mound Of Glory tours offered at the monument.

Barbados: Animal Flower Cave

 

Animal Flower Cave is the only accessible sea cave in all of Barbados. It is located under the cliffs at North Point St. Lucy, Barbados. The cave was first discovered in 1780 by 2 English explorers. There is a coral floor of the cave that is estimated to be 400,000 to 500,000 years old. The dating process was done by the German Geological Institute. There is another chamber of the cave called the Swimming Pool. It is a completely clear and still water that does not perceive depth so it looks really shallow but in reality it's very deep. I hope everyone that reads this blog will get the opportunity to check out this amazing place in Barbados

Bangladesh: National Martyrs' Memorial

 

National Martyrs’ Memorial is a national monument dedicated to the lives lost during the Bangladesh War Of Independence in 1971.  You can find this memorial in Savar which is roughly 35 km north-west of Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka. It was designed by Syed Mainul Hossain. Syed is one of Bangladesh’s best designers and has worked on countless other amazing landmarks in Bangladesh. The memorial is 150ft high or 45.72 meters tall. With 7 pairs of triangular prisms going in shortest to tallest order. This is to represent the 7 major events in Bangladesh's history that eventually led to their independence.

Bahrain: Durrat Al Bahrain

 

Durrat Al Bahrain is one of the largest artificial islands in Bahrain; it lies 40.5 km south of the capital or about 25 miles. There are 18 different golf courses on the island and an amazing 5 star hotel. The Durrat Al Bahrain project was a joint venture between the Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain a real estate company in Bahrain and also Tameer one of the leading developers within the region. Construction started on Durrat Al Bahrain in 2004 costing almost 1.3 billion dollars US to complete. Durrat Al Bahrain truly is an example of the future in real estate because now you can create islands instead of just having to find them on your own.

Bahamas: Harbour Island

 

Harbour Island is one of the most beautiful parts of the Bahamas because of there unique pink sand beaches. It is located on the eastern Atlantic side of the Bahamas. It gets the pink color due to the microscopic insects called Foraminifera. The insects have a pink shell causing the pink sand. Unlike most beaches with the hot unpleasant sand underneath your feet at Harbour Island has very comfortable and cool sand because of the pink color nor drawing as much heat to the sand. The beach is pretty much endless with up to 100 feet wide (30.48 Meters) and over 3 miles long (4.8 Kilometers).

Azerbaijan: Mini Venice

Mini Venice is a very small park located in Baku that was created in the 1960s and was expanded in 2012. Mini Venice has 2 large islands and several small ones spanning all around the park, This park is kind of like another city within a city because of the different landscaping and architecture. This is why it is referred to Mini Venice because it looks almost identical to Venice, Italy. There are also venetian boats that you can ride along throughout the park. It is one of the most relaxing and peaceful places to take your friends or family to within Baku.    

Austria: The Graz Art Museum

 

The Graz Art Museum also referred to as Kunsthaus Graz is an art gallery and museum located in Graz, Austria. You might be wondering why a random gallery is such an amazing and interesting thing you must visit while in Austria. It is one of the coolest designed buildings. The design was created by Colin Fournier in 2003. The Graz Art Gallery is known mostly due to the arectiture and building design but you can also see some amazing examples of modern art. There are no permanent displays so each time you visit you are destined to find and see new art. I think that this is one of the main reasons it is a great secret destination in Austria.

Australia: Wave Rock

 

Wave Rock is a totally natural rock formation that also goes by the name of Katter Kich by the Noongar. The wall is roughly 110 m or 360 ft long plus being 15 m or 49 ft high it is a very unique and amazing rock formation that everyone should definitely see in their lifetime. It was a natural rock formations that was formed in august 21 1996. Some of the rock formation contains rock that was 2.63 million years old. This means that the rock in that formation was around when the dinosaurs were around.

Google Earth Link:

https://earth.google.com/web/@-32.4437816,118.8977037,318.10743945a,874.95141749d,35y,0h,45t,0r/data=ClcaVRJPCiUweDJhNDlmNzIzYWYxN2U0ZjU6MHg4ZDMzYWEzMDYzMjIxODU0GYVI4dXNOEDAIeI_OPpzuV1AKhRBdXN0cmFsaWE6IFdhdmUgUm9jaxgCIAEoAjInCiUKIwohMTZVNUdtQjZ4aVFqMHl5LTEzamthTWVJd1ZhXzVKcEd6

Armenia: Cascade Complex

 

The Cascade Complex is also known as the Yerevan Cascade is a giant staircase that is completely made out of limestone. There were three different architects that were responsible for this Armanian gem. Construction started on the Yerevan Cascade in 1971 but it was only partially completed in 1980. At the bottom of the Cascade is a garden with a beautiful fountain in the middle and numerous sculptures and art surrounding the garden area. The Cascade is connected to the Cafesjian Museum of Art. At the top of the Complex you can see some beautiful views of the city and the natural beauty of Armenia.

Google Earth Link:

https://earth.google.com/web/@40.1911065,44.5156219,1034.29906223a,784.24411229d,35y,0h,45t,0r/data=ClsaWRJTCiUweDQwNmFiZDIxOGMwNDk5Zjc6MHg1NDE2NWU4YjNkMGI1NGMzGcnGgy12GERAIfrM_uX_QUZAKhhBcm1lbmlhOiBDYXNjYWRlIENvbXBsZXgYAiABMicKJQojCiExNlU1R21CNnhpUWoweXktMTNqa2FNZUl3VmFfNUpwR3o