The Dead Cities of Syria

Syria continues to be in the news as its government persists in its use of violence to crack down on protests inspired by the Arab Spring. It is the latest of many upheavals the country has been through since its formation as a state. In the northwest of the country are reminders of past turmoil and upheaval. Over 700 abandoned settlements bear the collective name The Dead Cities of Syria.

The 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty

On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland. Oct. 28, 2011 marks the 125th anniversary of the dedication. Take a look back at the history of the statue and all “the lady” has seen in her 125 years.

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The Statue of Liberty is seen through fog prior to the start of the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty ceremony on Liberty Island on September 22, 2011 in New York City. The 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty is to be celebrated on October 28th, 2011. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Photographs by Ali Ertürk

Bridge, Istanbul 

The Beauty of Kenya in 50 Tropical Photos

author: serhatdemiroglu

World Luxurious Trains Of India

As we know that world full of luxurious thing like plain to mobile phone but may you never hear about luxurious train. India designed a world most luxurious train. We have all seen terrible old trains from India, but the have the luxurious also… Reserved for special passengers… Meet the Maharajas Express, the most luxurious train in India. A joint venture between Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Cox & Kings, Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd (RIRTL). is the official operator of Maharajas Express, the latest luxury train in India. Billed as one of the most luxurios train in the world and India’s answer to the Orient Express, this train offers 4 signature journeys to the guests across major tourist destinations in India. A ride on board the Maharajas Express is the costliest luxury ride in India. Here we have different views of train you can see in train.

 

Remarkable HDR Architecture Photography By Marc

 

Sukkot: A celebration

Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, is a Biblical holiday celebrated in late September to late October. The holiday lasts seven days. The Sukkah is a walled structure covered with plant material - built for the celebration - and is intended to be a reminiscence of the type of dwelling in which the Israelites stayed during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the exodus from slavery in Egypt. Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the Sukkah and many sleep there as well. On each day of the holiday, members of the household recite a blessing over the lulav and etrog (four species). The four species include the lulav (a ripe green, closed frond from a date palm tree), the hadass (boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree), the aravah (branches with leaves from the willow tree) and the etrog (the fruit of a citron tree.) -- Paula Nelson (29 photos total)

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child walks over palm fronds to be used to build a Sukkah hut, in Jerusalem's religious Mea Shearim neighborhood, Oct. 6, 2011. The palm branches are used as the roof of a temporary house called a "Sukkah" which is built and lived in during the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot. (Bernat Armangue/Associated Press) 

Libya: The End of Qaddafi and the Fall of Sirte

Muammar Qaddafi has been killed in fighting in Sirte, according Libya's National Transitional Council. Anti-government fighters had been closing in on Qaddafi's final stronghold in Sirte, and reportedly attacked a convoy carrying the former leader today, capturing him. Qaddafi was apparently alive at the time, but died soon afterward. The uprising that began in February and built to an armed revolution has now claimed control of the country, the death of Qaddafi, and the capture of one of his sons today. Collected here are images from Sirte over the past ten days, and of the events surrounding the death of Qaddafi. See also How Qaddafi Fooled Libya and the World by Max Fisher. [39 photos]

 

 

A tattered banner depicting Muammar Qaddafi hangs from a building during a street battle in the center of the city on October 12, 2011 in Sirte, Libya, eight days before the reports of the death of the former leader. National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters say this is the final assault on Muammar Qaddafi's home town as they captured the main hospital, university and the Ouagadougou Conference Center. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) 

Wonderful Japan

Japan is not only the 2nd largest economy in the modern world, but it is also very famous for its unique cultures, arts and architectures as well. In the collection below, you will find stunning photos about many familiar images of Japan such as Geisha, Torii gates, cherry blossom (sakura) … from macro shots to landscape images.

Art in All of Us... Photographers Anthony Asael and Stephanie Rabemiafara. Part 2

Together with Malagasy photographer Stephanie Rabemiafara, I have visited ALL 192 UN recognised countries..... and taken over 160,000 pictures in the last 3-4 years. I have therefore still a huge amount of work to upload the best images.

If you look something in particular, please contact me at anthonyasael@gmail.com

By buying pictures you are helping children programs of Art in All of Us 

 

Art in All of Us... Photographers Anthony Asael and Stephanie Rabemiafara. Part 1

Together with Malagasy photographer Stephanie Rabemiafara, I have visited ALL 192 UN recognised countries..... and taken over 160,000 pictures in the last 3-4 years. I have therefore still a huge amount of work to upload the best images.

If you look something in particular, please contact me at anthonyasael@gmail.com

By buying pictures you are helping children programs of Art in All of Us (www.artinallofus.org)

Hindus honor the Mother Goddess

Hindus are in the midst of fall festivals during September and October. According to About.com Guide, Subhamoy Das, "Every year during the lunar month of Ashwin or Kartik (September-October), Hindus observe ten days of ceremonies, rituals, fasts and feasts in honor of the supreme mother goddess. It begins with the fast of "Navaratri", and ends with the festivities of "Dusshera" and "Vijayadashami."

Hindu devotees hold pots of holy smoke while dancing as a part of religious rituals for offering prayers during Hindu festival Durga Puja in Mumbai, India,Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. The five-day festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, 10-armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil. AP / Rajanish Kakade 

Hindu Festivals

Hindus around the world -- from South Asia to Britain and beyond -- observe many colorful holidays throughout the year. Recent festivals include the Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrating the birth of the elephant-headed deity, and Janamashtami, the birth anniversary of the god Krishna. The range of experiences at these celebrations runs from joyfully loud and spectacular to solemn and contemplative. Each devotee celebrates in a distinct, personal way even while joining the larger community. Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion; the majority of its one billion adherents are concentrated in India, but sizable communities exist all over the globe. I hope you enjoy these vivid, intriguing glimpses of Hindu festivals photographed over the past few months. [39 photos]

Devotees carry an idol of Hindu elephant god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, into the water from Girgaum Chowpatty beach before immersing it in the waters of the Arabian Sea on the last day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, on September 11, 2011. Idols are taken through the streets in a procession accompanied by dancing and singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual send-off of his journey towards his abode in "Kailash", while taking away with him the misfortunes of all mankind. (Reuters/Vivek Prakash)  

Chroatia

Carnival Of Venice

The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday (dependent on the date of Easter) and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

 

Hanging Flower Baskets Park

The first park in Guinness World Record having largest number of hanging flower baskets is found in Al Ain, UAE.

 

Watercolor Paintings of Greece

Today we want to show you stunning watercolor paintings of Greece created by artist Pantelis Zografos. For 30 years Pantelis Zografos doesn’t live in Greece, but love to Greece and artist’s talent day-to-day call him to the canvas and paint, and there, in his studio, he paints watercolor Greece. The warm sea, ancient history, little old houses and streets lined with pavement … And the riot of greenery and flowers.

Celebrating...

All it takes are two groups of people, one to gather and one to march past them. Parades took place across the globe these past two months for a variety of celebrations, from shows of military power, to tributes to organized labor, to pride for one’s country or culture. -- Lloyd Young (37 photos total)

Performers dance in the street parade at the annual Notting Hill Carnival in central London Aug. 29.. Revelers flocked to west London for one of Europe's biggest street parties, with record numbers of police on duty to prevent a repetition of riots that shook the British capital three weeks ago. Notting Hill Carnival, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture that usually draws about 1 million people for a colorful procession of musicians and performers. (Olivia Harris/Reuters) 

Decorative Truck Art from Pakistan

Photograph by MARK RYCKAERT

On the roads of Pakistan you will find moving art on every road in the form of decorated trucks and vehicles. With dazzling colours, ornate detailing and magnificent trinkets, these moving art exhibits inject your daily commute with Pakistani culture and symbolism.
Please enjoy this small sample of decorated trucks from Pakistan. There are many more examples of this amazing style, the Sifter will definitely be doing a follow-up post!

Looking back and ahead, America remembers 9/11

NEW YORK (AP) -- Determined never to forget but perhaps ready to move on, the nation gently handed Sept. 11 over to history Sunday and etched its memory on a new generation. A stark memorial took its place where twin towers once stood, and the names of the lost resounded from children too young to remember terror from a decade ago.
In New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, across the United States and the world, people carried out rituals now as familiar as they are heartbreaking: American flags unfurled at the new World Trade Center tower and the Eiffel Tower, and tears shed at the base of the Pentagon and a base in Iraq.
President Barack Obama quoted the Bible and spoke of finding strength in fear. George W. Bush, still new to the presidency that day, invoked the national sacrifice of the Civil War. Vice President Joe Biden said hope must grow from tragedy. (50 images)

People pause by the waterfall pool at the National September 11 Memorial before a planned ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the attacks at the World Trade Center site, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in New York. Matt Rourke / AP