Exquisite pictures show gorgeous frosty landscape on 500-mile drive across Frozen Lake Baikal in Siberia

Generally most motorists avoid the roads when they’re icy. However one intrepid traveler has spent a week driving almost 500 miles across the deepest lake in the world, while it was completely frozen, called “adventure of a lifetime”. The brave Alexey Trofimov captured these spectacular pictures as he drove across the 389-mile-long Lake Baikal in Siberia - dodging cracks in the ice up to two metres wide hidden under a blanket of snow. The award-winning photographer braved the daring expedition in an especially adjusted Suzuki Jimny SUV with his friend Nicolas Demin. Both were underwent specialist training for driving on ice.

Replacing the suspension and increasing the ground clearance were necessary adjustments for the dangerous route. The brave friends also fitted extras such as lights and a roof rack to carry their goods. The 43 years old Alexey, said I always love winter photo expeditions the risk, and wildlife, the people you are with and the lack of a complete sense of freedom. I drove approximately 500 miles across the ice and this fantastic journey took a week. Baikal ice is very perilous because of the ice's erratic behavior. The trip needs deep knowledge of ice conditions and the extreme of care. At times we are in the middle of nowhere and more than 100 miles from the nearest town. We knew our families are worried all the time but they really support us in a courageous way. We’re sure, when our children will grow up, we will take them with us to teach them survival in the wild and show them the striking scenery we see. They should know that it is all very brittle and we should relish it.

Fortunately on our trip, it was tranquil and only the sun was shining. The weather conditions are unpredictable, as one moment it was warm and then half an hour later, an icy wind would start blowing and the temperature drops. The duo motorists had to vary their speed from about 60mph on smooth ice to as slow as 2mph on rough passage. When they marked a fresh crack in the ice on Lake Baikal a Unesco Word Heritage site they had to make a detour for anxiety of falling in the freezing water below. His spectacular pictures show snow-topped ice blocks changing from a bright blue glow to a golden glow as the sun sets in the evening.

The incredible Bird who can speak Japanese

The amazing bird that can speak JAPANESE reveals that he can “'chat” to people on the phone. This particular species of bird is famous as the Common Hill Myna Can talking birds speak languages other than English? The answer is a resounding “yes”, where a Common Hill Myna is seen chatting in Japanese. Called Abe Chan, the incredible bird has become an internet sensation many thanks to his grasp of the language, though whether it understands what it is saying remains to be seen. The video was uploaded by Satoko Ohno in Japan.

In this video the bird can be seen responding to a phone call. Satoko Ohno engages in conversation with the bird, showing off its astonishingly competent grasp of words and phrases in Japanese. On his website, Satoko Ohno says that he has had a few mishaps with the bird in the past. This includes Abe Chan jumping out of a window, leaving Ohno running around an inhabited area chanting his name.

According to the IUCN It is an animal of “least concern” in terms of conservation. The bird is famous for its unique jet-black feathers in contrast to its orange beak and yellow markings on its head. These birds are in average about 12in in length. The bird most notorious trait, and its ability to mimic a varied variety of noises. At dawn and dusk, when it is most vocal, it can be heard making a range of calls i.e. whistles and screeches. The bird can mimic the human voice with amazing accuracy. Although it is unlikely they are conscious what they are saying, the capability of the birds to visibly replicate a human voice is impressive, if slightly unnerving. However, seeing a bird speak Japanese is definitely a rare and fascinating sight.

 Video Source: Dailymail

A Luxury Island has gone on the market for $11million.

You will have a blast luxury Connecticut Island that comes with its own CANNON up for sale for $11MILLION. It was built more than a century ago. Tavern Island has a huge mansion, caretaker's cottage and a boat house, complete with a workshop, games room, bedroom and a bath. The island, in Connecticut, is spread across 3 1/2 acres and has round-the-clock access via a mainland cottage which is also included in the listing. The six-bedroom Tudor mansion, which includes a lap pool and three beaches, was last sold for a mere $1million (£560,000) in 1982. Mr and Ms Zesiger (Zesiger 83, wife Barries 67) run a money-management company, Zesiger Capital Group, in New York was reported to have been bought. A spokesman said: A private island oasis with year-round access through a separate mainland property. The stunning setting of island includes a Tudor style 1900 vintage residence and a separate caretaker's cottage. It has a boasts with a boathouse for guest quarters, a calm teahouse and a mainland garage-cottage with room for plentiful parking.

A regulation size pool overlooks one of numerous private beaches on the island while a protective seawall offers a safe harbor for the two shore launches. The mainland dock accommodates numerous vessels instantaneously and the landing area provides parking for several guest vehicles. The island was once owned by legendary Broadway producer Billy Rose and Marilyn Monroe who has been a guest during the 1950s. He further added due to “Rich in history” legend and lore, this exclusive property was first inhabited by European settlers in 1651. It was witnessed the British invasion of Norwalk in the Revolutionary War, housed Lillian Hellman in 1938 as she finished her classic “The Little Foxes”. As a rumors has it, served as a setting for numerous notorious parties given by its then owner, Billy Rose, the legendary showman. Historically noteworthy, suitably located within one hour of Mid-Town New York, serenely removed from the every-day yet completely accessible, this is one residential offering that actually lives up to the designation “unique”. This lovely island property has not been offered for sale in over thirty years.

The stunning pictures of Hawaii from a Hexacopter

The Seattle-based photographer Jon Cornforth using a remote controlled Hexacopter and captures the most stunning locations, while he remains on dry land. The astonishing bird’s eye view give you a feel like you’re gliding in over the island and it is not too far from the truth. The flying camera capture the beautiful images of Wailua Falls at sunrise, the turquoise waters of Kiholo Bay and Puu Pehe, also known as Sweetheart Rock, Maui, Lanai, and Kauai were taken by photographer.

He said; the exciting thing about flying a remote-controlled hexacopter is the photographic possibilities that are opened up by being freed of the limitations of being on the ground or shoreline. There’re several remote places that I travel to that where it is either unworkable or impossible to rent an aircraft to shoot aerials views out the window. I am also mostly flying over dangerous terrain or water, so I’ve to be very confident in my equipment and abilities. Everyone who has seen my fly images really recognizes my effort. It is the most intense and focused ten minutes of my life and even very stressful, but I’m glad to have the rewards are worth it when I am creating beautiful images like these. Source: Charismatic Planet

Organic Farming in the Desert of Wadi Rum

The beautiful valley of Wadi Rum “Also called Valley of Moon” located in Southern Jordan very close to the border of Saudi Arabia. The valley of Wadi Rum contains mountains of granite and sandstone rise next to valleys filled with red sand. A number of narrow gorges, natural arches, towering cliffs, ramps, massive landslides and caverns lie scattered across an area 720 square kilometers. The land is actually naturally arid, due to receiving little annual precipitation and supporting only sparse vegetation. It’s amazing that anything at all can grow on the sun baked earth, yet the desert regions of Israel and Jordan have for years been the subject of plentiful agricultural projects. Recently, Bedouins living in the Wadi Rum region have become involved in exclusive agricultural projects that are foundation to become successful. The Wadi Rum desert happens to be the site of Jordan’s largest mixed farm & Rum Farm. Therefore Rum was established in 1986, in the middle of Wadi Rum desert comprising 2,000 hectares of land. However; it seems like a strange choice of location, but it begins to make sense when you learn that under the Wadi Rum desert and stretching under the Border Mountains and well into Saudi Arabia, is a large aquifer. In fact, the water supply of desert nations is dependent on this single water source.

Rum Farm is actually specializes in the cultivation of open field vegetable products, such as grains and forage, cabbage, eggplants, figs, pomegranates, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and several other vegetables. The crops grown there by Rum Farm Organics are being grown by using distinctive irrigation techniques which was used by ancient peoples of Egyptians and Nabateans. Water is well drawn from subterranean aquifer, 30 to 400 meters deep, which is irrigated huge area of 78 hectares circular fields, by using a pivoting ramp with watering nozzles. Special plastic “poly tunnels” are also used to support conserve water which can deal with scorching desert temperatures. The company’s methods are so effective which is producing a large part of Jordan’s food supply, before being trucked north hundreds of kilometers via the desert to the capital of Amman and other locations.