The sight of a dam - one of the largest and most complex structures that humanity has ever created - can be quite breath-taking. Take a look at some of the most spectacular of these structures.

The Hoover Dam - USA

Hoover Dam, originally known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada. When completed in 1936, it was both the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure. It was surpassed in both these respects by the Grand Coulee Dam in 1945. It is currently the world's 35th-largest hydroelectric generating station.

This dam, located 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, is named after Herbert Hoover, who played an instrumental role in its construction, first as the Secretary of Commerce and then later as the President of the United States. Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule. The dam and the power plant are operated by the Bureau of Reclamation of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, Hoover Dam was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

Lake Mead is the reservoir created behind the dam, named after Elwood Mead, who oversaw the construction of the dam.

Grande Dixence - Switzerland

The Grande Dixence dam, at the head of the Val d'Hérens in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, is at 285 metres (935 ft) high one of the world's tallest dams and the highest in Europe. It holds back a lake, the Lac des Dix, around 4 km (2.5 mi) long. When full, the lake is up to 284 metres (932 ft) deep and contains 400 million m³ (100 billion gal) of water.

The top of the dam is at an altitude of 2,365 metres (7,759 ft) in a steep mountain valley. Tunnels bring the water to three power stations in the Rhône valley over 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) below.

The dam is situated on the relatively small Dixence river, but collects a large amount of water thanks to a system of water supply tunnels over 100 km (60 mi) long bringing water from other rivers and valleys. Most of the water comes from glaciers which melt during the summer. The lake is usually full of water by late September, and is allowed to empty during the winter, reaching its lowest point around April.

The first Grande Dixence Dam was constructed between 1929 and 1935. A second dam that would flood the first was built between 1951 and 1965, and was filled on July 17, 1957. The first dam can still be seen when the water level is particularly low.

From 1993 to 1998 a high-pressure pipeline was built to considerably increase its peak capacity. It transported water 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) down to an additional power facility. The pipeline was welded using a new type of steel; it is out of service since it burst in December 2000, with the flood wave killing three people. Work on a replacement pipeline has recently started, with use of a more common steel and additional safety measures.

The Karun Dam - Iran

The Karun-3 dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Karun river in the province of Khuzestan, Iran. It was built to meet Iran's energy demands as well as to provide flood control. The Karun has the highest discharge of Iran's rivers. The objectives of the construction of Karun III Dam & Hydro-electric Power Plant are electric Power supply and flood control. Karun III power generators are connected to the National Power network as the Peak Power generation. With this power plant being operated, with the capacity of 2000 MW, and an average electric power generation of 4137 GWh/y, a major portion of the electric power shortage in the country will be met.

Dworshak Dam - USA

Dworshak Dam is a hydroelectric, concrete gravity dam in Clearwater County, Idaho, on the North Fork of the Clearwater River. The dam is located 4 miles (6 km) northwest of the city of Orofino, and 47 miles (76 km) east of Lewiston.

Originally, its name was slated to be "Bruces Eddy," but was changed to honor Henry C. Dworshak, a U.S. Senator from Idaho from 1946-62. The dam is the highest straight-axis concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere and the 22nd highest dam in the world. Only two other dams in the U.S. exceed it in height.

Construction began in June 1966; the main structure was completed in 1972, with the generators coming online in 1973. Electrical generating capacity is 400 megawatts, with an overload capacity of 460 MW. There are two spillway gates.

Dworshak Dam is part of the Columbia River Basin system of dams. Dworshak Reservoir is formed behind the dam. The reservoir stretches 53 miles (85 km) upstream. The North Fork of the Clearwater River runs 2 miles (3 km) downstream from the base of the dam, where it joins the main Clearwater, which flows into the Snake River at Lewiston, and into the Columbia at Wallula, Washington.

The Inguri Dam - Georgia

The Inguri Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Inguri River in Georgia. Currently it is the world's highest concrete arch dam with a height of 272 metres (890 ft). It is located north of the town Jvari. It is part of the Inguri hydroelectric power station (HES) which is partially located in the partially recognised Abkhazia.

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam - India

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a masonry dam built across Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is Andhra Pradesh's tallest masonry dam, at a height of 124 metres, and creates a reservoir holding up to 11, 472 million cubic metres.

It is one of the earliest irrigation and hydro-electric projects in India. The dam provides irrigation water to the Nalgonda District, Prakasam District, Khammam District, and Guntur District.

Srisailam Dam

Srisailam Dam is a dam constructed across the Krishna River at Srisailam in the Kurnool district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India and is one of the 12 largest hydroelectric projects in the country.

The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala hills, 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. It is 512 m (1,680 ft) long, 240.79 m (790.0 ft) high and has 12 radial crest gates. Srisailam Dam provides irrigation water for about 800 km2 (310 sq mi) in Kurnool District and Cuddapah District, which are in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. Special permission is needed to go on to the main dam.

Glen Canyon - USA

Glen Canyon Dam is a dam on the Colorado River at Page, Arizona, USA, operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. The purpose of the dam is to provide water storage for the arid southwestern United States, and to generate electricity for the region's growing population. The dam generates an average of 451 megawatts, 6% of the total electricity generated in Arizona and 13% of that generated in Utah where most of Lake Powell resides, which amounts to a total carbondioxide savings of over 5 million metric tons, although it has a maximum capacity of 1300 megawatts. Damming the river flooded Glen Canyon and created a large reservoir called Lake Powell. Just downstream from the dam is an arch bridge that carries U.S. Route 89. Also nearby is the 2280 megawatt, coal-fired Navajo Generating Station.

Vajont - Italy

The Vajont Dam is a dam completed in 1959 in the valley of the Vajont river under Monte Toc, 100 km north of Venice, Italy. It was one of the highest dams in the world measuring 262 metres (860 ft) high, 27 metres (89 ft) thick at the base and 3.4 metres (11 ft) at the top.

Its 1963 overtopping during initial filling was caused by the lack of consideration by the designers for the geological instability of the mountain on the southern side of the basin. Warning signs and negative appraisals during the early stages of the filling were ignored; the attempt to complete the filling led to a rapid landslide, causing a seiche wave which brought massive flooding and destruction to the area below, wiping several villages away completely and killing 2,000 people.

On 12 February 2008, while launching the International Year of Planet Earth, UNESCO cited the Vajont Dam tragedy as one of the five worst man-made disasters, caused by "the failure of engineers and geologists."

Sayano-Shushenskaya - Russia

Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric station is located on the Yenisei river near Sayanogorsk in Khakassia.

As of 2007, it is the largest power plant in Russia and 4th world largest ( by average power generation ) hydroelectric plant. It was opened in 1978. Its installed capacity is 6,400 MW, average annual production is 23,500 GWh, peaked in 2006 with 26,800 GWh. Station constructions include dam, power plant building located near dam, and an additional spillway under construction. The gravity arch type dam is 245 m high, has crest length of 1066 m, crest width of 25 m, base width of 110 m and maximum head of 220 m. The dam consist of solid left-bank dam 246.1 m long, power dam 331.8 m long, spillway dam 189.6 m long and solid right-bank dam 298.5 m long. It is the only gravity-arch dam in Russia of that size, the only other gravity-arch dam is much smaller.

Currently it operates 10 hydro turbines, each with capacity of 640 MW at 194 m head.

The dam forms Sayano-Shushenskoe Reservoir with total capacity of 31.34 km³ and useful capacity of 15.34 km³ and surface area of 621 km².

Almendra Dam - Spain

The Almendra Dam in Salamanca, Spain, interrupts the course of the River Tormes five kilometres from the village from which it takes its name: Almendra (literally, almond). It was constructed between 1964 and 1970.

The dam forms part of the hydroelectric system known as the Duero Drops, along with the Castro, Ricobayo, Suacelle and Villalcampo dams of Spain, and the Bemposta, Miranda and Picote dams of nearby Portugal.

The reservoir that backs up behind the dam covers 86.5 square kilometres and contains 2.5 billion cubic metres of water as well as several drowned villages, among them Argusinos. The dam is more than half a kilometre wide and, at a height of 202 metres, one of Spain's tallest structures.

Itaipu - Brazil

Itaipu is a hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay.

The name "Itaipu" was taken from an isle that existed near the construction site. In the Guarani language, Itaipu means "the sound of a stone". The American composer Philip Glass has also written a symphonic cantata named Itaipu in honour of the structure.

Itaipu Binacional is a company that runs the longest operational hydroelectric power plant in the world. It is second only to the Three Gorges Dam in generating capacity. It is a binational undertaking run by Brazil and Paraguay at the Paraná River on the border section between the two countries, 15 km north of the Friendship Bridge. The project ranges from Foz do Iguaçu, in Brazil, and Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, in the south to Guaíra and Salto del Guaíra in the north. The installed generation capacity of the plant is 14 GW, with 20 generating units of 700 MW each. In the year 2008, it achieved its generating record of 94.68 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), which supplied 90% of the energy consumed by Paraguay or 19% of that consumed by Brazil.

Three Gorges Dam - China

The Three Gorges Dam in Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei, China. It is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world.

With a long history of planning and more than a decade of construction, the dam body was finished in 2006. When the whole project is completed, it will contain 32 main generators, each with a capacity of 700 MW. Except for a planned ship lift, all of the originally planned components of the project were completed on October 30, 2008, when the 26th generator was brought into commercial operation. Six additional generators in the underground power plant are being installed, not expected to become fully operational until around 2011. The total electric generating capacity of the dam will then reach 22,500 MW.

The project produces hydroelectricity (which produces less carbon emissions than most conventional power sources), reduces the potential for deadly floods downstream by providing flood storage space, and enhances navigation by a means of ship locks and a ship elevator. As of April 2009, the dam has generated 300 TWh of electricity, covering 30% its project cost according to Xinhua. The project management and the Chinese state media regard the project as a historic engineering, social, and economic success, a breakthrough in the design of large turbines, and a move towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the dam has also flooded archaeological and cultural sites and displaced some 1.24 million people, and is causing dramatic ecological changes, including increasing the risk of landslides. The decision to build the dam has been deeply controversial in China and abroad.

credited to wikipedia

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The United Kingdom’s Hanham Hall Development is the largest eco-village aspiration to date. Designed by HTA and funded by Barratt Developments and the Homes & Communities Agency, there are a rumored 188-195 zero carbon homes in the overall housing scheme. The development will include an onsite biomass CHP plant, strategically placed reed beds, shops for farmers to sell their goods, bicycle storage throughout, and a carefully crafted drainage system. Hanham Hall is the first major eco city underway that is part of the government’s Carbon Challenge Programme. The government has set a goal for all new builds to be zero carbon by 2016. It looks as though they are six years ahead of the curve.

Built on the site of a former hospital, which is being transformed into a new community center, each house in the Hanham Development will be free of VOCs, to help ensure a healthy, eco-friendly lifestyle for residents. SIPS panels will be used as the main structural element throughout the development, with the addition of other energy efficient materials. Recycling of materials onsite will ensure a zero carbon footprint. Construction is currently underway, and the first homes are slated for completion in 2010.

credited to inhabitat.com

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Remote. Vast. Languid. These describe Nicaragua's Atlantic coast, a region where traditional indigenous cultures have been preserved and development has yet to encroach. Left, birds fly over the pristine waters of Little Corn Island.

A ride in a panga, a small open boat, is the easiest and cheapest way to travel to Little Corn Island. Diving, snorkeling and beach hiking are popular on this this rustic island surrounded by coral reefs.

An aerial view of Big Corn Island, 10 miles from Little Corn. Both islands are largely populated by an indigenous community of Miskito fisherman.

A fisherman takes a break off the Corn Islands. Many locals offer sport fishing trips to tourists.

Catches along the Atlantic Coast include lobster, kingfish, amberjack and red snapper.

A fisherman sells kingfish in Pearl Lagoon, a tight-knit Creole village on the coast near the Corn Islands.

Sampling rondón, a fish stew with coconut milk and vegetables, at Miss Ingrid's Hotel in Pearl Lagoon.

Vibrantly colored homes are a common sight in the Awas Tingni Indian community, west of Pearl Lagoon. After a decades-long struggle, they were recently granted the right to their ancestral lands by the Nicaraguan government.

A Creole house in Pearl Lagoon.

A cemetery in Orinoco, home to Nicaragua's largest population of Garifuna, descendants of West African slaves. There are also Garifuna along the coasts of Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

Buses, along with flights, leave daily from the capital city Managua to Bluefields, the country's main port town on the Atlantic Coast.

Morning mist hangs over the dense tropical vegetation surrounding Pearl Lagoon.

credited to nytimes.com

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Deep caverns in the rock, illuminated by the sun or artificial lamp, provide shelter, home, and repository for art and cultures. They are places of mystery, history, and intrigue.

The Lion-Elephant Rock, Alisadr Cave, Iran

Alisadr cave, the biggest navigable water cave in the world is said to be this one, in Hamedan, Iran. Shown here is an amazing photograph of the “Lion-Elephant Rock.” It does look like both a lino and an elephant. The diffuse light dancing off the waters really give this place a surreal feeling. The colored lights in this cave add to the brilliance and majesty of this amazing cave.

Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, China

From what planet is this? -It doesn't even seem possible! It looks rather like a set from a Star Trek episode. This cave in the northwest of Guilin, China, is a favorite with tourists visiting China. The name “Reed Flute” comes from the wild reeds that grow outside and around the cave, reeds which resemble the musical instrument flutes.

The inside of the cave is lit with colored lights along its 240 meter length. Touring this cave on the walking tour, visitors witness columns and pillars of immense size. The stalagmites were formed by carbonate deposition, so this cave was once entirely under water during its formation. When the water retreated some, access to the cave becomes known. Many such caves probably exist underwater, completely hidden. Changes in water-levels and the action of rivers flowing through the cave widen and deepen them.

I almost expect to see an aquatic dinosaur like a prehistoric pleisiasaur rise up out of the water and thrash around like some Loch Ness monster might!

Painted Cave (Santa Cruz Is.) California

This is said to be the world’s longest sea cave. It has an opening big enough for passage of a 70-foot long boat to pass through, and smaller paddle-boats can go into the cave some 1200 feet. Colorful rocks abound and algae and lichens cover the rocks. This cave has no regular tours but one can be contracted from the docks to take you there. The cave belongs to the Channel Islands National Park which does permit visitation, although some recommend that plans to visit the park be first discussed with rangers of the park for your safety. Kayaking out to the caves on your own is possible but the waves and currents of the local waters make that risky.

Ghar Saholan (also spelled Sahoolan / Sahulan / Sahoulan) Cave, Iran

Named for the village near it, this second largest cave in Iran is called by the word in Kurdish meaning “freezing” for the cool climate conditions of summer and very cold winters. Locally, this cave is called “Dove Nest” because of the doves that dwell around the cave and its entrance, roosting upon low ledge inside of the cave and within reach of visitors to this cave.

At the end of the boat ride, visitors to the cave walk up through a main chamber on marble steps to an unusual amenity; a cellular phone mast. From here, tourists can use their mobile to contact friends and family on the outside world to brag about their current location! The exit of the cave shows a history of human habitation in the past; black soot smoke on the walls and ceiling indicating long-term use of campfires.

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

This monument of caves is location of some of the most ancient Anasazi peoples dwellings found. Direct descendants of the Pueblo people, the Anasazi settled the sheer cliff walls and adapted to living in these remotes caves. The insides of some of the caves still show petroglyphs on the walls.

Brochures and advice on the web indicate that parking can be a bit of a nuisance; one can wait an hour or more to a space to become available during peak season. The rangers are quite strict and enforce the rules vigorously, so you must comply with all directives concerning where to park and what you do while visiting this National Park. Brochures recommend visiting in early spring or fall when crowds are fewer and the weather not so hot, making for a more enjoyable caving and hiking experience.

Crystal Ice Cave, Lava Beds National Monument, California

Lava tube caverns, this one has an ice waterfall. The sensitive nature of this ice cave make it necessary to limit tours to ranger-guided only, and in small groups not to exceed six people. The three+ hour tours are offered every Saturday beginning in December throughout the winter months.

-What do you see here? To me, these look like giant ectoplasm ghosts climbing the wall of the cave...

Longmen, Luoyang, China

The Longmen Grottos, near Luoyant City in China are regarded in China as treasure houses for the having the most stone inscriptions. The grottos were created in between 386-534 in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Buddhism was spreading into China, where it was adopted by the imperial court and venerated. The hewing of rock temples dedicated to images of the Buddha were also adopted and incredible works of art and culture were made. In November of 2000 the Longmen Grottos were approved and given World Cultural Heritage status. The World Cultural Heritage organization catalogues sites of outstanding natural or cultural importance, dedicated to humanity. If some conditions are met, a listed site may obtain funding from the Heritage for conserving and preserving the site and making it accessible to all.

Ellora Cave Sculpture, Maharashtra, India

The author of this image describes this cave as one of 34 caves near Maharashtra, India. Carved nearly 100 years ago over a period of perhaps 500 years, the artisans using simple tools carved elaborate images and sculptures, Wikipedia goes on to tell that that these caves were built as Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples and monasteries..

The Buddhist caves are the oldest, dug out between the 5th-7th centuries. These are mostly of large multi-storied rooms such as living and sleeping quarters, kitchens and of course, monasteries. Any visit to India would be incomplete if at least some of these caves are not explored.

More Ellora Caves

More images from the Ellora Caves. I like the elephant sculptures and marvel at the artistry that was performed here. Some of the caves are the world’s largest rock-hewn cave is the world. Tourists are encouraged to visit these caves during the monsoon season when it is the most wet as every stream is flowing with water, making the entire area green and lush.

More Crystal Ice Cave, Lava Beds National Monument

Ice stalagmites form what looks like translucent dinosaur eggs, or some delicious frozen confection. Blue lemonade ice-pops, perhaps? I can’t help but wonder if these have flavor to them. Surely the water that has dripped in here and frozen has picked-up trace elements from the rocks. Yeah, they probably taste like the dirt that filtered the water through the ceiling of the cavern. Not to mention any bats or insect excreta or detritus that may be involved. This frozen confection maybe not be such a yummy a treat after all. A word of advice; don’t eat or drink anything you find in a cave and its probably best to not touch too many things in there either.

Royston Cave. Hertfordshire, England

After the dissolution of the Knights Templar they continued to meet secretly in caves such as this one at Royston Cave. The carvings look strikingly similar to post-modern graffiti. Bearing in mind that even the scrawling upon the walls of caves of the troglodytes was in fact, graffiti but with significant meaning. It was important and conveyed some information, as the graffiti of today means something to the artist or author.

credited to scienceray.com and flickr users: hamed, jeremybarwick, mikebaird, neeku_sh, sanbeiji, ex_magician, jamesjin, kkoshy, markhillary, cruccone

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Huacachina

Huacachina is a village in the Ica Region, in southwestern Peru. It is located in the Ica Province, near the city of Ica in the Ica District. Huacachina has a population of 115 (1999).

Huacachina is built around a small natural lake in the desert. Called the "oasis of America," it serves as a resort for local families from the nearby city of Ica, and increasingly as an attraction for tourists drawn by the sports of sandboarding and taking dune buggy rides on sand dunes that stretch several hundred feet high.

Legend holds that the lagoon was created when a beautiful native princess was apprehended at her bath by a young hunter. She fled, leaving the pool of water she had been bathing in to become the lagoon. The folds of her mantle, streaming behind her as she ran, became the surrounding sand dunes. And the woman herself is rumored to still live in the oasis as a mermaid. / -14.0875; -75.76333

Currently, private landowners near the oasis have installed wells, in order to access the groundwater. This has had the effect of drastically reducing the level of water in the oasis. To compensate for this water loss, and preserve the oasis as an aesthetically pleasing destination for tourists, the city began a process of artificially pumping water into the oasis.

Sadly the dunes around the town have been overtaken by crime. Many tourists have been mugged in broad daylight. It is not recommended that tourists climb the dunes alone or at night.

Erg Awbari Oasis

There are at least 11 lakes in this area, deep out into the softest and largest sandy desert. Unfortunately, lower water table is drying up several of them.

The salt levels are extremely high, and can be compared with the Dead Sea. This makes swimming easy, but make sure you have no rash or wounds before jumping in.

Around some of the lakes, there are ruins of old towns. Gebraoun was abandoned in 1991, although there are a few inhabitants still remaining. Gebraoun is also the largest of the lakes, 250 m by 300 m.

All in all, a round trip of the area is about 100 km.

Turfan Oasis

Turfan or Tulufan is an oasis city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Its population was 254,900 at the end of 2003.

Turfan is located about 150 km southeast of Ürümqi, Xinjiang's capital, in a mountain basin, on the northern side of the Turfan Depression, at an elevation of 98 feet (30 meters) above sea level.

Turfan's climate is harsh, of the arid continental type, with very hot summers, very cold winters, and minimal precipitation, which amounts to only 20 mm (0.9 inch) per year. July is the hottest month, with averages highs of 39°C (103°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F), while January is the coldest, with highs of -4°C (26°F) and lows of -16°C (4°F). The Highest temperature ever measured in Turfan is 55°C (131°F) and the lowest is -38°C (-36.4°F).

However, the very heat and dryness of the summer, when combined with the area's ancient system of irrigation, allows the countryside around Turfan to produce great quantities of high-quality fruit.

Khar Nuur Oasis

Flanked by the breathtaking high mountain range of Khangai Nuruu, Zavkhan offers some of the most varied landscapes in Mongolia. Travellers will experience vast desert land, serene salt lakes and incredible sand dunes all within close proximity of each other. The sharp contrast in terrain makes travelling in this area unforgettable. This part of the country is still mostly untouched by travellers.

Maranhao Oasis

Maranhão is one of the states of Brazil in the north-eastern region. To the north is the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Neighboring states are (from east clockwise) Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. The people of Maranhão have a distinctive accent. Maranhão is described in books such as The Land of the Palm Trees, by Gonçalves Dias, and Casas de Pensão by Aluísio de Azevedo.

The dunes of Lençóis are an important area of environment preservation. Also of interest is the state capital of São Luís, designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. Another important area of conservation is the delta of Parnaíba, between the states of Maranhão and Piauí, with its lagoons, desert dunes and deserted beaches or islands, such as the Caju island, which shelters rare birds.

Crescent Lake

Yueyaquan is a crescent-shaped lake in the oasis, 5 km southwest of the city Dunhuang of Gansu province, China. It was named Yueyaquan since Qing Dynasty. According to measurement made in 1960, the average depth of the lake was 4 to 5 meters, with maximum depth 7.5 meters. In the following 40 years, the depth of lake continually declined. In the early 1990s, the area of the lake had shrunken to only 1.37-acre (5,500 m2) with average depth of 0.9 meter (maximum 1.3 meter). Although local government had plans to restore the depth through filling with water, the lack of budget has delayed their actions. The lake and the surrounding deserts are very popular with tourists, who are offered camel and 4x4 rides.

Chebika Oasis

Chebika is an oasis of mountains south of Tunisia, specifically in the west of the governorate of Tozeur. It is without doubt the ancient outpost of Ad Speculum. Located on the limes Saharan linking Tébessa to Gafsa, the Romans and used mirrors to communicate with the other posts and point out any enemy incursions.

The current village Chebika is built near the old village abandoned in 1969 as a result of floods killer who made more than 400 dead in Tunisia.. The site, written Duvignaud Jean, "is placed in the intersection of two advances of the mountain which opens here to the desert"

Timia oasis

Timia is a small town in northern Niger situated at an oasis in the Aïr Mountains, Agadez Region, Arlit Department. Visitors come to the Tuareg town to see a seasonal waterfall, a former French fort and the nearby ruined town of Assodé.

Timia lies south of Iferouane and north of Agadez. The main town lies around 3km from a stone Guelta oasis, which holds water year round. It is also known for its fruit trees, an unusual sight in the Saharan regions of northern Niger.

Ein Gedi Oasis

Ein Gedi is an oasis located west of the Dead Sea (Israel), close to Masada and the caves of Qumran. It is known for its caves, springs, and its rich diversity of flora and fauna. It contains an internationally acclaimed botanical garden covering an area of 100 dunams (10 ha, 24.7 acres). There one can find more than 900 species of plants from all over the world.

Tinerhir Oasis

Tinghir, located in south-eastern Morocco, in the wake of the High Atlas and the face of Adrar Sarhro is part of the region of Ouarzazate.

The name originally referred Tineghir the mountain "IGHIR" which meant the shoulder Tamazight, but it has gradually expanded to bring together all the villages around and give this name to the whole oasis.

The city proper of Tineghir (Baladia tinghir) has 36 000 inhabitants while the oasis as a whole amounted to 86 500 inhabitants according to the 2004 Census. Tineghir, as the region of Ouarzazate, is populated by Amazighs. Tineghir is at the center of one of the most beautiful oases of southern Morocco. This lush palm covers about 30 miles on 500 to 1500 m wide along the wadi Todgha. After Gorge, Wadi Todgha is difficult to spawn a passage on the southern slopes of the great atlas (Tizgui), then leads into the great plain to meanders slightly over twenty kilometers up Ferkla.

The palm Todgha, very dense and widespread, consists of only two sides of the ASSIF Todgha, it is irrigated by a network of pipes called tirgouine (plural of Târgu). Absorbed by a large number of irrigation canals, water from the ASSIF Todgha generally can not Ferkla up. Ferkla through his bed and then lay in the Ghris, but there are times when water during heavy floods, and it usually only lasts a few days.

credited to wikipedia, looklex.com, mxpadventure.com and flickr users: utzivan, ladigue_99, taaleem, cledabaumal, chicow, bergmaaj, rluca, ilanphoto

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Diana McAdam offers a guide to the Cayman Islands, famed for their diving, delicious seafood and relaxed way of life.

With their Caribbean heritage, British sensibility (this is a British Overseas Territory) and American modernism, the Cayman Islands have long been a highlight of Caribbean cruising itineraries. The three low-lying little islands south of Cuba – which are actually the peaks of underwater mountains – offer visitors everything from the hi-tech architecture, top restaurants and duty-free shopping of Grand Cayman to the laid-back style, nature sanctuaries and deserted beaches of its unpretentious sister islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Grand Cayman, which at 22 miles long and four miles wide is the largest of the three islands, includes the capital George Town and has a population of 60,000. It is a favourite of well-heeled Americans, many of whom keep second homes here and use it to escape from the harsh US winters. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan brought wind speeds of up to 169 mph and a storm surge, causing about US$1.8 billion of damage. Today, few signs of the devastation remain, but it is not a lesson the islands or their inhabitants will forget in a hurry and new buildings are designed to be hurricane-proof. This is one of the richest communities in the Caribbean and it has no inner city or poverty, street vendors or casinos. In some ways this is a deeply traditional community with old fashioned values – for instance, nude or topless sunbathing are banned, shops are closed on Sundays and both dancing and music are banned on the Sabbath.

Seven Mile Beach, a dazzling stretch of pristine white sand, is where you will find the waving palms, the high-rise luxury hotels, the restaurants, bars and dive centres. Close by, in the colourful West Bay area, is Hell, an otherworldly rock formation where you are likely to be greeted with the words “How the Hell are you?” by a man dressed as the Devil. Visit the local post office, where you can also get your cards and letters stamped, and pick up a hellish souvenir from the fire-red gift shop.

To escape from the crowds, visit the lushly beautiful 65-acre Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park, which includes the fascinating blue iguana conservation programme, and is in the quieter, less developed East End of Grand Cayman. But if you only have time for one activity, don’t miss the incredible Stingray City and afterwards relax on beautiful Rum Point on the North Side, a favourite spot in which to kick back and enjoy this picture-book paradise island.

ARRIVAL

The Cayman Islands attract more than one million cruise ship passengers per year, and more than 30 major cruise lines visit the islands. That said, only four ships are allowed to anchor off Grand Cayman at any one time and passengers are ferried into George Town’s two terminals, North and South, both of which are modern and well maintained. Today George Town is the islands’ business hub but many of the older buildings downtown are being preserved. The recently restored National Museum is within easy reach of the port, as are a duty-free shopping mall containing a 12,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, and numerous bars and restaurants including such perennial favourites as the Hard Rock Café (001 345 945 2020). The central post office is also downtown, and is open 9am to 5pm.

The Cayman National Trust (001 345 949 0121) has designed a walking tour of George Town, which covers 28 sites of interest including Fort George, which was built around 1790, the war and peace memorials, the Legislative Assembly and some of the town’s traditional Caymanian architecture. Walking tours are also available for the West Bay and Bodden Town areas of the island.

Many of the island’s most interesting places to visit are included in a Heritage One passport, which includes discounts of up to 25 per cent on admission to the National Museum, the Turtle Farm, Pedro St James and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park (see sights and excursions). The green and blue passports are stamped at each site but have no expiry date. They are available at each attraction and cost US$25 for adults and US$15 for children.

Many people visit the Cayman Islands specifically for the diving and snorkelling. Whether you are seeking reefs, wrecks or the walls that are famous the world over, you will not be disappointed. Visibility can exceed 100ft, the water is so warm that you can dive without a wetsuit and you will often find yourself swimming fin to fin with a turtle. Remember that there are very strict rules on what you can and can’t touch underwater and it is illegal to catch any marine life.

ESSENTIALS

Time difference: Six hours behind GMT.
 Currency: both Cayman and US dollars are accepted. Cayman dollars, known as CIs, are tied to the US dollar. The exchange rate is approximately CI$1 equals US$1.20.

Official language: English

Getting around: They drive on the left in the Cayman Islands. It is easy to hire a car at the cruise port, and the main taxi rank is also in the centre of George Town, but taxis can be hailed on most roads. Many of the taxi companies double as tour operators. The bus station is next to the library in George Town and the service is good, with fares ranging from CI$1.50 to $2.50.

Tourist office: The main tourism office is in George Town and tourist information is available at both the north and south ports (001 345 949 0623, www.caymanislands.ky). The number for the Port Authority is 001 345 949 2055.

credited to telegraph.co.uk and flickr users: alfred_benway, bz3rk

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Where in the name of Benjamin Siegel did Dubai come from? The slain gangster known as Bugsy who had a dream to build a city oasis in the middle of the Nevada desert would feel right at home in the United Arab Emirates today. The Las Vegas pioneer would simply marvel at the hubristic ambition of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. For better or for worse, and he certainly has his detractors, the Prince has helped engineer a veritable urban playland out of sand and procure billions of dollars in foreign investment.

Dubai is now the foremost expat city in the world and daily, thousands apply for countless jobs to aid in the development of this new megalopolis. It boggles the mind to see how far Dubai has come in so short a time. From skyscrapers that smash records, hotels that redefine luxury and manmade islands in the shape of continents, the city is a strange and seductive amusement park. Which is where our countdown comes in. Here are the top 10 things to do in Dubai.

10. Ski

Only in Dubai can you ski in the middle of the desert. On real snow. Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort with 22,500 square meters of snow that never melts. There are 5 runs of divergent difficulty levels, equipment rental available and professional instructors, no doubt from Alpine nations, on hand to assist. If parents want to ski or snowboard while the kids play, they can drop them off at the adjacent 3,000 square meter snow park. Of course, this being Dubai, it dwarfs every other snow park on the planet.

9. Go to the Movies

The temperature in Dubai can reach a deadly 40 degrees Celsius. So for those who do not ski and want to cool off, perhaps a movie would be in order. At the extraordinary Mall of the Emirates, the Cinestar theatre offers an experience quite unlike any other cinema. While their regular theaters are posh enough, one can rent a Gold Class theater with leather recliners, private tables, adjustable foot rests and dedicated lounges with special food and beverage services.

8. Afternoon Tea at the Burj

The vast majority of us will never be able to afford the stratospheric rates at the bazillion-star Burj-al-Arab hotel. It costs a mint to even tour the grandiose facility. But certain special occasions may call for the sophisticated elegance of their afternoon tea service. No regular afternoon tea experience mind you, the Burj offers only the best in cakes and teas from around the world. At a price of course. Couples can indulge in their chocolate fountain for two, if they have the appetite and pocketbook for it.

7. See Hydropolis

Ok, so this mega-luxury underwater hotel, built by German engineers and the size of Hyde Park in London will not open until 2009. Still, visitors can gape at the construction site off Jumeira Beach, which was the last piece of free Dubai beachfront property and possession of the Crown Prince. The hotel is a Jules Verne meets Atlantis wet dream, with actual suites at least 20 meters below the surface area of the Arabian Gulf. Anyone with irrational fears of aquariums is advised to stay elsewhere while in Dubai.

6. Watch a Horse Race

The proverbial Sport of Kings has firm roots in the Middle East. No surprise then that Dubai boasts the most impressive racecourse in the world, as well as a number of world class races for thoroughbreds. Even for newcomers to the sport, the races are quite the spectacle to behold. And we refer not to the horses even, but to the crowds themselves, populated as they are with the cream of world equestrian society. It’s all quite a scene.

5. Desert Safari

Despite present appearances, Dubai is amid a desert. With all this sand around, intrepid entrepreneurs have found a way to cash in. Two words: desert safari. While the price is high, the experience may well be worth it. Highlights include a stay with bedouins and a peek into their traditional way of life, replete with desert cookouts, bonfires and belly dancers. So the authenticity may get a little lost in translation but still, good fun awaits. For most, the best part of the safari is the chance to careen among the dunes on open four-wheel vehicles. Without any traffic cops around, you can really go wild.

4. Tour the Grand Mosque

On a less secular note, the Grand Mosque harkens back to the pre-urban-development-on-steroids days of Dubai. Oh yes, there was a Dubai before there was a Dubai, if you catch our drift. The Mosque, built around the turn of the last century, is the most attractive in the city and reminds us that yes, despite the excess and Western-style influences of late, this is a Muslim land. Reports are that non-Muslims are not permitted entry, although there are some testimonies to the contrary. Come with an open and sincere heart and let the chips fall where they may.

3. Hit the Links

It may sound odd, but golf and Dubai have become synonymous of late. Typical of the city’s intent to become a capital for all the world’s most popular recreations, clubs and courses in Dubai are first-class. It really is quite an experience to tee it up in this desert oasis. Night golf has become huge here, with floodlights all along the fairways and greens. The city hosts the best golfers in the world, Tiger Woods chief among them, every February at the Dubai Desert Classic. It came as no shock when Woods made the announcement that his inaugural course design would debut in Dubai, with a private residential community built around it.

2. Get a Spa Treatment

But not just any spa treatment. At the Madinat Jumeirah, Arabian Resort of Dubai, the in-house Talise spa offers one of the most expensive treatments in the world. At six hours long, it may just be one of the longest as well. The spa’s website describes the elaborate treatment in these terms: Pampering foot ritual. Cleansing hammam signature scrub. Awakening aromatic body mask. Talise fingerprint massage. Sodashi Anti Age Indulgence. Energy balancing foot reflexology & mint foot refresher.

No word on whether water or even lunch comes with the experience. Given the length of time, you may want to eat in advance. Oh and the price? AED 2,640. But don’t bother with the currency conversion. It will just hurt too much.

1. Dubailand!

It sounds hilarious but Dubailand is serious business. The concept for this family playground is the result of an effort to transform Dubai into the preeminent luxury entertainment destination in the world. To become the international hub of family tourism, you would have to build an ambitious theme park with enough variety and choice for everyone. Well that is pretty much what Dubailand offers or soon will (the project is ambitious in scope and will take some time to complete), with sports complexes - from golf courses to a polo and equestrian club, amusement park rides, hotels, shops, restaurants and of course, residential units. Developers anticipate that between visitors, workers and residents, over 2.5 million people will inhabit this quasi-city within a city. Proof yet again, that Dubai is a mad, mad town.

credited to blog.ratestogo.com

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The European Union may appear on the surface to be a unified body but underneath each member country retains a unique and complex history. The rich stories of individual European nations can be read in part through the amazing abandoned buildings found across the continent. It is truly remarkable how intact some of these structures are even after centuries. From Finland to France, Belgium to Denmark and Poland to England here are seven amazing abandonments from all over Europe.

German Military and Hospital Complex

Berlin, Germany has been at the center of European history in many regards, most recently as the divided core of Germany before East and West reunification. This abandoned complex located in Beelitz (just outside of Berlin) dates back to the 19th century and was used by the Germans as a military hospital through the second World War. From the 1940s on it was continuously occupied and used as a military hospital by the Russians complete with a surgery, psychiatric ward and rifle range before being abandoned in the 1990s. During its years of operation, famous (or infamous) patients included Adolf Hitler and former East German leader Erich Honecker.

Belgian Beautiful Castle and Cathedral

Mesen, Belgium is the smallest town in Belgium with fewer than 1,000 residents. However, it is the home of one of the most beautiful abandoned castles one could imagine, built, rebuilt, modified and expanded from the 1500s onward. This gorgeous structure evolved from a defensive fortress to a boarding school over time before being abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. It has has decayed by natural means with very little outside interference or vandalism and conjures picturesque images of beautiful deserted buildings. Nonetheless, it is under threat of destruction. It seems that only in Europe, where such buildings are more abundant, could such a lovely structure be considered common enough to not necessarily warrant rehabilitation.

Danish Deserted Refrigeration Factory Complex

Copenhagen, Denmark has developed a rich tradition of industrial production in part due to its geography. Flanked on virtually all sides by water, it is no wonder this country has spawned many facilities like the refrigeration factory featured above. These pictures show the internal story of desertion, fire and other internal tales as well as the future plans for redevelopment on the site. Adjacent condos (shown in the last image) represent the likely direction of this abandoned property as waterfront real estate continues to replace old industrial uses.

English Abandoned Water Pumping Station

Ryhope, England is home to an abandoned water pumping station that almost seems like a retrofuturistic structure straight out of a cyberpunk novel. This deserted structure is a monument to the Victorian era of industrialization, dating back to the middle of the 19th Century. It was an important step in the modernization of clean water distribution in an era where urban densification and disease went hand in hand. Though the station is no longer in active use all of the machinery still works, a true testament to the capabilities of Victorian English engineers.

Finnish Abandoned Match Factory

Tempere, Finland is one of many places that saw considerable growth and prosperity during the industrial revolution. With a thriving Finnish timber industry came the matchstick factory featured above. Built between world wars, the factory was in continuous use until the mid-1970s at which point it switched industries with the times, become (among other things) an automobile plant for a period of time. Since being entirely abandoned the main building and surrounding structures have become hangouts for local teens as evidenced in the images above.

Polish Abandoned Chemical Factory Complex

Warsaw, Poland has had a long and trying history of war and strife. It is perhaps no wonder that even in the heart of a relatively prosperous Polish city one can still find a vast abandoned factory complex. This series of deserted structures began as an electric lamp production facility in the 1920s before being converted to construct radios for submarines by the Germans during World War II. It reverted to its old function after the war but was poorly managed and eventually abandoned altogether, with remnant containers of chemicals and other assorted scientific equipment left behind as a testament to its earlier uses.

French Abandoned Metro Station and Lines

Paris, France is notorious of late-running Metro trains due to frequent worker strikes - but perhaps less well known for its numerous abandoned Metro stations. Urban explorers manage to find their ways into some of these abandoned subway tunnels while others have been converted to new uses including (appropriately enough) official homeless shelters. Some of the tunnels can even be visited privately late at night in groups led by sanctioned rail-expert tour guides.

credited to weburbanist.com

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Mount Katmai

Mount Katmai is a large volcano located in Katmai National Park and Reserve on the Alaskan Peninsula. In 1912 a vent located about 6 miles west of Mount Katmai exploded for over 60 hours in one of the two largest eruptions in the world in the twentieth century (the other being Mount Pinatubo in 1991). It is believed that as magma flowed out of Mount Katmai the summit area collapsed and formed the caldera that contains Mount Katmai's spectacular crater lake today.

Kerid

Kerid is a crater lake formed in a caldera located along the popular tourist route called the Golden Circle in southern Iceland. The lake is very shallow measuring just 25 to 40 feet deep depending upon the season but the color of the water is a beautiful aquamarine due to the heavy concentration of minerals.

Lake Tazawa

Lake Tazawa is located in the Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. It is a caldera lake and with a maximum depth of 1,388 feet is the deepest lake in Japan. Due to its depth the lake never freezes over in winter. At one time Lake Tazawa was known for its clear water but a hydroelectric dam was built on the lake in 1940 and polluted the lakes indigenous fish known as kunimasu to extinction. The area around Lake Tazawa is known for its hot springs.

Lake Toba

Lake Toba is located in the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra and is the largest volcanic lake in the world. It is a product of what is believed to have been the largest volcanic eruption in the last 25 million years when it erupted some 75,000 years ago. A similar eruption today would wipe out much of the world's population. The area remains active volcanically today with a magnitude 8.4 quake having occurred around Sumatra in 2007.

Rano Raraku

Located in Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island, Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater which has a crater lake in its center. Rano Raraku crater was long used as a stone quarry by the ancient inhabitants of Easter Island who used the large stones available here to carve the monolithic human figures known as Moai that are located around the island's perimeters. Some of these statues are over 30 feet high.

Mount Ruapehu

Mount Ruapehu is an active volcano located in New Zealand. Inside, it contained a crater lake but on March 18, 2007 the dam holding back the lake burst sending a huge landslide of mud, rock and water (a lahar) down the Whangaehu River but resulting in no injuries. How much of the crater lake remains today is unknown by this author.

Taal Lake

Taal Lake is located in the province of Batangas on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The lake is in a caldera formed by large volcanic eruptions that first occurred roughly 500,000 years ago. Today the active Taal volcano is located on an island in the center of Taal Lake.

Lake Bolsena

Lake Bolsena is located in the northern part of the province of Viterbo in central Italy. It is a crater lake formed roughly 350,000 years ago by the collapse of Vulsini volcano. There are two islands in the lake that were formed by underwater eruptions following the initial collapse of the volcano. The last recorded volcanic activity in the area was in 104 BC according to Roman historical records. The Catholic Church was given 1/3 of Lake Bolsena by a noble family many years ago. Today the lake is a popular tourist destination.

Laguna Chicabal

Laguna Chicabal is a Guatemalan lake formed in the crater of Chicabal Volcano. The lake is sacred to the Mam Mayan people and altars along the shore are still used today. Swimming in Laguna Chicabal is also prohibited in respect to spiritual importance of the lake. The lake's elevation is over 7,000 feet high and it is often enshrouded by low-level clouds.

credited to wikipedia, scienceray.com and flickr users: jenniferboyer, marcveraart, atoll, twinkletuason, picdrop, upton

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The island once extolled by Hollywood as an exotic heaven-on-earth has bounced back from its troubles, more luxurious than ever. Johnny Morris gets his tropical fix.

Given that Bali is just one of 17,508 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago, it produces more than its fair share of news and views. Before my visit, I found opinions about the tropical island fell into two distinct camps: that it was A Paradise Lost and A Paradise Promised. The gloom-mongers, fuelled by rampant headlines and cautious Foreign Office reports, warned that, if I managed to avoid rabies, pestilence, terror attacks and unregulated aeroplanes dropping out of the sky, I would be severely disappointed by the crass commercialism of the island. “What is worse than Benidorm?” I was asked. Answer: A tropical Benidorm full of drunken Australians (cue laughter and sneers all round).

Whereas, over in the Pollyanna camp, any mention of the holiday island elicited fond smiles. “Ah, Baaaali, how wonderful,” the island-lovers swooned. “So exotic.” And they are right - about the image, at least. For the romantics (and particularly honeymooners) the Bali brand is strong, still up there with the Maldives and Mauritius in the dreamy-destination league.

The island started branding itself as an exotic holiday-island paradise in the 1920s, when the ruling Dutch colonials lured the first tourist to the island with tales of coconut cocktails and cockfights. Early documentary films were spiced with orgiastic dance sequences and shots of bare-chested maidens; the title of one of the documentaries, Goona-Goona (the Balinese term for “magic”), became New York slang for sexual allure. Soon the West had dived headfirst into a love affair with exotic Bali, its appeal strengthened by Hollywood stories of unfettered romance in a tropical paradise. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope chased Dorothy Lamour around fake palm trees in Road to Bali, and in the musical South Pacific the protagonists sang, “Bali-hai, my special island”.

But what’s the reality behind the fantasy? In recent history, Bali has suffered a series of body blows to its tourist industry that would have devastated most holiday destinations: the 1997 Asian financial crisis, followed by two major bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005. Yet the island seems to have an innate ability to bounce back. Last year, a record nearly 2 million foreigners visited and, in January, tourist arrivals were up 18 per cent. Even in the brutally honest world of TripAdvisor, the Bali section is sprinkled with more stars than a fairy’s wedding.

The island’s resilience has not gone unnoticed by real-estate companies and the major hotel groups, who have been building new villas and opening hotels with a Dubai-style urgency. In 2006 the luxury goods brand Bulgari choose Bali for its second and only hotel outside Milan, and last year the Thai group Anantara launched a new beachfront resort at Seminyak. Orient Express recently opened villas in Jimbaran, while the Alila hotel joined a bevy of new boutique properties on the island. Still in the pipeline are a new Banyan Tree and a delayed W hotel. Original retreats that put luxury Bali on the map have been polishing up their places, too. The cherished Amandari in Ubud has celebrated its twentieth year with a general overhaul, and the grand dame of tropical retreats, The Oberoi, is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance, due in part to its proximity to the newly fashionable Seminyak shops and restaurants.

So what is the secret of Asia’s new luxury launch pad? Earlier this year, I was invited to the grandest opening of the season at the St Regis hotel, the first of the group’s beach resorts in Asia. The theme was diamonds and pearls and the dress code “resort chic”. In recession-hit London, how could I refuse? So I packed my pearls, and headed for the airport.

The party

Boom! The drums banged out like tropical thunder and a parade of bare-chested teenage boys, wearing pink chiffon neck scarves and sporting frangipanis behind their ears, marched through the cavernous marble lobby of the St Regis resort, flanked by girls in pearls and silks, brandishing metre-long flaming torches. Looking like a rally for pyromaniac virgins, the procession swept along the 70-metre stone catwalk that dominates the resort gardens, treating us to a super-charged version of the hotel’s evening fire ritual. After the ribbon-cutting and the briefest of speeches, the drama continued, with the chief sommelier smashing open a jeroboam of champagne with a cutlass. It was terribly camp and a great piece of theatre – all that was missing was Dorothy Lamour.

Life here hasn’t always been as glamorous, though. As Peter Rieger, a German property developer, explained: “As recently as 1998 we would telephone each other if there had been a cheese delivery to the island.” (This was recalled as one of the army of smiling waiters handed him a second plate of tuna tartare followed by pan-fried foie gras.)

After more champagne, it was time for the star turn of the evening, the jazz pianist Jamie Cullum. It turns out that the diminutive Jamie is very big in Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan (a good celebrity choice, then, for a hotel targeting Asian clientele: even the hard-working team of 40 chefs took a rest from knocking out the mountains of caviar canapés to witness his masterclass in informal entertainment). The invited crowd lapped it up and Jamie’s girlfriend, Sophie Dahl, was the only one left in the shadows as Asian women illuminated his piano with a halo of camera lights.

Next up, after a stage-invasion of designer dresses and two karaoke-style encores, was a giant white chocolate cake the size and shape of small volcano, wheeled out and paraded around the party by six chefs. No one bothered to eat any of the massive creation, but later someone fell into it on their way to the post-party drinks at the hotel’s King Cole cocktail bar. Sake and champagne chasers, anyone? For the new wave of visitors, St Regis is doing a great job of repackaging exoticism in the Islands of the Gods.

The place

A few days later I found myself at the Amankila resort in rural southeast Bali, following the guidance of my smiling yoga instructor, I Wayan Eka Sukma Putra (thankfully, just plain Eka to his pupils). As he took me through a simple sun salutation, he encouraged me to “Be nice to your body and let it smile all over”. It wasn’t difficult as I looked out across the Lombok Strait from the upper terrace of the luxury lodge. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Mount Agung volcano, the hotel’s alang-alang-thatched villas are balanced on a steep hillside that runs down to a coconut grove and a vast sweep of empty beach.

As well as saluting the sun, I did my own private acknowledgment to Ed Tuttle, the genius architect who designed this sanctuary-on-stilts. By using bold, simple geometry and a limited palette of sherbet yellows, woody oranges and pale creams, he has created architectural harmony within the lush green vegetation. The only other colour in his picture-perfect scene was the turquoise blue of the three-tiered infinity pools that cascaded out in front of the hotel’s grand amphitheatre. Yes, amphitheatre, because although the villas are traditionally designed, the communal areas of the hotel look more like parts of a palace in a sci-fantasy film. The classic style is noble and vaguely familiar, but it is hard to place exactly from which civilisation it has sprung.

Later that evening, in the same steep-sided amphitheatre overlooking the sea, I enjoyed a musical performance by a local gamelan orchestra that was just as charming as Jamie’s gig. They accompanied a group of local children, performing a series of traditional Balinese dances involving elaborate costumes, hobbyhorses, petal-throwing and a good deal of regular playground fun.

After an Indonesian feast by lantern-light, the strong woody smell from the trees, the gentle sea sounds and the light yoga had worked its magic, I headed happily for bed. Within just a few hours of arriving in Amankila, the place had helped me to embrace traditional Bali: five-star, traditional Bali, but Bali nonetheless.

The people

The main route to the Como Shambhala estate just outside Ubud in central Bali was closed due to a broken bridge. As a result, my taxi driver took me on a long diversion through bumpy back roads. And what a diversion. As we moved through the countryside that surrounds the 23-acre estate, we passed every shade, tone, tinge and tint of green imaginable. There was the dense emerald and sage green of the tropical forest, jade-green mosses growing on ancient stone, the vibrant lime of wild grasses and, best of all, the chartreuse green of the young shoots in the terraced rice fields.

This parade of colour reminded me of a story that John Halpin, of the Uma Ubud hotel, had told me earlier in the day. Apparently, an unnamed new manager had arrived at an unnamed prestigious resort on the island.

In his first days he had noticed the moss and mould growing on the brickwork of the hotel – as it does on all of the volcanic stonework in Bali. Horrified, he sent his staff out with stiff brushes and ordered them to make the place spotless. As misguided as King Canute ordering back the waves, the manager was attempting to banish what’s best about the island: its natural green beauty.

The Pura Dalem temple, close to the back entrance of Como Shambhala, was lacking in neither green moss nor beauty. It stood open to the elements, framed by palms and decorated with a row of vertical flags that it wore like a squaw’s crumbling headdress. Its statues, pillars and surrounding trees were dressed in kain poleng , the holy black-and-white-chequered cloth, and the main courtyard was packed with colourful flowers and fruit offerings.

It was a healing day at the temple, and locals were arriving in their best sarongs carrying baskets of gifts. A young group showed me a decorated fan made from fresh pig bits – guts and all – and pointed out the area where the illegal cock-fighting would take place later in the day. It was all very exotic, but incredibly accessible, and it occurred to me that the legendary friendliness of the locals must stem from events like these. The Balinese were maintaining their strong sense of community, joining together to celebrate and ritualising their lives without any sense of secrecy or taboo. An open animistic/Hindu religion, whose worshippers welcome beer-drinking omnivores like us to witness it, can only be good for the tourist trade.

Of course, Bali isn’t heaven on earth. In between the magic, there are the normal South-East Asian traffic jams of scurrying scooters on badly littered roads. There are beach bars pumping out bland world music to disillusioned gap-year students. Ubud is producing too many good, bad and downright ugly handicrafts, and some villa developments are blocking the views of the very rice fields that drew them there in the first place.

But for a first-time visitor like myself, Bali did manage to deliver three very special and vivid experiences – and there could have been a lot more. My photographer sneaked off for surf lessons on Kuta beach, while my Korean chums headed over to Seminyak for designer retail therapy. I could have started a Botox treatment or completed a course of colonic irrigation at a sanctuary. I could have trekked up a volcano, or visited the remote resorts on the north coast or simply stayed in the St Regis resort and got my 24-hour butler to bring me supplies from the chocolate fountain.

There is still plenty of room for paradise. Just avoid the drunken Aussies at Kuta and the downmarket handicraft shops, and seek out your own special Bali-hai island. Cue song and smiles all round.

credited to telegraph.co.uk and flickr users: c-j-b and jeffrey_huang528

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