Animals In News

Toudi is thought to be the world's smallest Chihuahua. At 12 weeks old he weighs 300g and is 7cm high.

Wherever sharks swim in these shallow waters off Heron Island in Queensland, Australia they are guaranteed a clear path as scared fish move out of their way. The sharks aren't even attempting to eat any but the petrified fish don't want to risk becoming the dinner of the feared predator. Software engineer Scott Carr was looking for a picturesque spot for bridal pictures the day before his wedding when he came across the school of fish trying to avoid the lemon sharks.

Baby orangutan Diri eats a treat while climbing in his enclosure at Prague Zoo, Czech Republic

A lion and a lioness interact with each other in a cage at the Leningradsky Zoo in Saint Petersburg

A gosling peers out from beneath its mother's wings in Santa Clara, California

Doting mum Kimya cares for her 3-week-old newborn, who has recently been named Kanzi, at Melbourne Zoo. The youngster was the first gorilla baby born at the zoo since 2000 and is the product of the international endangered species breeding program. She has been named Kanzi, which means 'a treasure' in Swahili, after an online vote. Father Otana made the long journey from Melbourne to Howlett's Wild Animal Park in Kent in September 2013, while mother Kimya arrived a month later from her birthplace at Taronga Zoo.

This giraffe gives her young calf a nudge in the right direction

A one-month-old jaguar cub looks out of a bucket at the Leningradsky Zoo in Saint Petersburg

A pair of 1-month-old baby clouded leopard cubs are presented to the media by zoo keepers at the Olmense Zoo in Olmen, Belgium

Two dogs interact with each other during a group wedding for pet dogs at Purple Jade Villas in Beijing. A total of 21 dog "couples" walked down the aisle

Best friends 'Chai' the pug and 'Lola' the kitten wait to be given a new home at the Sydney Cats and Dogs Home in Sydney, Australia

A young visitor holds up her toy bunny to the aquarium glass in front of Aurora the Russian polar bear at the aquarium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two Russian polar bears, Aurora and Peregrino, were moved from the Kazan Zoo and arrived in the South American country in December. After four months of adaptation the two bears made their public debut on Thursday

Eshima Ohashi Bridge

The roller coaster-like Eshima Ohashi bridge, located in the Chugoku region of Honshu, Japan, has a gradient of 6.1 percent on one side and 5.1 percent on another. It spans one mile across Lake Nakaumi linking cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato. (The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)

See How This Artist Transforms Rocks Into Art

Australian artist Elspeth McLean has found a way to add more beauty to the world. She uses the Buddhist practice of mandalas, symmetrical drawings, to transform ordinary sea stones into art. Her remarkable painted stones are a treat for the eyes, as well as a meditative practice for Elspeth. Each rock tells a story, drawn from her life experiences.

 

 

Home To 40,000 Monks

 I (Wanson Luk)could not believe there was such an amazing place on earth. I decided to visit this place at any cost. After doing some research, I found this is place called Sêrtar, located around 600km from Chengdu. It has the world’s biggest Buddhist school called Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, founded in 1980s starting from scratch.

Now, it inhabits over 40,000 monks and nuns who cope with tough climates everyday just to learn Buddhism.

It took me over 20 hours getting here from Chengdu, China via an endless bumpy road. The pain was gone once I arrive in this surreal world. Tibetan people visit there for worship, monks and nuns stay for learning. I cannot resist to share pictures of this place here.
Nuns traveling to school by walking down from 4000m

 

Night scene of the monastery

 

Nun dwellings where TV is not allowed. No toilet and heating system as well

 

Tibetan people share the same area with the monks and nuns

Everyone is so dedicated for praying

Inside the monastery

 

They pray by spinning the prayer wheel

 

Monks learning after school

 

Tibetan prostration

 

I just think that she looks graceful

 

Monks learning after school

 

The village accommodates around 40000 monks and nuns

 

The World's Tallests Statues

Statues are built as celebrations of gods, historical events and important personalities. The tallest try reach the sky and make you take notice of what they are commemorating. They are also works of art, and can take years to build. Here are some of the grandest ones ever built.

Statue of Liberty, USA The Statue of Liberty is the shortest statue on this list at just 151 feet tall; however she gains height because the statue rests on a 154 foot pedestal. The statue depicts the Roman goddess of freedom Libertas and was a gift to the United States from France in 1886.

Ten Directions Pu Xian Buddha, China

This dramatic gold colored 157 foot statue of the Buddha Samantabhadra can be found on Sichuan province’s Mount Emei.

Sodoshima Dai-Kannon, Japan

This impressive landmark in the Kagawa Prefecture houses  several prayer halls, an elevator, and an observation deck. This 164 foot masterpiece honors the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon.

Peter the Great Statue, Russia

The fact that the monument to Peter the Great is located in the Russian capital of Moscow is ironic, considering the  commemorated once moved the capital to St. Petersburg. This imposing 315 tall statue is made of copper, bronze and stainless steel.

Buddha in Aluthgama, Sri Lanka

The spectacular statue in coastal Aluthgama, Sri Lanka is considered the tallest sitting Buddha statue in the world at 160 feet. Built in 2007 it has become one of the country’s most important tourist destinations.

Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya, China

This breathtaking statue is the fourth tallest in the world at 354 feet tall, with 3 different faces and represents the Guanyin. The statue is located in Nanshan Temple of Sanya.

Virgin of Peace, Venezuela

This concrete statue stands 153 feet tall and is the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary. It is also the tallest sculpture in all of the Americas. Despite its grandeur, it does not receive many visitors.

Great Buddha of Thailand

Thailand’s tallest statue is not only 300 feet tall but also  210 feet wide, and is the ninth tallest statue in the world.  The cement statue is painted gold to represent the Gautama  Buddha, the most important figure in Buddhism.

Mother of the Motherland, Ukraine

The largest statue in Eastern Europe is Kiev’s 203 foot Mother  of Motherland. This stainless steel structure is part of the Museum  of Great Patriotic War and weighs 560 tons.

Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan

This 394 foot bronze statue has a 32 foot pedestal and represents  the Amitabha Buddha. The structure is also fitted with an elevator,  allowing visitors to enjoy a view from its observation platform.

Leshan Giant Buddha, China

Facing Mount Emei at the intersection of the Minjiang, Dadu  and Qingyi rivers is the Leshan Giant Buddha. This historic  statue dating back to the 7th century became a UNESCO  World Heritage Site in 1996.

Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar

At 381 feet tall the Laykyun Setkyar is the world’s  second tallest statue, and represents the Gautama Buddha.

Spring Temple Buddha, China

Boasting the title of the tallest statue on earth is the Spring  Temple Buddha, which can be visited in Zhoacun, Henan.  If you include the 82 foot pedestal, this Buddha stands at 502 feet.  The statue represents Vairocana Buddha and overlooks a Buddhist monastery.