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The Child WIth 8 Limbs

July 4th 2008 02:24

As reported in the Daily Mail, a two-year-old girl worshipped as a goddess after being born with four arms and four legs is taking her first steps since having her extra limbs removed.

Lakshmi Tatama is an Indian girl born in 2005 in a village in Araria district, Bihar, having "4 arms and 4 legs." She was actually a pair of ischiopagus conjoined twins where one twin was headless due to its head atrophying and chest under-developing in the womb. The result looked like one child with four arms and four legs.

Families in her remote village in India believed she was the reincarnation of the eight limbed Hindu goddess of wealth and fortune Lakshmi.

Her parents were reluctant to agree to the operation for fear it would bring bad luck until doctors told them she would struggle to survive into her teens without it.

Now the brave youngster is learning to walk for the first time eight months after the successful 27-hour procedure.

Lakshmi learning to walk again after having extra limbs removed

Lakshmi, whose progress is being monitored by American television's National Geographic Channel and ABC, now attends a school for disabled children.

*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Lakshmi Tatma

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Posted By: Ian - Category: people

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The Bungle Bungle Ranges, Western Australia

July 2nd 2008 12:38

The Bungle Bungle Ranges

(through one traveller’s eyes)

The striped domes of The Bungle Bungle Ranges

When you visit The Bungle Bungle Ranges, you will be impressed with the sheer length, breadth, height, colour and isolation of this unique, impressive wilderness. The Purnululu National Park has been declared a World Heritage site because of its amazing natural beauty and outstanding geological value. The easily recognisable striped, sandstone beehive features make them unique in the world.

The Bungle Bungle Ranges have only recently been thrown into the limelight. In the early 1980’s a TV documentary about the cattle industry was being shot nearby. The crew producing the documentary were flown over The Bungle Bungle Ranges and were so impressed with what they saw the Ranges featured in the documentary.

There are many ways to visit The Bungle Bungle Ranges so it pays to do your homework and choose the tour which interests you. If you have a 4WD you can drive yourself and make use of the camp sites. Otherwise organised tours range from a fly over to a four day stay. Scenic helicopter flights over The Bungle Bungle Ranges, taking off from near the Parks airstrip, have become popular.

Our visit was a two day organised tour. We had to rise at 4 am to be ready to be picked up from our accommodation at 5 am. When we arrived at the Kununurra airport we were surprised to be introduced to several pilots who were waiting to take passengers on flights over the Bungles, or to the Bungles for an extended stay. At the appropriate time each pilot called out the names of the people who were to be his/her passengers for the morning. We were on the last plane to leave but eventually our names were called and off we went. Walking out onto the tarmac we noticed several small planes taking off, one after the other. Standing by our plane we wondered how we and our luggage would all fit, but eventually we had folded ourselves in and, when it was our turn to use the runway, off we went.

After arriving at the Bungle Bungles we indulged in a delicious breakfast and before travelling to the northern end of the Bungle Bungle Ranges for two walks, Mini Palm Gorge and Echidna Chasm.

Mini Palm Gorge

Mimi Palm Gorge is a five kilometre return walk. For the first twenty minutes (approx) we walked over an ancient river bed, which is made up of thousands of river smoothed pebbles. Next we found ourselves walking passed and climbing over large and small boulders of conglomerate rock. Eventually we were walking through impressively tall, colourful cliffs. At the end of the walk we climbed steps which lead onto a platform from which we could see mini palms, growing in a scenic amphitheatre. In the past people were allowed to walk among the mini palms (from which the gorge got its name) but the platform has been provided to conserve the palms and their environment.

Echidna Chasm

The Echidna Chasm walk also began on water smoothed pebbles, but it wasn’t long before we were making our way up a narrow chasm, the sides of which were impressively high (top photo). Eventually it opened up into an awe-inspiring dome shaped cavern. To continue the walk we had to climb over conglomerate rocks (bottom photo) until the chasm came to an end.

After the exhilarating first day we eagerly set out on the second morning for the walk which would take us to Cathedral Gorge.

Cathedral Gorge, Bungle Bungles, Purnululu National Park

Walking to Cathedral Gorge, Bungle Bungle Range

On the way to the Piccaninny Car Park (Cathedral Gorge walk) we were treated to our first glimpse of the striped sandstone domes, for which the Bungle Bungles are renowned. They are as huge and striking as we were led to believe they would be. As the above photo shows the walk to Cathedral Gorge is surrounded by these huge domes.

Amphitheatre, Cathedral Gorge, Bungle Bungles

The end of Cathedral Gorge opens up into an enormous, spectacular amphitheatre, which is open at the top. We were fortunate enough to spend time in this special place, soaking up the atmosphere as we ate our lunch. Words cannot describe the size and beauty of this place.

Piccaninny Creek, Bungle Bungles, Purnululu National Park

Weathered rocks on the dry creek bed of Piccaninny Creek

After Cathedral Gorge we wandered along the dry bed of Piccaninny Creek (above photo) and along the path to the Lookout. The view from the Lookout was spectacular (photo below).

Piccaninny Creek Lookout, Bungle Bungles, Purnululu National Park

View from the Piccaninny Creek Lookout

During our walks in the Bungle Bungle Ranges our guide pointed out many interesting plants and natural features. There are too many to mention here so I will share just four of them with you.

Missletoe

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant. This Mistletoe plant is visited by a bird that sits ‘straddle fashion’ on branches. The seed of this plant is ‘gluey’. The Missletoe Bird eats the seed and flies to another tree. When it passes the seed, because it is ‘gluey’, the bird has to ‘wipe’ it onto the branch of the new tree, which becomes the host for the new Missletoe plant.

Hard Spinifex Plant

Aboriginal people used to throw a whole Hard Spinifex Plant into the river and get the children to splash around in the water. Frightened fish would swim into the Spinifex to hide. When the Spinifex was pulled from the water a feed of fish was had by all.

Gnama Hole

Gnama Holes are formed in the wet when pebbles are swirled round and round in the rock hole. It was explained to us that Aboriginal people would place rocks over the smaller gnama holes to help prevent evaporation.

Rock Fig

The Rock Fig grows with its roots clinging to the rocks.

Photos cannot show or words describe how enormous, unique and awesome the Bungle Bungles really are. Our visit to this World Heritage Site has etched the vivid scenery and atmosphere in my memory forever.

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Posted By: Ian - Category: places

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Storm Over An Island

June 30th 2008 02:56

Amazing shot of a tornado forming right over this small island.
Not the place you would want to be at the moment!

*This image used with permission from Damn Funny Pictures.

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Posted By: Ian - Category: weather

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The Sad Truth About War

June 27th 2008 13:45

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Posted By: Ian - Category: military

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Bugatti Veyron

June 25th 2008 12:09

Bugatti Veyron

This car has an 8L V16 engine (Actually they are 2, 4L V8 engines which joined form an 8L V16), with 1001Hp @6000 rpm, 1250NM, 4 TURBO’s and a 7 speed gear box.

It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds (the Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds)

Maximum speed is 405 km/h ... Electronically limited

To get an idea of how fast 405km/h is, at this speed you will travel 113 meters a second!!

For example, until now, the second fastest speed in the world was the celebrated McLaren f1 (387 km/h) and the fastest was the Koenigsegg JRC - (388 km/h!)

If we place McLaren and Bugatti side by side in a straight line, the McLaren will tear off in first place until 193Km/h, then Bugatti is first to 321Km/h!

The fuel tank has a capacity of 100 litres.
It is possible to drive with your foot to the floor for only12 minutes, then the tank will be dry!
With all this power, the car burns rubber so Volkswagen literally needed to get Michelin to create a new type of tire for Veyron. The tires measure 265/30R 20 on the front and 335/30R 20 on the back. They are New!
As for the brakes... they "are guaranteed" to make it possible to slow down from 402Km/h to 0 in only 10 seconds!
The price? 1.230.000 Euros (for 300.000 Euros there is Lamborghini Murciélago) (About AU$2 million)

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Posted By: Ian - Category: technology

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Uncontacted Tribes

June 23rd 2008 11:39

Uncontacted peoples are peoples who, either by choice or chance, live without significant contact with the larger civilizations of the world.

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Posted By: Ian - Category: people

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Beautiful Harbours of the World

June 20th 2008 13:09

There are so many beautiful harbours around the world, it's impossible to choose the best. Here are a few choice examples.

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Posted By: Ian - Category: landscape

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Faroe Islands

June 18th 2008 12:43

The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s) or Faeroes, meaning "Sheep Islands", are an island group consisting of eighteen islands off the coast of Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway; the closest neighbours being the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland.

Tindhólmur, the highest point on the majestic Faroe Islands.

The islands are rugged and rocky with some low peaks; the coasts are mostly bordered by cliffs. The highest point is Slættaratindur, 882 metres (2,894 ft) above sea level. There are areas below sea level

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Posted By: Ian - Category: places

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Military Submarines

June 16th 2008 12:26

Virginia (SSN 774) submarine at Norfolk, Virginia Naval Station, where it was commissioned in October 2004.

Although experimental submarines had been built before, submarine design took off during the 19th century. Submarines were first widely used in World War I, and feature in many large navies. Military usage ranges from attacking enemy ships or submarines, aircraft carrier protection, blockade running, ballistic missile submarines as part of a nuclear strike force, reconnaissance and covert insertion of special forces.

The British Navy's HMS Vanguard on exercise.

Civilian uses for submarines include marine science, salvage, exploration and facility inspection/maintenance. Submarines can also be specialised to a function such as search and rescue, or undersea cable repair. Submarines are also used in tourism and for academic research

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Posted By: Ian - Category: military

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