The Amazing Stuff

In Oregon, there lies something rather haunting: a natural look into the ancient past and possibly the future. In Neskowin, a small coastal town, an old forest was once buried beneath hundreds of years worth of sands. After being unearthed in 1998 due to a storm that eroded much of the beach away, these ancient tree stumps have become a permanent fixture on the coast.

The stumps of this ghost forest found under Neskowin Beach are estimated to be nearly 2,000 years old.

They were unearthed after a storm in 1998, which eroded much of coastline.

It is believed that the forest was buried between the years 1680 and 1720 by a massive tsunami that enveloped the trees.

Other evidence points to an earthquake that may have hit Oregon around the same time that would have caused massive landmass changes.

No matter how it happened, it stands as a reminder that Mother Nature is nothing to mess with.

(via Amusing Planet)

What a beautiful and haunting reminder of the destructive (and redemptive) forces of nature.

The Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple in the Zhongnan Mountains of China is beautiful in its own right, but that’s not why hordes of tourists flock to the historic location around this time every year.

While those of us in the suburbs with big backyards find the whole idea of thousands of leaves falling onto our properties — ugh, raking — this particular temple counts it as a blessing.

And it’s pretty clear why that is.

The 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree drops its golden leaves come fall, blanketing the courtyard it rests in with gilded petals.

It’s believed that the tree was planted during Emperor Taizong of Tang’s reign (626-649).

Because of this, it resides on a national list for protected trees.

Monks come out to chant and pray with the tree.

It truly is a sight to see firsthand.

(via Bored Panda)

A natural occurrence as spectacular as this really makes you rethink raking as being a hassle.

Take a moment to truly appreciate the beauty of nature!

In the middle of Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert, near a small village named Derweze, rests a crater. But it’s not just any crater. No, this one is special. But it’s easier to explain why it’s so unique if you just take a look at it…

Pretty standard, right? Well, not exactly…

See, there’s a reason they call this the Door to Hell. Other names: Gates to Hell, the Crater of Fire.

Discovered in 1971, geologists were worried that the natural gas field would have adverse effects on neighboring towns.

In an effort to stop the spread of deadly methane gas, they set it on fire.

The cavern collapsed to form a giant, flaming crater.

The diameter is about 230 feet, and its depth is just under 100 feet.

Yes, those are people across the way.

Originally thought to burn off in days or just weeks, the crater has been aflame for more than 40 years.

The area surrounding the crater is popular for camping…if you dare.

I imagine it’s pretty toasty right on the edge there. Who’s up for a visit?

This might be what you best know Iceland for:

Snowy landscapes and the beautiful, awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis — or Northern Lights. But the country has so much more to offer.

Skaftafell rests inside Europe’s largest national park, Vatnajökull National Park.

It’s beautiful, but one of the main attractions is beyond breathtaking.

Svartifoss, or Black Fall, looks like a relatively normal waterfall from afar…

But upon closer inspection, its true draw reveals itself.

The lava columns that characterize the fall look almost man-made because they’re so geometric.

While there are no roads in the park, there are plenty of hiking trails, many of which lead here.

If Svartifoss didn’t convince you the park is worth a visit, I give you Skaftafellsjökull glacier.

And even more striking are the various otherworldly crystal ice caves.

Chya.

The world “hostel” makes many people think of small, dingy hotels in western Europe…or possibly a very violent Eli Roth movie. The truth is, hostels can be a wonderful place to stay during a trip. More often than not, they are inexpensive. Not only that, but if you look hard enough, you can find truly wonderful places — like Book And Bed Tokyo.

According to their website, Book And Bed is “an accommodation bookshop.”

Getting a good night’s rest isn’t necessarily the most important thing at this hostel.

Instead, the focus is on enjoying the city, exploring, and reading “just a little more” before bed.

“Our concept is thus a reader’s haven – an accommodation bookshop. (Books aren’t sold, though. It’s just an expression.) Dozing off obliviously during your treasured pastime is the finest ‘moment of sleep,’ don’t you agree?”

A Compact shelf compartment is 80.7 x 33.5 inches and the Standard is 80.7 x 50.8 inches.

The “rooms” will run anywhere between $32 and $50 per night, depending on the size.

The hostel was designed by Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida of Suppose Design Office.

A photo posted by BOOK AND BED TOKYO (@bookandbedtokyo) on Sep 17, 2015 at 11:00pm PDT

The hostel will be opening its doors on November 5, 2015. World travelers and bookworms alike should stop by this unique hostel — your evening will be relaxing, that is certain! Have a book day…and have a book night!

When he’s not working for an advertising agency, photographer Rich McCor is turning the world into a more entertaining place with the help of a few paper cutouts. Placed in front of landmarks, they turn everyday street scenes into charming, witty photos.

McCor got the idea after joining Instagram.

He was tired of taking ordinary photos, so he decided to start a clever Instagram series.

He started adding amusing cutouts to famous scenes and totally transforming them.

Here, the Eiffel Tower is ready for takeoff!

Initially, McCor challenged himself to do ten cutout photos around London, creating different compositions for each one. Coming up with clever ideas was a bit difficult, but the images quickly gained popularity on Instagram.

He also says that the process was extremely fun and rewarding, since he created awesome photos while also learning more about major landmarks and interacting with passersby.

This photo, for example, earned him the praise of a 10-year-old girl.

He can find inspiration in just about anything.

Of course, all of this planning and shooting makes McCor’s vacations a little different from the average traveler’s. “I am probably the worst sort of person to go on holiday with,” he jokes. “I’m constantly taking photos and tracking down ideas.” Still, he enjoys learning about every city he visits. This collection allows him to see popular landmarks from a whole new perspective.

He’s already created a ton of images, but he has no intentions of stopping!

You can see more of McCor’s cutout photos on Instagram, as well as a few more traditional travel pictures.

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