Amazing Commuters Do 30 Squats for a Free Train Ticket in Moscow

In anticipation of the 2014 Winter Olympics set to be held in Sochi, Russia, the city of Moscow decided to install a train ticket dispensing machine that offers commuters a free ride for completing 30 full squats in a row. Situated right next to the usual ticket vending machines where travelers can purchase rides, each special kiosk includes a short, blue pathway that leads to a mat with footprints on it for participants to stand on.

Once they're prepared, the machine starts a quick countdown and records each squat the person does in front of the machine. The fun, interactive installation is one that gets the people in the city excited for the Olympics while also promoting healthy activity. President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov says, "We wanted to show that the Olympic Games is not just an international competition that people watch on TV, but that it is also about getting everyone involved in a sporting lifestyle."

The machines offering free rides for squats will be available for one month. Shortly thereafter, the Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 7, 2014.

 

Adroable Colorful Siamese Fighting Fish

Visarute Angkatavanich gets incredibly close up to capture these stunning portraits of Siamese fighting fish in graceful, dancerly poses. The Thai photographer uses perfectly placed lighting to create the dramatic highlights and shadows that give personality to each little finned creature.

The photographs convey a sense of elegance that sits in direct contrast to the territorial nature of the popular freshwater aquarium fish. As they twist and turn and form captivating curves, Angkatavanich times his shots perfectly to capture the magnificence of the individual forms. His subjects are set against either a stark black or white background and the beauty of the flowing fins is playfully complemented by each naturally fierce facial expression.

Amazing loating Cycle Roundabout

For many Dutch people, their preferred mode of transportation is the bicycle. According to one estimate, every single day 14 million bicycle trips are made in Holland! Not surprisingly the country is well equipped with bicycle paths; bicycle traffic and safety is taken very seriously in the planning of infrastructure.

A magnificent example is the The Hovenring, a suspended bicycle path roundabout on the border between Eindhoven and Veldhoven. It is the first suspended bicycle roundabout in the world and was opened up for the public in June 2012 allowing bicycles to travel safely above the highly trafficked streets crossing below. Designed by ipv Delft, the bridge comprises a 70-metre high pylon, 24 steel cables and a circular bridge deck and is made out of circa 1.000 tons of steel.

The Hovenring is a suspended bicycle path roundabout on the border between Eindhoven and Veldhoven in the Netherlands. It is the first suspended bicycle roundabout in the world. 

Norway 800 Year Old Stave Church in Borgund

Norway is the only country in Northern Europe with wooden churches from the Middle Ages still intact. During the Middle Ages, when immense cathedrals were being built in stone in other places in Europe, a similar technique was developed in Norway for building in wood. Boat construction and home building in the Viking times had developed the technique and tradition of combining art with wood working. This culminated in the stave churches. The stave churches are a particularly valuable part of the Norwegian architectural heritage, and are considered to be of national and global importance.

Photo — Link

Norway's oldest wooden church is Urnes Stave Church in Luster by the Sognefjord. It is also the only stave church to feature on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. Built in 1150, it was once a private church for a powerful family. Its builders were aware of international trends in architecture, and transferred these trends from stone to wood. The interior of the church is exceptionally richly decorated with motifs from real life such as elk and doves, but also imaginary centaurs and dragons. This decoration has become known as the Urnes style.

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link

Photo — Link