The Tree of 40 Kinds of Fruit

Location: New York, USA

This isn't a Photoshop. This tree is actually an enchanting palette of purples and pinks. It’s called the Tree of 40 Fruit, and it literally grows 40 different kinds of fruit. From peaches to plums, apricots to almonds, nectarines, cherries, you name it. It took 6 years to complete the tree.

Van Aken is a professor from Syracuse University. Having grown up on his family farm he had amassed quite the knowledge base about working with fruit and trees. So far, he's grown 16 Trees of 40 Fruit. Through a process of chip grafting sculptor/contemporary artist Sam Van Akenis was able to graft together various types of fruit trees into a single tree. After buying a run-down orchard in upstate New York, (at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station) which had hundreds of fruit trees, Van Aken began the grafting process on a single tree. 

Sculpted through the process of grafting, the Tree of 40 Fruit blossom in variegated tones of pink, crimson and white in spring, and in summer bear a multitude of fruit. Primarily composed of native and antique varieties the Tree of 40 Fruit are a form of conversation, preserving heirloom stone fruit varieties that are not commercially produced or available.

The Rockies Hike Story – Plain of Six Glaciers (By: Saira Bhatti)

By Saira Bhatti

Jeffrey Rasley rightly said “Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains”.  Recently I took a trip to the mountains, to the majestic Rockies on the Canadian side and got a glimpse of God’s grand creation. Travelling with two more companions, we were based in the Lake Louise area at a lodge; We reached the lodge at 3:00 am and were up and ready at 8:00 am to kick off our hike into the rockies. We don’t remember of being tired, we were energized by the view of the mountains around us.

The first destination we took was a 6 to 7 km hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers, one of the classics in the Rocky Mountains. Its a moderate hike with a diverse terrain. You will come across many hikers on this trail. It offers a great view of the famous Lake Louise on different levels and experience of array of mountains of Mount Lefroy and mount Victoria and Mount Aberdeen and surrounding glaciers. Initial few kilometers are relatively simple and flat which is a nice hike along the side of Lake Louise. After almost 1 km, the hike started to pick up elevation. The path was varied and became rockier as we climbed. One thing I came to know about myself while hiking on this elevation that I have been a sloth for too long as I started to loose my stamina...”Time to hit the Gym” is what I first thought. We stopped on various locations during the hike and took a moment to view the beauty around us. The silence of the mountains, the running water of the stream and the turquoise color of Lake Louise in the distance was breathtaking. The view was getting impressive as we continued to hike up towards the glaciers. Also summers had kicked in but we did came across very slippery snow patches. It is good to be equipped with hiking sticks in this situation. In our case we were not expecting this so were without the hiking sticks. The best way in this condition is to walk closer to the ground and using the bushes as support.

After almost 1.5hours into the hike, we reached a cosy welcoming tea house. We took our seats, my companions ordered soup and I got myself Masala Chai Latte. I am a devoted tea drinker and  tea aka Chai is serious business for me. This tea house did not disappoint me at all. The tea house offered a homely feel and is a fantastic pitstop surrounded by  Mount Lefroy, Mount Aberdeen and Mount Victoria. Please keep in mind this place only accept cash! While we reached the tea house, we were almost at 6,800 feet. The view of the whole valley, lake louise, the array of peaks and glaciers was a million dollar experience.

After taking a break, we started to hike again for additional 1.5 kilometers to take a closer look at the lower glacier of Mount Victoria. The hike was short but tricky since still there was snow but luckily not slippery. The terrain was getting steeper and steeper. We looked back and the view had entirely changed. There was no visibility of the tea house or the lake, just the mountains, the sky and the glaciers. That was the WOW moment for us. One of my fellow hiker had started to experience vertigo so she decided to discontinue and wait for us. Myself and my other friend continued with full determination. We came across a narrow ridge. There was a slight adrenaline rush as I walked on the ridge. One side of the ridge was a slope straight into the rocky valley; Gradually we hiked and at the end of the ridge we could finally view the lower Victoria glacier. That was the point when we turned around and started to head back. On our way back we decided to take the connector to another hike.....this connector has its own story. Stay tuned for my next story.

 

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Agnolotti Pasta - Italian Cuisine

Agnolotti is a type of pasta typical of the Piedmont region of Italy, made with small pieces of flattened pasta dough, folded over with a roast beef meat and vegetable stuffing. Agnolotti is the plural form of the Italian word agnolotto. The origin of the name may come from the name 'Angelot' from Montferrat, who is said to be the inventor of the recipe, or from the Latin word 'anellus', which refers to the ring-shaped material within the pasta.

Agnolotti are prepared by immersion in boiling water. Typically, they are dressed in a beef broth and a little melted butter or in a fresh sage and melted butter sauce, as a complex sauce would detract from the flavours in the agnolotti pockets. In both cases topped with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese but no cheese resides in the agnolotti. The dish is associated with Piedmont in Italy and is not to be confused with Parma's stuffed pasta pockets called 'Anolini'.

Although their primitive shape was circular, traditionally agnolotti are of a square shape, side of about 1 inch. However, they can also be of a rectangular smaller shape when they are called 'Agnolotti al Plin'.

Frozen Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls is a 53-foot (16 meter) waterfall located in Minneapolis in Minnehaha Park on Minnehaha Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Minnehaha means waterfall in Dakota language.

Minnehaha Falls has a secret which is revealed towards the end of winter.  As the frozen waterfall begins to melt, holes appear in the sheets of ice which reveal something if not extraordinary, then very cool indeed.  Minnehaha is an overhang waterfall, which means there is an air space behind the falling water. And behind that air space there is a small cave.

The beautiful cave waterfall is easily accessible during the year by foot with just a short hike . In winter, extremely cold temperatures freeze the cascade creating the magnificent sight of water flow on pause! The bright blue glowing ice feels grotto behind the waterfalls and quickly turns into a multi-colored sheet of rainbowed ice as the light shines through.

Devil's Pool (The Most Dangerous Pool)

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and home to bungee jumping, gorge-swinging, white-water rafting and every extreme sport you can imagine, this is not a "hold-your-hand" environment.

After thousands of years of erosion, many rock pools have formed and one of them has formed right on the very edge of the sheer drop. 

Devil's Pool Jump

Devil's Pool or Babinda Boulders is a natural rock pool on the edge of the Victoria Falls, located along the Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

During the dry season, Devil's Pool is shallow enough that people can safely swim right to the edge before the waterfall drops more than 300 feet (100m). You don't get swept down by the force of the falls because of a natural rock wall just below the surface which is called "the armchair." The dry season usually lasts from September to December in this part of the world. There are guides in attendance who are there to make sure you don’t go over the edge.

The legend arises from the story of a woman who married a respected tribal elder but ran away with a beautiful young man visiting for the event. When they were captured she threw herself into the waters to escape, calling for her lover to follow her. The legend goes that her spirit guards the boulders and that her calls for her lover can still be heard.

Baobab Tree Bar (1700 years old Tree Pub)

Location:  South Africa

If you want to visit one of the coolest bars in the world, you aren't going to find one quite as amazing and unique as the Baobab Tree Pub.

The Sunland Baobab is a 72-foot tall, 155-foot wide tree in South Africa that also doubles as one of the coolest bars in the world. As if that wasn't amazing enough, it also holds the record as the widest tree in the world, and the largest tree in South Africa. According to carbon dating, the Big Baobab is over 1,700 years old. There's been much discussion about the tree pubs age however, as the Baobab doesn't start to hollow until it reaches 1000 years old. Judging by the 13-foot ceilings and room inside for 40 people, Big Bao has been around much, much longer.

The entire Sunland Baobab consists of a campground complete with five thatched "jungalows". Each teepee shaped hut comes with its own kitchen, rondawel dining room, and a bathroom that lets you "shower under the glorious southern night sky and its millions of African stars!" There's plenty of places to curl up and read a book, or watch the sunset from between its ancient branches. And of course you can always grab a drink inside the amazing tree pub, itself to cap off a perfect day. 

Of course, what makes Sunset Baobab amazing is, Big Baobab the tree pub. which has a, "natural vent in the trunk to make a door and installed a railway sleeper pub inside the trunk, complete with draft beer, seats and a music system. One party had 60 people inside the tree bar!. A wine cellar was installed in a second hollow, with a constant temperature of 22° C, ventilated by natural vents. The tree blooms gloriously in spring. It is home to many bird species, including two pairs of owls."

Sunland is also the perfect place to get out and explore the surrounding Modjadjiskloff Cycad Forest, and the local Magoebaskloff hills and forest.

Lake Natron (Lake That Turns Animals to Stone)

Location: Tanzania 

This lake is considered one Africa’s most beautiful and serene bodies of water, but for the animals that wander too close to it, the lake is a horror show. Anything that makes the deadly mistake of drinking from Lake Natron is turned to stone.

The bizarre phenomena is a result of Lake Natron’s incredibly high alkaline content. The lake is so caustic that it literally burns the animals who get too close to it, blinding them and filling their nasal cavities with poison. What’s left of the animal is a black, hardened shell.

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There’s nothing quite like the feeling of cannon balling into a beautiful body of water during a hot summer day, but after taking a close look at these lakes, you’re going to want to check twice before making that dive. These gorgeous but deadly lakes are the true meaning of “look, don’t touch.”