Tag Archives: Asia

Por-Bazhyn Fortress

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Por-Bazhyn Fortress

MilThe intriguing Por-Bazhyn Fortress.

  • Por-Bazhyn Fortress is a construction built centuries ago, found on a lake island in the mountainous Tuva area in Siberia, Russia, and it now lays in ruins.
  • ‘Por-Bazhyn Fortress’ is also known as ‘Por Bajin Fortress’ and ‘Por-Bazhyng Fortress’, with its name from the native Tuvan language meaning ‘clay house’.
  • Por-Bazhyn Fortress encompasses an area almost the size of the small island it is situated on, so its walls are not far from the waters of the remote lake Tere-Khol.
  • Por-Bazhyn Fortress covers a rectangle-shaped area of approximately 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres) with dimensions of 162 by 215 metres (531 by 705 feet).
  • It is thought that Por-Bazhyn Fortress was built sometime between 750 to 790 AD, possibly purposed as a palace or for ritual, religious or military practices, but as of 2015, there was little evidence to support any of these suggestions.
Por-Bazhyn Fortress, Place, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Construction, Russia, Lake, AncientPor-Bazhyn Fortress
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • The outer wall of Por-Bazhyn Fortress currently reaches a height of up to 10 to 12 metres (33 to 39 feet), while the inner walls are 1.5 metres (5 feet) at their highest point.
  • Por-Bazhyn Fortress was initially excavated from 1957 to 1963 by S.I. Vajnstejn, a Russian archeologist, after it was explored earlier in 1891, while extensive work and studies of the site were undertaken in 2007 to 2008 by the cultural foundation of the fortress.
  • Rammed earth and clay materials were used in the construction of the walls of Por-Bazhyn Fortress, while wooden beams were utilised for support, and the site has distinct Chinese architectural features.
  • Like many other details of Por-Bazhyn Fortress, it is unknown how the fortress was actually destroyed and why it was abandoned, though earthquakes and/or fire are possible causes, and it is believed that the site was used only for a short time, if at all.
  • Only a small quantity of artifacts have been retrieved from Por-Bazhyn Fortress, and these have included footprints, burnt timber, an earring, a dagger, drawings and building materials.
Bibliography:
Holloway A, 1,300-Year-Old Fortress-Like Structure on Siberian Lake Continues to Mystify Experts, 2014, Ancient Origin, http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/1300-year-old-fortress-structure-siberian-lake-013323
Por-Bajin, 2016, Atlas Obscura, http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/por-bajin
Por-Bazhyn, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Por-Bazhyn
The Por-Bazhyn Fortress, 2016, Amusing Planet, http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/03/the-por-bazhyn-fortress.html

The Mustang Caves

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The Mustang Caves

Is it worth climbing the treacherous heights of the Mustang Caves just to bury the dead?

  • The Mustang Caves is a network of manmade caves found in a remote area of Nepal, in the Himalaya mountain region, in Asia.
  • The ‘Mustang Caves’ are also known as the ‘Caves of Mustang’ and ‘Sky Caves of Nepal’.
  • Some of the Mustang Caves reach an elevation of 47 metres (155 feet) from the valley floor.
  • Around 10,000 caves are thought to be associated with the Mustang Caves network, many of which were homes, contain murals, or are sites of burials.
  • Originally the Mustang Caves were not accessible to foreigners as a result of political unrest in nearby Tibet, and since 1992, it has been open to visitors who obtain a permit.
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Mustang Caves
Image courtesy of Elaphurus/Flickr
  • At least 8000 documents have been discovered in the Mustang Caves, most thought to originate from around the 1400s AD, and many are works of a spiritual nature.
  • Climbing up the Mustang Caves can be dangerous task, as rocks ahead are prone to loosening or crumbling, while the stability of the ledges are unpredictable.
  • It is thought that the Mustang Caves were originally used as gravesites, and were later adapted as shelters and homes, and by the 1400s, they were mostly abandoned and used for religious purposes.
  • Approximately two thirds to three quarters of the human bones found occupying the Mustang Caves have cuts on them, possibly as a result of the civilisation’s burial procedure of slicing the flesh off the bones and allowing vultures to consume it.
  • In the Mustang Caves area there are a few small towns and villages, and as the area once belonged to Tibet and was closed to outsiders for a long time, it has kept much of its historical language and culture, most of which reflects Tibetan customs.
Bibliography:
The Ancient Mysteries of Mustang’s Caves, 2013, BBC Travel, http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20130501-the-ancient-mysteries-of-mustangs-caves
Bond A, Mystery of the ancient kingdom discovered in Nepal where thousands of caves are carved 155ft off the ground, 2013, Daily Mail Australia, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2403094/Mystery-ancient-caves-Nepal.html
Cave People of the Himalaya, 2012, PBS, http://www.pbs.org/program/cave-people-himalaya/
The Mysterious Caves of Mustang, Nepal, 2016, Amusing Planet, http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/03/the-mysterious-caves-of-mustang-nepal.html
Finkel M, Sky Caves of Nepal, 2016, National Geographic, http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/mustang-caves/finkel-text

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Japanese Laurel

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Japanese Laurel

Money may not grow on trees… but gold spots grow on Japanese laurels.

  • Japanese laurels are a species of shrubby plant native to the forests of Japan, China and Korea.
  • ‘Japanese laurels’ are also known as ‘spotted laurels’, ‘gold dust plants’ and ‘Japanese acuba’.
  • The scientific name of a Japanese laurel is Aucuba japonica and it is from the family Garryaceae, a family of evergreen dicot shrubs and trees.
  • Japanese laurels generally grow to be heights of 1.8 to 3 metres (6 to 10 feet), however some varieties can be as short as 0.9 metres (3 feet).
  • The green leathery leaves of Japanese laurels are often variegated, dotted with yellow specks, and the leaves are usually between 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches) in length.

Japanese Laurel, Vegetation, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Food, Green, Plant

  •  Japanese laurels are hardy and easily grown in a wide range of conditions, and they can be situated in shade to full sun.
  • Non-edible berries, around 1.3 centimetres (0.5 inch) in size, are produced in autumn, on female Japanese laurels if fertilised by a nearby male, and they are a red colour, and not eaten by birds.
  • Japanese laurels produce deep red to purple coloured flowers that typically bloom in spring, and the flowers form differently on the male plants, compared to the females.
  • Japanese laurels are popularly used ornamentally as a hedge or for other landscaping purposes.
  • A number of varieties of Japanese laurels have received the Award of Garden Merit from the United Kingdom’s Royal Horticultural Society.
Bibliography:
Aucuba Japonica, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aucuba_japonica
Aucuba Japonica, n.d, Missouri Botanical Gardens, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e496
Japanese Laurel, 2016, Fine Gardening, http://www.finegardening.com/japanese-laurel-aucuba-japonica

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Gibbon

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Gibbon

Gibbons may be small, but they still are apes.

  • Gibbons are a group of around 17 species of primate, that live in family groups in trees, in tropical forests of southeast Asia.
  • The scientific name of the gibbon family is Hylobatidae, and they are from the superfamily Hominoidea, which is the group of apes.
  • ‘Gibbons’ are also known as the ‘smaller apes’ or ‘lesser apes’, in comparison to the more well known ‘great apes’, and as an ape, they do not possess a tail.
  • Gibbons grow to be around 44 to 90 centimetres (17 to 35 inches) in height and they generally weigh between 4 to 13 kilograms (9 to 29 pounds), depending on the species.
  • The diet of gibbons is predominately fruit, especially figs, but it also consists of insects, leaves, flowers and sometimes bird eggs.
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Gibbon
Image courtesy of Leszek Leszczynski/Flickr
  • Typically, gibbons will have one partner for life, and the females usually give birth to one baby every two to three years, with the young taking roughly six to seven years to become independent; and they can have a lifespan of 25 years or more.
  • The colour of gibbon hair is determined by the species and gender, and it can range from brown, grey, black, cream, and white – which is often evident around the face and sometimes on the feet and hands.
  • Gibbons have a ball-and-socket like joint at their wrists, as well as long arms, that allow for swinging between trees at speeds of 56 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour), making them one of the fastest tree-dwelling mammals in the world.
  • When walking on two feet, either on the ground or on branches, gibbons use their arms to assist in balance; and they communicate with each other via calls and ‘songs’ with their loud voices.
  • Primarily due to habitat destruction, all gibbon species in 2015, bar one, were considered critically endangered or endangered, which led the primate to come into the spotlight as the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s 2015 animal, to further encourage its conservation.
Bibliography:
Gibbon, 2016, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/gibbon/
Gibbon, 2016, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/gibbon/
Gibbon, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbon

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Buddha’s Hand

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Buddha’s Hand

Are you’re eating someone’s hand when you’re eating Buddha’s hand?

  • Buddha’s hands are a variety of citrus fruit notable for growing numerous finger-like ‘tentacles’.
  • ‘Buddha’s hands’ are also known as ‘fingered citrons’, ‘fragrant citrons’, ‘five fingered mandarins’, and ‘goblin fingers’.
  • The Buddha’s hand fruit grows on trees with the scientific name Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, a variety of citron, and it comes from the family Rutaceae, the family of citrus.
  • When ripe, the finger-like appendages of Buddha’s hands generally spread outward to take the appearance of an open hand.
  • The colour of ripe Buddha’s hands range from bright yellow to orange-gold shades, while unripe fruit is usually coloured green.
Buddha's Hand, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Yellow, Fingered Citron, Trivia, Fruit, Culinary
Buddha’s Hand
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Buddha’s hands grow on a plant thought to be native to parts of India and possibly China, both in Asia.
  • Buddha’s hands contain next to no juice and have little pulp, with many specimens containing no seeds either, and this results in a fruit which is virtually all pith and rind.
  • A pleasant aroma is released from Buddha’s hands, and as such, the fruit can be used as a perfume or to freshen air in buildings.
  • Buddha’s hands reach a length of 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches), and the rind and the pith of the fruit do not usually have the bitterness typical with other citrus fruits.
  • Buddha’s hands are often candied and made into jams, while pieces of the fruit can be added to both savoury and sweet dishes, and the zest can be used to flavour alcoholic beverages, baked goods, marinades, and other food dishes.
Bibliography:
Buddha’s Hand, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha%27s_hand
Citron ‘Buddhas Hand’ – Citrus Medica var. Sarcodactylis, 2016, van Veen Organics, http://vanveenorganics.com/product/citron-buddhas-hand/
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, n.d, Missouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e864
Osborne T, Buddha Hand Citron: Growing this Amazing Tree, 2013, Tasty Landscape, http://tastylandscape.com/2013/07/05/buddha-hand-citron-growing-this-amazing-looking-tree/

Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

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Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

Maybe one day someone will see an oriental fire-bellied toad combust.

  • Oriental fire-bellied toads are a species of frog native to Korea, southern parts of Japan, northeastern areas of China and south-eastern sections of Russia.
  • The scientific name of an oriental fire-bellied toad is Bombina orientalis and it is from the family Bombinatoridae, the family of fire-bellied toads.
  • Oriental fire-bellied toads grow to be 3.5 to 8 centimetres (1.4 to 3 inches) in length and weigh 28 to 56 grams (1 to 2 ounces).
  • Oriental fire-bellied toads have a green to brownish-grey coloured back with wart like bumps, sometimes accompanied by black spots, that helps them to blend into their surroundings, and are a vivid red to yellow colour on the underside, spotted with black.
  • The bright colour of the underside of an oriental fire-bellied toad signifies that it is poisonous and will release toxic secretions, and to scare off predators it can arch its back and display its colourful belly.
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, Green, Amphibian, Frog, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Small, Overside
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad
Image courtesy of Ryan Somma/Flickr
  • Somewhat still streams and small water pools, in a variety of forest habitats, are the haven of oriental fire-bellied toads.
  • Female oriental fire-bellied toads generally lay between 40 to 250 eggs at a time, deposited in and around aquatic vegetation.
  • The diet of oriental fire-bellied toads consists of worms, molluscs, algae, insects, fungi, and spiders, and they can have a lifespan up to 20 years in the wild.
  • Oriental fire-bellied toads are commonly kept as pets, as they are fairly easy to care for, although caution needs to be taken when handling the toads, to avoid being irritated by their poison.
  • Oriental fire-bellied toad pupils can be of a triangular shape, and its tongue cannot extend, unlike many other frog species.
Bibliography:
Szcodronski T, Bombina orientalis, 2006, Animal Diversity Web, http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bombina_orientalis/
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, 2016, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/amphibians/oriental-fire-bellied-toad
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_fire-bellied_toad
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad Fact Sheet, n.d, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/reptilesamphibians/facts/factsheets/orientalfirebelliedtoad.cfm

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