The Most Secret Islands Of The World

The Most Secret Islands Of The World


 Looking for the perfect place to get away from it all? We searched the world and turned up 10 dreamy islands unknown to the average U.S. traveler. These little patches of unspoiled paradise, from the Great Lakes to the South China Sea, are relatively affordable and easy to get to. And the idea of getting stranded on any one of them would be, well, absolutely OK with us.
Madeline Island

Location: Lake Superior, just off Wisconsin
Size: 14 miles long by three miles wide          Population: 300 year-round; 2,500 in summer
Midwesterners need not go far for a secluded island paradise. Part of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands archipelago, Madeline has many trappings of a tropical oasis—sandy beaches, sailing charters, sea caves, cliff-jumping, and even stand-up paddleboarding. No wonder the population swells in summer. Visit in winter and you can make first tracks on a dogsled or see ice caves.
Island time: Kayak to sea caves, historical lighthouses, and a century-old shipwreck with Adventure Vacations or Living Adventure. Raise a glass to live music at the quirky Tom's Burned Down Cafe. Don't miss locally caught trout on The Pub Restaurant & Wine Bar's beachfront patio.
Getting here:Board the Madeline Island Car Ferry (25 minutes) at Bayfield. You can also walk onto the ferry and rent a bike or moped from the island's Motion to Go. In winter (mid-January through February), arrive by air-propelled wind sled or drive the ice road.

Tangier Island

Location: U.S. Atlantic Coast, just off Virginia
Size: Three miles long by one mile wide           Population: 727
This little island 12 miles off of northern Virginia is one of the last isolated fishing villages left on the Chesapeake Bay. Out here it's a completely different world. Locals speak in a thick accent that sounds like a cross between Elizabethan English and the Old South. They drive golf carts on the virtually carless island. And the salty Tangier watermen still carry on the centuries-old tradition of harvesting crabs in the bay.
Island time: During a waterman tour, a Tangier captain teaches you how to pull crab pots. Try the incredible crab bisque and crab cakes made by wives of watermen at Fisherman's Corner Restaurant. Rent a free kayak at the Tangier History Museum and Interpretive Cultural Center and follow the island's water trails.
Getting here: Three seasonal ferries (one to one-and-a-half hours) and two year-round ferries (45 minutes) link the island with mainland Virginia and Maryland. There's also a small Tangier Island Airport.

Staniel Cay
 
Location: Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas Out Islands
Size: Less than two square miles                        Population: 80
A tiny link in the chain of Exuma Cays, this gem lies 250 miles off the coast of Florida in the Bahamas' famously clear turquoise waters. Many of the Exhumas are private (Johnny Depp owns one) or ultraexclusive, but Staniel Cay is an exception. Here, you can stay in a cottage on stilts over the ocean for only $165 per night. Everything but the price seems top-shelf.
Island time: Go for the all-inclusive package ($176 per person per night) at Staniel Cay Yacht Club—the island's only lodging—and get a waterfront cottage, all meals, and your own 13-foot Boston Whaler during your stay. Cruise to a deserted beach or see the swimming pigs at Major Cay. Snorkel at Thunderball Grotto, a hollowed-out island and the filming location for James Bond's Thunderball.
Getting here: The yacht club arranges shared charter flights (two-and-a-half hours) from Ft. Lauderdale on Watermakers Air starting at $200 per person one-way.
Fernando De Noronha
 
Location: Western Atlantic, 220 miles off Brazil's coast
Size: Seven square miles                       Population: 3,012
Peaks of a submerged mountain range rise up out of the sea to form this beautiful Brazilian 21-island archipelago. The largest island is the only one populated, but throngs of vacationers never clog its perfect coves of white-sand beaches. The government restricts tourism to 420 visitors at a time. Yes, this is the kind of place you want to (and can) be left to your own devices with a little motorbike: There's just one traffic light.
Island time: Two major ocean currents meet here, making it one of the world's best places to see a diverse range of marine life while snorkeling or scuba diving. All visitors stay in small pousadas whose owners take a personal interest in guests—a bit like having your own valet.
Getting here: Fly from Natal (70 minutes) or Recife (100 minutes), two Brazilian cities accessed by direct flights from major U.S. airports. Save with a Brazil air pass.
Isle Of Mull
 
Location: Eastern Atlantic, off Scotland's west coast
Size: 338 square miles                        Population: 2,667
Mighty seaside cliffs. Rugged mountain ridges. Moorland peninsulas. It's a picture-perfect Scottish scene in the Inner Hebrides islands. Filled with abundant wildlife and dramatic scenery, Mull is one of Scotland's best places for seeing whales (April through September) and for spotting the white-tailed eagle, the U.K.'s largest bird of prey. Hike the coastal and glen trails or the more challenging peaks with views of neighboring islands Iona and Staffa. 
Island time: Wilderness Scotland has hike-and-stay packages with the Tiroran House Hotel that include breakfast and dinner for less than $200 per person per night. In the colorful port of Tobermory, dig into fish-and-chips or the fresh scallops (a Prince Charles favorite) at the Fisherman's Pier Fish & Chip Van. Wash it down with a visit to Tobermory's malt whisky distillery.
Getting here: On the mainland, take a CalMac car ferry from Oban to Craignure (40 minutes), from Kilchoan to Tobermory (35 minutes), or from Lochaline to Fishnish (15 minutes).
Pulau Ubin

Location: South China Sea, off Singapore
Size: Four square miles                           Population: 100
One of the last rural holdouts in Singapore, Pulau Ubin ("Granite Island") near Changi Point is a freeze-frame of Malay kampong village life in the 1960s. Thatched-roof homes sit among forested rolling hills and abandoned granite quarries. Fishermen live on kelongs, old wooden fishing houses built on stilts over the water. It's a soul-soothing escape from the highly urbanized buzz on the nearby mainland.
Island time: Experience village life, thick forests, and the occasional monkey or wild pig from the seat of a rented bicycle or on a walking tour. The island is known for its great seafood restaurants, and the steamed crab is divine. See interesting low-tide marine life at Chek Jawa or hit the sandy beach at East Coast Park. For a kampong-style stay, ride to Celestial Resort. Rooms start at less than $100 per night.
Getting here: At the Changi Point Ferry Terminal near Changi Village, take the 10-minute bumboat ride that departs once there are 12 passengers.
Koh Yao Yai
 
Location: Andaman Sea's Phang-Nga Bay, off western Thailand
Size: Approximately 38 square miles        Population: Approximately 8,000 (estimates vary)
One of 44 islands between Phuket and Krabi, Koh Yao Yai ("Big Long Island") is the largest but not the most developed. Here, where mass tourism hasn't taken hold, locals earn a modest living by fishing, rice farming, and working the rubber plantation. You can stretch out on footprint-free sand and really feel like you're staking out an undiscovered place. Since your dollar goes further in Thailand than most destinations, the island is quite affordable.
Island time: See local life on a bike ride. Or rent a long-tail boat and go island-hopping to Khai Nok and Khai Nai for great snorkeling. Elixir Resort and Koh Yao Yai Village run various types of tours and have private thatched-roof bungalows furnished in old Thai style.
Getting here: Fly into Phuket International Airport. Nearby ferries (60 minutes) and public speedboats (30 minutes) operate from piers in Phuket. Multiday Journeys Within tours start in Phuket, stopping in Koh Yao Yai and Krabi.
Kosrae
 
Location: South Pacific in Micronesia
Size: 42 square miles                     Population: 6,616
With waters tinted the purest shades of blue and mountains covered in every hue of green, Kosrae is a speck in the vast sea between Hawaii and Guam. This lush spot just north of the equator enchants with cloud forests, mangroves, waterfalls, and soft, sandy beaches. On Kosrae locals still follow traditions of carving and canoe-building. Look out to sea and you'll likely find fishermen and women working from a canoe or locals practicing for annual canoe races.
Island time: Dive or snorkel among some of the world's last remaining pristine fringe reefs, a sunken pirate ship, a wooden whaler, and planes from WWII. Explore haunting 13th-century ruins, or paddle an outrigger canoe through mangroves. At Kosrae Village eco-lodge and dive resort, you can sleep in a private cottage on a sandy beach for $119 to $169 per night.
Getting here: Continental (which is merging with United) flies to Kosrae. The airline is part of the Star Alliance, which sells a Micronesia Airpass with great savings if you want to visit multiple islands

Ile de Re

Location: Atlantic Ocean, just off France
Size: 33 square miles            Population: 20,000 year-round; 130,000 in summer
Off France's west coast, this charming vacation haven is connected to La Rochelle by a two-mile bridge. You'd think a place this accessible to Europe's population would be jammed with commercialism. Instead, the majority of Île de Ré is protected. Vineyards, forests, dunes, and salt marshes, where fleur de sel is still gathered using traditional methods, are all part of nature reserves. Although the population spikes in summer, there's still a quiet simplicity soaked up in the understated style you'd expect from the French on holiday.Island time: Absolutely flat terrain and more than 60 miles of well-used bike paths have prevented an automobile invasion on this popular island. Rent a bicycle and cruise to natural, unannounced beaches and across pungent salt marshes. Stop and buy a basket of oysters from an oyster farmer, or explore one of 10 villages.
Getting there: Catch a TGV high-speed train from Paris (three hours) to La Rochelle and connect with a bus or taxi to the island.

Salt Spring Island

Location: North Pacific, off British Columbia
Size: 70.5 square miles                  Population: 10,500
This easygoing island, tucked between the B.C. mainland and Vancouver Island, is the quintessential snapshot of West Coast life. Its residents—free-spirited artists and musicians, retired millionaires, and organic farmers—have abandoned the fast track to build lives rich in community and natural beauty. Get a glimpse on an artisan studio tour, which takes you to a lavender farm, a cheese shop, a jewelry maker, and more. 
Island time: Wander down to the Ganges dock for fresh crab ($10). Explore coastal tidepools at Ruckle Park or swim at Vesuvius Beach. Pick up local produce at the Saturday Market and take it to Salt Spring Vineyards for a picnic with your wine tasting. Splurge on a stay at the Hastings House or find excellent value at Salt Spring Inn (less than $100 per night), which overlooks the main village and harbor. 
Getting here: Harbour Air and Salt Spring Air seaplanes fly to the island (30 minutes) from downtown Vancouver. Salt Spring Air also flies from Vancouver International Airport. B.C. Ferries connects from the Vancouver area (one-and-a-half to three hours).Source URL: https://outlawrepublican.blogspot.com/search/label/amazing
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Owner Of World's Most Expensive Car Gets Slapped & Ticket

Owner Of World's Most Expensive Car Gets Slapped & Ticket


Money doesn't buy you manners: Owner of world's most expensive car gets slapped with parking fine for leaving £840,000 Bugatti in disabled space

An unimpressed traffic warden fills out a ticket for the pricey car
It is the most expensive luxury sports car in the world, affordable only for the extremely rich.
So this ostentatious Bugatti Veyron stuck out like a sore thumb when it was illegally parked in a disabled bay in an affluent corner of Essex. And proving that even the wealthiest playboys on the planet are not above the law, the £839,285 motor was slapped with a parking ticket before it had been in the space half an hour.


The 16-cylinder speed machine attracted a crowd of awed passers-by after it stopped in Buckhurst Hill, an area frequented by reality star Chantelle Houghton and the cast of The Only Way Is Essex.
Young and old paused what they were doing to take photographs on mobile phones of the car's gleaming bodywork and sleek lines. But a traffic warden alerted to the vehicle by the knot of impressed shoppers was not prepared to let the loaded driver get away with his selfish behaviour.
As fascinated bystanders posed with the high-performance car, the warden filled in a ticket for a fine and placed it on the shining windscreen - which was not displaying a disabled badge. The returning owner - an expensively dressed man in his early 40s - looked unconcerned at the ticket, according to witnesses.  He slid into the luxurious leather seats and accelerated away - an attention-grabbing sight in a state-of-the-art Veyron, since it is the fastest car on earth and can do 0 to 60mph in 2.5 seconds.
The motor can reach velocities that would literally lift the car off the ground if it were not for its ingenious aerodynamics, which keep it on the road even at full speed.



 The thoughtless driver arrogantly parked his super-expensive car in a disabled bay


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Beauty Of The Beast

Beauty Of The Beast

Looking like illustrations from the children's classic Alice in Wonderland photographer Igor Siwanowicz brings out the beauty in these little beasts. The creepy crawly-mad nature photographer used a macro lens to get up-close and personal with a host of weird and wonderful-looking wildlife in his latest work. The wildlife expert from Poland says he is on a mission to make people fall in love with these striking creatures, some of which he keeps as pets.
 

Here a Hed Frog stares down Mr Siwanowicz's camera. The pictures, which bring out the subtle beauty of these creepy beasties, are designed to encourage people to look a little deeper

Lovely eyes: Using a macro lens, this Phidippus Otiosus (Jumping spider) was photographed in Igor's studio in Munich, Germany



Going out on a limb: A Kyongia Fischeri (Fisher's chameleon) clatches on to a twig. From his home studio in Munich, 35-year-old Igor waits patiently for his subjects to strike the right pose



Nature expert Igor Siwanowicz is on a mission to make people fall in love with weird and wonderful wildlife, such as the Jacksonís chameleon



Here a Puss moth
 

Going for a wander? These two Domergue's Leaf Chameleons (l to r male, female) look like they are off on an afternoon stroll



Pictured here Mr Siwanowicz has captured a Calleta Silk Moth coiling around a twig



two Deathís Head Moths sharing an encounter
 

Here a ìMega-mantisî stretches its long skinny limbs



a Red-Eyed Tree Frog 
 

two Reddish-brown Stag Beetles
From jumping spiders and stag beetles to baby chameleons, Igor says he wants people to look again at the hidden beauty of some of the planets strangest looking animals.  'I encourage you to honor every life form's right to exist and to stare right in the face of the thing you consider disgusting and frightening - and to discover its beauty,' said Igor.  'My art challenges the perception that a bug is something repulsive and ugly.' Using a 100mm lens, 35-year-old Igor waits patiently for his subjects to strike the right pose from 15cm away. But with a success rate of just one in every 200 photos, Igor admits photographing insects, reptiles and amphibians can be a lengthy process. Igor said: 'Working with notoriously uncooperative little beasties presents another challenge altogether. 'You can't make the little buggers pose for you. They do what they please - and you have to figure out what it is. 'Brains of insects, arachnids, amphibians and reptiles are hard-wired - there isn't much plasticity going on there, no much free space to acquire acting skills.' Working from his home studio in Munich, Igor enlisted the help of his pet Iguana Cornelius among others  However, his favourite image is of a baby chameleon looking lost at the end of a curly twig.Igor said: 'There is something universally baby-like in the little chameleon's features that immediately evokes a cuteness response. 'That combined with the little reptile's bummed-out, end-of-the-line look and lavender hues gives the image lots of character." Igor, who has travelled to Indonesia, Singapore and South Africa to snap wildlife, said: 'The key to success is observation skills, respect for your models and patience.'
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Miracle Baby Have Open Heart Surgery Aged 22 HOURS

Miracle Baby Have Open Heart Surgery Aged 22 HOURS



Sophie Dring was halfway through her pregnancy when doctors gave her devastating news.
Her unborn child had a  serious heart condition and  she was advised to consider  a termination.
But she was determined to give son Toby every chance. And although he needed a major operation a mere 22 hours after he was born in September, he is now home – and doing fine.





Toby with his mother Sophie had to undergo a life-saving operation lasting 12 hours
Toby is believed to be the youngest baby in the UK to have open heart surgery and one of the youngest in the world. ‘But to me records don’t matter too much,’ said nursery nurse Miss Dring, from Whitby, North Yorkshire. ‘What’s more important is that he’s here – and he’s alive.’
A scan at 21 weeks showed Toby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition which affects one in 5,000 babies and occurs when the left side of the heart fails to form properly.





Ten week old Toby is the youngest person in the country to undergo open heart surgery
Miss Dring said a doctor at Leeds General Infirmary told her she had three alternatives: ‘Terminate the pregnancy there and then, do nothing and watch him die, or have him and watch him go through all the surgery. Her advice was to terminate because she didn’t want me to go through it all. I was in floods of tears.’ Miss Dring decided to put her faith in surgery. However, she faced being separated from her baby after giving birth because the Leeds hospital did not have the facilities to carry out the specialist operation. After internet research, she decided to place her trust in surgeons 100 miles away in Newcastle upon Tyne. Toby was induced at 39 weeks on September 8 at the city’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and transferred immediately to the Freeman Hospital, where a team led by consultant surgeon Asif Hasan was ready to take over. The newborn baby weighed a healthy 7lb 1oz and doctors had planned to wait a week before operating, but his condition was found to be so serious that he went under the knife less than a day after he was born.‘The operations those surgeons do on such tiny babies is simply amazing, and he was in for 12 hours when they initially thought it would only take six,’ added Miss Dring.‘It was distressing to see him covered in wires when he was brought out of theatre and stabilised, and there were so many machines attached to him.’Toby needs another operation, possibly before Christmas, to fit a cardiac catheter and a second operation when he is old enough to walk. At some stage in his life he will need a heart transplant. ‘It could be in his 20s or 30s, it’s hard to tell,’ added his mother. ‘All that matters is that he is alive. After finding out his diagnosis I never thought I’d be able to hold him in my arms and cuddle him, but here I am and it’s all down to the Freeman Hospital.’ A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: ‘The policy of our cardiologists is always to give families open and honest advice about the options available to them as well as the risks and chances of survival. ‘For unborn babies with conditions like Toby’s there are three options for parents to consider, only one of which is termination.’
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Top 10 Cars That Are Stolen The Most

Top 10 Cars That Are Stolen The Most
While some of the best-selling cars in the U.S. also top the most frequently stolen list each year because of their sheer numbers, another look at the statistics reveals which cars by percentage sold are the most likely to by targeted by thieves.


According to data recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the car most frequently stolen, based on the number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold during 2009, was the $92,000 Audi S8 sport/luxury sedan, with 8.81 thefts per 1,000 vehicles produced. That comes out to just two out of the 227 S8s that were sold in the U.S., so it’s hardly a widespread epidemic.





10. Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
The sportier two-door version of Mercedes' S-Class sedan was taken by thieves at the rate of 3.91 per 1,000 vehicles during 2009.





9. Cadillac STS
Buyers of the sporty Cadillac STS sedan were targeted by thieves to the tune of 4.28 per 1,000 units sold.




8. Infiniti M
The flagship sedans of the Infiniti line, the M35 and M45 were stolen during 2009 at the rate of 4.32 per 1,000 sold during 2009.




7. Chrysler 300
The stately Chrysler 300 sedan was stolen at the rate of 4.57 per 1,000 sold during 2009.




6. Mitsubishi Galant 
The midsize Mitsubishi Galant sedan was popular among thieves during 2009, as 5.11 out of every 1,000 sold were stolen.




5. Honda S2000
No longer in production, the sleek Honda S2000 roadster was stolen at the rate of 5.60 per 1,000 units sold during 2009.




4. Dodge Charger
During 2009, 6.47 out of every 1,000 Dodge Chargers that were sold were reported stolen.




3. BMW M5
The racy M5 version of BMW's midsize sedan had a theft rate of 7.58 per 1,000 sold in 2009.




2. Ford Shelby GT
According to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 8.61 out of 1,000 Ford Shelby GT sports cars produced were ultimately stolen during 2009.




1. Audi S8
The limited production V10-powered Audi S8 luxury sports sedan boasted the highest theft rate among all cars during 2009, with 8.81 thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold, though this amounts to just two out of a total of 227 units.

Source: Yahoo


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10 Stars Who Look Better With Age

10 Stars Who Look Better With Age



Kate Winslet, Age 36
The Contagion star (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) is famous for her anti-plastic surgery stance. Instead, Winslet has said in the Huffington Post that she follows a different approach to beauty: a look that’s au natural. 






Vanessa Williams, Age 48
Williams (in 2002, left, and 2011, right) is candid about her occasional use of botox to maintain her youthful look. Another — more natural — tip? The Desperate Housewives star has said in Marie Claire that she regularly practices Pilates and takes dance classes too!





Felicity Huffman, Age 48
Huffman’s anti-aging advice? The Desperate Housewives star (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) recommends taking advantage of the days when you don’t have to wear makeup. “Just let your skin breathe,” she said in a recent interview with Style Goes Strong.



Gwyneth Paltrow, Age 39
To maintain her youthful glow, Paltrow (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) told Us that she doesn’t hesitate when it comes to investing in both her skin and hair. Another tip? In The Boston Herald, she admitted that she always looks her best after a good night’s sleep!





Jennifer Aniston, Age 42
The former Friends star (in 2002, left, and 2011, right) told Marie Claire that yoga is a vital part of her anti-aging efforts.





Cindy Crawford, Age 45
Crawford (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) maintains her youthful look by focusing attention on her hair. “You can get any plastic surgery in the world, but hair color is what enables women to look younger longer,” she said in a recent interview with Allure.



Halle Berry, Age 45
The secret to Berry’s youthful look? The actress (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) has said in Marie Claire that, in addition to exfoliating her skin, she rubs pure Vitamin C on her face before putting on moisturizer.





Oprah Winfrey, Age 57
According to People, Oprah (in 2002, left, and 2011, right) has healthy hair thanks to her stylist Andre Walker, who stays away from styling tools like blow dryers and flat irons at least three days a week. “Lately, I’ve been doing ponytails to stretch the time between blow dries,” he said in a recent interview with O, The Oprah Magazine. “With a little height on the top, a pony can look very polished!”





Demi Moore, Age 48
Moore (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) has said that the secret to her youthful look is simple: she moisturizes regularly and often. “No matter how late it is, when I get home, I take the time to clean and moisturize my face. I’m a big believer in that if you focus on good skin care, you really won’t need a lot of makeup,” she said in a recent interview with Marie Claire.





Sarah Jessica Parker, Age 46
Parker’s anti-aging secret? The former Sex and the City star (in 2001, left, and 2011, right) has said that she applies sunscreen daily to protect her skin. She’s also committed to staying fit and healthy. She told Good Housekeeping: “I do yoga whenever I can.” 
Source: Yahoo
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