Malaysia Sky Bridge, Langkawi Malaysia

This sky bridge is one of the highest single supported bridges at 2,000 feet above sea level built in 2005.  Designed and constructed as a pedestrian bridge, it has a 30° view of the Langkawi islands and the Andaman Sea.  Its visitors will definitely get a dose of adrenaline while crossing this bridge and a fair share of mountain views. 

The splendor of this design makes me wonder what the climb up is like.  The name sky bridge is fitting as there are times the clouds can be found hovering around this unique structure's cable lines.

Image Credit:  Pontosdeluz

Hang Zhou Bay Bridge, China

Although this bridge is not the longest bridge in the world at 22 miles, it is the longest ocean crossing bridge on Earth.  Can you imagine driving across a bridge that long? 

I thought the Tappan Zee Bridge that encircles the States of New York and New Jersey was long as I would  watch the speedometer to make sure the ten mile span was correct every time traveled.  The Hang Zhou Bay Bridge crosses the Qiantang River at the Yangtze River Delta off the eastern coast of China and is one of the world's newest bridges celebrating its opening in May 2008.  The design took approximately five years of research.

Image Credits: Randy Zhang, Ling Yang and Portfolio

Leonardo's Bridge, Akershus, Norway

The design was found sketched in one of Davinci's notebooks, hence the bridge's name. 

It was designed by Davinci in 1502, but construction's credit goes to Norwegian artist and painter Vebjørn Sand.  Originally, Davinci's design was to be constructed to span the Golden Horn, which is the Bosphorus River's mouth in Turkey.  Davinci's design was never built.  Vebjørn Sand, saw the sketch of the bridge and a small model of the design and decided to construct the bridge as he was intrigued by its uniqueness. 

Sand also knew that he would be making history by actually bringing one of Davinci's designs to life.  Sand and Norwegian Public Roads Administration agreed after years of searching for the perfect showcasing location to build the bridge to cross the E-18 highway linking Oslo and Stockholm.  The bridge enables pedestrians and bicycle riders ease of crossing this main highway.  The bridge's completion came in 2001.

Image Credit:  36379207@N00

The Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey

Image Credits:  Communiquel and Dimitri Sotiropoulos

What makes this bridge so unique is not so much its design, but that it is the only bridge that connects two continents, Europe and Asia.  How cool is that?  I thought that was pretty cool as I spent almost three years living in Germany and didn't even know such a bridge existed.  At night the lighting of this bridge can make one appreciate more its massiveness.  This suspension bridge originally did not allow vehicles to pass over it as the countries celebrated its completion in 1973 with many tourist and natives alike enjoying it pedestrian access.  Today the bridge is used for vehicular travel housing only parallel sidewalks on either side of the bridge.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge, England

Can a bridge's design be any more unique?  You will see that it can, but I was truly fascinated by the intricate design of this bridge.  This bridge sits on the south bank of England's River Tyne. 

This is the world's first and only bridge to utilize tilt mechanism.  This unrivaled design provides transportation as well as pedestrian movement and is one of England's best tourist attractions as people  come from all over to see the bridge tilt enabling ships to pass.  This bridge may not be the longest or highest, but it certainly leaves nothing to desire in the way of structural uniqueness and mechanical design.

Image Credit:  59303791@N00 and Ivan Dobsky

Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado

Spanning the canyons separating the Arkansas River, the world's highest suspension bridge is 1,053 feet above sea level.  The much spoken about "Cloud 9" can be found up here literally.  It gives the adrenaline feeling of strolling through the sky. 

Image Credits:  Molas, 80651083@N00, and 673075569@N00

This bridge was built in 1929 in just five months.  This engineering marvel connecting canyon rims is only 18 feet wide and a quarter of a mile long, approximately 1,260 feet.  The best views are from top to bottom is what I always say!

Millau Viaduct, France

Image Credits:  Richard Lowkes, Frog Manor, and London Dan

Yet another bridge that allows one to touch the clouds, the Millau Viaduct is the tallest vehicular bridge with the highest point being at 1,125 feet.  Can you imagine a bridge being taller than the Eiffel Tower and just 125 feet shy of being the same height as the Empire State Building?  This spectacular vision crosses the Tarn Valley in the Massif Central near Millau in southern France.  It was open for transportation in 2004.

Ponte dei Sospiri, Venice, Italy

Although this bridge is not constructed of massively enormous metal rails and cables, this bridge dons its own uniqueness.  Built in the early 1600s this bridge connects Doge's Palace (interrogation room) to what was then a prison. It crosses the Rio di Palazzo and carries the nickname Bridge of Sighs. 

The name came from the poetry of Lord Byron.  It had been said the inmates would sigh crossing the bridge because it was their last view of Venice before being locked in their cells.  Even more interesting is the myth that if a couple kisses under the bridge, at sunset, they will be granted eternal love.  Not sure I will be kissing under what used to be a bridge that transported inmates hoping for eternal love.  There has to be a surer and easier way.

Image Credits:  Melolou, Heaven up Here, 9675129@N02

Khaju Bridge, Isfahan, Iran

This bi-level structure crosses the Zayandeh River connecting Khaju and Zoroastrian in Iran.  It was built in 1650.  This unique design was created using bricks and stone housing 23 beautifully crafted archways. 

The inside yellowish colored lighting gives the appearance of a pumpkin.  The top and bottom levels can be utilized as walkways and in the past the top portion was used as a passageway for horses and carts.  This bridge's various functions contribute to the very unique design as the underbelly performs as a weir (lowhead dam).  A sluice or irrigation gates are opened and closed to regulate the river's flow.

Image Credits:  Hamed, Abro, and Hamzeh

Alamilla Bridge, Seville, Spain

The Alamilla Bridge is a construct of visual delights.  This design resembles that of a harp and it's the first of it kind.  It crosses over the Guadalaquivir River in Seville, Spain.  This bridge was built in 1992 by the famous Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrova.  It is 820 feet long and 450 feet high.  The central mast leans at a 58° angle giving the appearance that it is balancing.  The innovative, cutting edge design makes for wonderful eye candy for those of us that love to hear the snapping sound of our cameras.  This by far was my favorite design.

The Verrazano Bridge and most others in New York pale in comparison to these bridges.  I can still appreciate the structural design and constructional prowess that goes into creating our world's connectors; bridging the gaps between difficult lands and vast seas.  Bridges are the world's silent communicators.

The 17th of May, or Syttende Mai, is the day that Norwegians and everyone else living here celebrate the Norwegian National Day. They raise red, white, and blue Norwegian flags at home before heading out to crowded parade routes where they wave miniature flags at passing marching bands, buy overpriced balloons for children who sit perched atop their fathers' shoulders, and eat hot dogs and ice cream before heading home to watch the parade again on television. All of this appeals to me as an American, since I've come to expect a yearly dose of hot dogs, marching bands, and miniature flags. It's all charmingly familiar-right up to the part when we wave to the king.

The waving comes at the end of the children's parade, or barnetoget, that winds its way through downtown Oslo. It's all marching bands, too-no floats, no trike-riding Shriners, no fire trucks, no veterans buttoned into old uniforms-just grade school after grade school, sometimes more than a hundred of them. And if a school lacks a marching band, a professional band will often march with them. Years ago, I wasn't prepared for this more secular aspect of the parade and found myself shouting to my husband, “Was that Glen Miller?” as one of the adult bands went by. He nodded and laughed, and laughed harder later in the same parade when I yelled, “Hey, they're playing Elvis!”

The people watching the parade are as much of an attraction as the parade itself because, unlike their American cousins, Norwegians dress up on Independence Day. Granted, Oslo in May is cooler than Peoria in July, but they go all out here in their avoidance of T-shirts and shorts: they wear wool. It's called a bunad, whether you're man, woman, or child, and it's a festive national costume based on 18th century folk dress. Both men and women wear long-sleeved white shirts topped by jackets or vests, with knickers for the men, embroidered, ankle-length skirts for the women, and Pilgrim-style black buckled shoes for both. Women's bunads are the most expensive, lavishly embroidered by hand and then ornamented by as many sterling silver buttons and brooches the wearer can afford (I bet even some of those shoe buckles are sterling).

There is no designated bunad for foreigners. I was feeling a little oafish, looking around one May 17th at all the lovelies swinging by in their lavish, if bulky, bunads, and casually asked my husband which sort resident foreigners like me generally wore. All I got for my trouble was a sidelong glance. He was right, of course: my ancestral district is Chicago and, more broadly, the Midwest-what would I embroider my bunad with, cornstalks and skyscrapers?

The answer is, everyone wears the nicest they've got. If you're Japanese, you break out your kimono. If you're from India, your sari. If you're from Scotland, you wear your kilt and bring your bagpipe. And if you're American, you leave your T-shirt and shorts at home and wear something your mother would call presentable.

After all the schools have passed, The Royal Guard's marching corps and a row of mounted police go by, signaling the end of the parade and official permission to jump into the street and walk the rest of the route behind them up to the palace. After craning on tiptoe for so long it feels a little funny to step out into the street with only a kid or a flag to hang onto, but then you walk along with everyone else under all the pennants and flags, past Parliament and the Grand Hotel, past the National Theater, and you find yourself standing in front of the palace, waving to the king.

The royal family watches the entire parade from the palace balcony, waving to each school and band as they pass with flags lowered. People here sometimes say that the royals earn their salaries on May 17th-they stand on the balcony for four hours during the parade, and they make multiple appearances that day at celebrations outside of Oslo while the rest of us are already back at home with our feet up. But first they have to wave to the rest of us.

It's quiet after the parade, and we all stand there, packed in tightly, in front of the palace. As for the waving, you take turns. First the king and his family wave, and then the crowd waves. Then we wait for a while, squinting up at the row of them looking back at us from beneath the brims of their hats. Then the royals wave again and the people wave back. This goes on-quietly, no cheering-for several rounds, until the royals wave one last time and then go off for their afternoon engagements. It's all I can do not to cry while we're waving to King Harald and his family. It's as silly and sober and touching a thing as ever I've seen.

After that, if you're hungry, you head off to have your ice cream and hot dogs quayside. Sitting by the glittering Oslo fjord, smiling at my daughter's ice cream-smeared face, it's easy to feel proud of my small, adopted country each May 17th, even as I miss the surge that comes of seeing the Stars and Stripes at the head of an American Independence Day parade. Privately, I wish it were hotter out; that my hot dog was tucked into a bun rather than wrapped, Cleopatra-in-the-carpet style, in a potato lompe; that Norwegians didn't reserve fireworks for New Year's Eve, even though the nights aren't dark enough here in May to see fireworks; and that I was headed home to a barbecue. Still, the similarities satisfy, and in a country in which any girl can grow up to be queen (Crown Princess Mette-Marit used to be a waitress), I can't be surprised when my daughter and I are greeted at her kindergarten the next day by a row of smiling children saluting us with a perfect royal wave.

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I met a chatter whose name is Ulrich in my favourite chat channel. She was very sweet and charming girl. I spoke with her for fifteen minutes. I was stunned when she told me that she lived in small village called Fucking.For a sudden, I thought that she was joking with me. She was serious and insisted on living there. I opened my Google Earth map and searched for Fucking. She was right.There has been a village called Fucking for more than 1400 years.

Fucking: A small village in Austria

Fucking is a small village in Upper Austria. The exact location is 33 kilometers north of Salzburg and near German border. It is in the municipality of Tarsdorf.

It takes it's name from a traveller whose name is Focko. As far as I know, Focko is the name of a man who travelled this village in the 6th century. Fucking means “the place of Focko's people”.

The most surprising thing in Fucking is the traffic signs at the entrance and exit of the village. Most of the people seeing this sign stop there and take the photo of it. However, this sign has been stolen many times.

Fucking is rich in oxygen and fresh air since it is situated in the forest region. Due to it's natural beauty, it is one of the beautiful picnic areas of Tarsdorf. Even though it is a very small village and it's population is only 93, it is one of the well-known villages in Austria as a natural result of media interest.

Would you like to go Fucking and be one of the Fuckers? So, this is your guide.

Some of the greatest stories about trolls originate in Norway. In fact, there are many amazing natural wonders there that are named after these mythical creatures. After visiting, it's not hard to see why!

The best place to start is with a ferry ride up the west coast of Norway. Some cruise lines follow the same course, but due to their size and schedules are unable to approach some of the more incredible scenery that dominates the fjords. Since the ferries are quite regular, one can jump off at any of the towns along the way to explore at will, joining a later ferry to continue your trip northward.

Eventually you will find yourself at Alesund, a very old city with a rich culture and an incredible history. Visit some of the fascinating local sights first, such as Stavkirke (the Stave Church), the Fisheries museum, and the beautiful white sands of the Giske and Vigra beaches. Eventually however, the siren call of the mountains will draw you in, as they have so many others, and your adventure will begin in earnest.

To begin, let us explore the site known as Trollveggen (the Troll Wall). Trollveggen is part of the mountain range called Trolltindene (the Troll Peaks). The shear size of these mountains alone can be enough to inspire awe in even the most seasoned traveler, but to stand at the base of Trollveggen is an experience not to be missed! Standing over 1800 meters high, 1000 meters of which are a straight vertical cliff, Trollvegen dwarfs any man-made structure to date. To illustrate, the Eiffel Tower is a mere 324 meters high, including the flagpole; the CN Tower is 553.3 meters tall; and the Sears tower is only 527 meters tall.

Anyone who's stood at the top of any tall structure knows the incredible feeling of looking down and seeing the ground so far below. Now, imagine base-jumping from a cliff nearly 2 kilometers high! Although base-jumping and hang-gliding off the cliff has been banned, there are still a few foolhardy souls who sneak in to experience this incredible rush. Other thrill-seekers prefer to take on one of the many challenging climbing routes pioneered over the years by climbing teams from Germany, France, Brittain, Russia, and elsewhere. For most travelers however, merely looking over the edge is thrilling enough as it is.

To reach the top of Trollveggen by car, one must experience another troll-related site known as Trollstigen (the Troll's Ladder), a winding road with 11 hair-pin turns that is so narrow that only one vehicle can travel on it at a time. Relatively gentle at first, it is difficult to tell how high up one is until one is forced onto one of the "passing lanes", where the road has been widened to allow two vehicles to pass one another. Should you encounter a vehicle coming in the opposite direction, one of you will need to back up to one of these passing lanes to allow the other vehicle to continue onwards. Stepping out of your vehicle at these spots in not recommended, as the lip of the road is often a mere two or three inches away from your tires.

The road at Trollstigen was built in 1936, and took 8 years to complete. Originally however, it was a footpath for shepherds bringing their flocks in and out of the valley to graze. Parts of this path are still available to those who enjoy a good hike, but be sure to wear boots and gloves, since some parts of the path are so steep that chains were installed to help one up the more difficult sections. Also, be sure to wear a nice smile, since you will most likely have your picture taken by a more than a few of the less adventurous tourists along the way.

The backside of Trollveggen, while not as well known, is equally impressive, although in a very different way. Driving through the valley, one can begin to understand how the Vikings might believe in the giant and powerful creatures known as trolls. To the casual eye, it looks as if a giant child was playing with stones, piling them together and then scattering them about. All through the valley, one can see immense piles of rocks, some leaning against one another, some perched precariously on top of one another much like the inuksuit (or rock stacks) built by the Inuits, but on a massive scale. Come and have your picture taken under a boulder the size of a four-story house, balanced just perfectly on a stone the size of a small car!

Other nearby natural formations are equally fascinating. According to legend, Trollhugget (the Troll Chop) was the result of a single blow from a troll's axe, marking the division between his own and a rival's territory. True to its name, the mountain range is abruptly cleaved in two, the valley between them full of shattered and pulverized stone. Trollkirka (the Troll's Church) is another interesting stone formation in the vicinity, with it's distinctive pyramid shape, looking much like many of the ancient stave churches built around 1300AD when early Christianity reached the area.

This incredible area is just one small piece of Norway's seemingly endless supply of natural beauty. Next time you're thinking of going to Europe, forget the cruise lines… come see the interior of one of the most incredible and rugged places on earth!