It was a day to remember…
Their Wedding shoot.
At the famous 100-year-old Church of the Annunciation in Pengzhou , China .
Very early morning May 12, photographer Wang went about preparing to shoot wedding pictures for a young couple, this was the test shot before the shoot…
Pengzhou is located in the Sichuan province.
It was morning May 12th, 2008.
And then it happened.. the earthquake 7.8 on the Richter Scale.
Bricks fall from the building during the earthquake, which turned Wang from a wedding photographer into a journalist.
“Thank God we were only shooting from outside the church!” remarked a helper.
The stunned couple huddles together at the church ground during initial tremors.
“I shouted to people, Run! Run!” said photographer Wang Qiang.
“The ground shook and we couldn’t see anything in the dust.”
As the dust began to clear, the true extent of damage was only beginning to appear..
A cracked facade was all that remained of the 100 year-old Church of the Annunciation after the quake.
“Most of the church collapsed in 10 seconds” said Wang,
who lives in Chengdu, capital of hard-hit Sichuan province.
Soon after the quake, the people at the seminary set out for a nearby village, but residents warned them the route was blocked.
“We could still hear landslides.”
Wang wrote in an online account of the disaster. So they stayed overnight in a tent and made it to the village the next day, thank’s to the help from a truck driver.
A scarf from a wedding dress lies forgotten in front of the seminary.
Wang said he thought the catastrophe would strengthen the bonds of the couples who were there at that day.
“Having gone through a life and death test, they surely will clasp hands and grow old together.”
No one was harmed at the above incident.
They’ll sure have a wild story to tell their children..
The Isla de sa Ferradura sits in the Bay of San Miguel just off the north coast of Ibiza, Spain. This 14 acre resort island is fully developed with a hacienda, kitchen, pool, bar and even a wine bodega. With 300 days per year of sunshine, and a view of the bright blue Mediterrannean Sea, this truly is living large. Most people will never be able to experience even a vacation here. The island rents out for about US$230,000 per week. Price : US$39,700,000.
Cabbage Cay is a private, 35 acre, fee-simple island, located in the World Famous Bonefish flats, within the inner bay of North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. A road has been pushed to the island, so whatever you decide to build on it, your access will be guaranteed for years to come. The island carries up to 24′ elevations. Three sandy beaches, lush vegetation, a protected anchorage area, and abundant exotic wildlife are some of the more amazing amenities. Turtles, fishes and birds abound. Did we mention the sailing is nice in the Bahamas? Price : US$2,500,000.
Cerralvo Island is 60 square miles of undeveloped terrain. The island is mountainous as it was a former volcano. It is located in the Cerralvo Channel, in the Sea of Cortez, off the coast of Baja Mexico. These waters are prime for big game fishing. This massive private island could contain several enormous mansions and you still would never see your neighbors. This sandy beach island gets plenty of warm Mexican weather and sunshine, and offers plenty of privacy, yet is only about 30 miles away from the mainland. Price : US$35,000,000
The island sits in the St.Lawrence river between Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. Dark Island isn’t known for its tropical jungle or white sand beaches. The real gem is the 100 years old castle on the island. It was originally built in 1905 as a hunting lodge family retreat by Fredrick Bourne, the president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. With towers and secret passages abounding you could literally be your own King of the Castle. The island would be a great getaway from the hustle and bustle, and is still only a short helicopter ride away from New York or Toronto. But it is currently only available for rent. Price available upon request.
Virgin Record’s super mogul Richard Branson took private islands to a whole new level in the late 1970’s by purchasing Necker Island. Branson built an unparalleled resort, that now rents for approximately US$329,000 per week. The island is int the Caribbean and surrounded by a coral reef with extremely diverse sea life. The island hosts pristine beaches and vibrant plant life. Rock stars party here, Hollywood notables and Google founders get married here, and the closest you’ll ever come is on a Caribbean cruise line. The 360 degree open bedroom provide one of the best views of the sunset you’ll ever likely to see. Price : US$47,000 per day.
Musha Cay is actually 4 private islands owned by renowned magician David Copperfield. The islands are located 85 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, and has its own runaway for top secret celeb landings. This private island resort has 5 houses. The resort offers activities such as snorkling, diving, windsurfing, a gym, and walking paths, but you could always choose to sunbathe on one of Musha’s seven gorgeous private beaches. Also, Copperfield reportedly has found the “Fountain of Youth” on the island. Price : US$32,250 per day for 12 or fewer people.
Tetiaroa is located 40 miles north of Tahiti, and is actually an atoll comprised of 12 small islands. The island was made famous by the late Marlon Brando. The island currently has only one full time resident : Teihotu, Brando’s son. The island is mostly undisturbed and boasts a tropical bird sanctuary, but there are currently no accommodations on the island for visitor until the new hotel, aptly named “The Brando” is completed sometime this year. Price : N/A.
Just 250 meters from off the coast line of Turkey in the Agean Sea sits a gorgeous castle-style house, along with a guest house, and servants quarters. One of the few developed island in the region with water, electricity and telephone. Although this island isn’t much for beaches, the sunny, warm weather, the proximity to mainland Turkey and Rhodes, and the finished house put this island right up there with the best in the world. Price : Approx. US$25,000,000.
Piedade is only 2.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is one of 365 islands in the Angra dos Reis archipelago. The island is fully developed with a resort, full time staff, and four beaches to choose from. What makes Piedade Island unique is the location. This island is one of the rare private tropical islands outside of the Caribbean, and is a perfect addition to trip to Brazil. Available upon request for rent.
Think Robinson Caruso. This Mayan architecture tree house island is an affluent traveler’s perfect getaway. The Cay lies on the tip of Lyford Cay in Nassau, Bahamas. With waterslides, pools, hot tubs, tennis courts and an 85 foot yacht, this is an adult playground in the rain forest. This is the only way to vacation in the Bahamas. Price : US$42,000 per day.
Obviously, construction technologies are advancing extremely quickly. Couple that with multi-billionaires/deep-pocketed companies trying to outdo each other in the quest for the next standout design and you have a near future filled with mile-high skyscraper and buildings that no longer look like buildings.
Below are 9 strange and unique structures which have either been approved or are in the final stages of approval. Some have already been partially constructed.
From a distance this skyscraper, to be completed in 2009 in Chicago, will seem quite traditional. It will only be when you get close and look up that you can appreciate the ripple/jelly effect created by variously sized balconies from top to bottom.
The phenomenal Chicago Spire, when completed in 2010, will be the world’s tallest residential building and the tallest building of any kind in the western world. Seemingly modeled on the image of a giant drill poking through the ground, the 609 m structure will dominate the Chicago skyline.
At a modest 234 m the CCTV building isn’t going to stand out from a distance. However the design and shape is a crowd stopper to say the least and will be another incredible addition to Beijing’s skyline in time for the 2008 Olympics. The shape described as a ‘Z criss-cross’ result in a very high, seemingly unsupported corner at the front. Let’s hope there’s a glass floor up there.
Taking on a nautical theme, the developers say the 10 smaller towers represent sailing boats whilst the larger building is the lighthouse.
5. Residence Antilia, India.
Construction has begun on residence Antilia despite opposition from those who see it as an ‘excessive’ design in a city where more than 65% of the population live in slums. Politics aside and after you recover from the initial shock of seeing a skyscraper that resembles an ikea CD rack, the building actually looks like it may succeed as a stunning, unique, green piece of architecture. (architect’s website)
6. Russia Tower, Russia.
Topped with an observation deck over the city of Moscow, Russia Tower will become the tallest building in Europe when completed in 2012 and twice the height of the Eiffel Tower. Contruction has already started on this angular beast which was designed by Foster & Partners.
Following months of speculation and sturdy opposition, this humungous project is in the final stages of approval and apparently construction will start very soon. Even so, due to the size of the plan it will take at least 15 years to complete. Resembling a sci-fi city, the area will be crowned by 2 x 200 m towers and completely transform the small island of Penang.
9. Gazprom Headquarters, Russia.
This gigantic 300 m tall glass flame of a building will house the Gazprom Headquarters in St. Petersburg, dwarfing all structures in its vicinity. It will apparently change colour up to 10 times per day depending on the position of the sun. The building has already been nicknamed ‘corn on the cob’ by unhappy locals. (architect’s website)
This is the big one. When completed next year it will be the tallest man-made structure in the world and the tallest building by a long shot with a predicted height of 818 m.
Note : currently the tallest building on earth, excluding an antenna, is Taipei 101 in Taiwan which stands at 509 m.
The photo below is the building’s current state. The skyscrapers below the Burj Dubai used to look tall.
