From poo to paper

So, you think the paper you're using for writing and wrapping is processed out from the tree? Would you be surprised if I told you that there is paper made of elephant poo? An elephant can produce about 1 ton of droppings per week and a smart company is taking advantage of this excessive amount of elephant dung. The concept of elephant dung paper seems farfetched, but an enterprising Thai man combined science and conservation to make the poo paper a reality.

The man behind the paper is Mr. Wanchai. On his way home from work he used to pass a natural paper factory and was impressed at the simplicity of the process that used natural tree fibers to make high quality hand made paper. He then took a trip to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang Northern Thailand and saw piles and piles of dung. He looked at the dung and noticed that the dung was very fibrous. This was the birth of the idea.

The next step was to take home a carload of dung to his house. His wife was amused and at this stage very patient. But when he started using the family food processor to cut the long fibers to a shorter length – his wife finally lost her patience. Not only was he bringing home dung but using the food processor was one step too far. She gave him two choices. The first was to stop bringing home dung and concentrate on his job. The second was to make the dung paper full time. Either way, she wanted a new food processor!

Now being done in the factory, the process started from collecting, washing and straining the dung for its fibrous matter. Then it is boiled for 5 hours and bleached. Once it is cleaned, it is then dried and made into pulp. The sheets that result from this process are brown, unless they've added coloring to make more varieties. This concept has attracted worldwide attention, and now many are trying to create paper out of poo from sheeps, horses, kangaroos and other animals as well.

Mr. Wanchai still has the old food processor as a reminder and lesson to him and his children that – in life many people may think you are mad or crazy but if you have the courage to try and try then you will succeed. If he had listened to the laughs then he would not successful as he does now. Mr. Wanchai is philosophical about his journey “Thai elephants have helped many generations of Thais and they continue to provide many jobs for the ordinary people like me. It might be just plain dung to most but to me every time a ball drops it is another opportunity to help them – one man's or elephant's trash is another's treasure – where there is muck there is money'.

Source : elephantdungpaper.com

Dubai's tranformation

Dubai, UAE situated in Southwest Asia was once a small and unknown piece of land to most. Since 19th century, this small town has started to flourished due to lucrative pearling in the region. But the industry did not last long and soon, during the late 1920s it collapsed when World War 1 began, and later it turned from bad to worst with economic depression and followed by the invention of cultured pearls by the Japanese.

Despite their economic downturn, they manage to turn attention to other sources in search of revenue. Oil was discovered in Dubai, after which the town granted concessions to international oil companies. Dubai continued to grow from revenues generated from oil and trade. Even though there was a large increment in oil prices after the Persian Gulf War, Dubai started to concentrate on its infrastructure and focus on free trade and tourism. They realized they can't put all their attention in the oil industry as their reserve is limited. Because of their smart planning, 90% of their revenue generated are from other sources. A glance at the city's some of the largest building projects completed or under construction makes it clear just how fast the place is still expanding.

Dubai World Central International Airport is a colossal new airport under construction near Jebel Ali, South of Dubai. World Central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with all transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and Free Zone environment. The airport will have an annual cargo capacity of 12 million tons, more than three times that of Memphis, today's largest cargo hub, and a passenger capacity of more than 120 million - almost 30% more than Atlanta, currently the world's busiest passenger airport. Built for the future, it has been designed to handle all next-generation aircraft, including the A380 super-jumbo. Up to four aircraft will be able to land simultaneously, 24 hours a day, minimizing in-air queuing. Construction has begun on the first runway, which is scheduled to open in 2007. The project is expected to be fully built-out and operational by 2017.

The Burj Al Arab, completed in 1999 is a luxury 5-star hotel managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. At 321 meters (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj Al Arab's height, will soon take away this title upon its completion in 2007. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 meters (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the billowing sail of a boat.

The Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort is a planned hotel which will be the world's first underwater luxury resort. It's situated 66 feet below the surface of the Persian Gulf, just off Jumeira Beach in Dubai. Reinforced by concrete and steel, its Plexiglas walls and bubble-shaped dome ceilings will enable guests to see fish and other sea creatures. It is basically divided into three sections: the land station, where guests will be welcomed; the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel; and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex. It will cover an area of 260 hectares, about the size of London's Hyde Park, and will cost an estimated £300 million. It is self-acclaimed to be a 10-star hotel. The hotel was scheduled to open in 2009.

The World Island is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands in the shape of a world map currently being built off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The World is one of a series of artificial island projects in Dubai, along with the Palm Islands, and like the other islands The World is being built primarily using sand dredged from the sea. The World is the brainchild of Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. So far 45% of the islands had been sold. The first island to be developed is none other than the one owned by former Formula 1 race car driver Michael Schumacher. The $7 million dollar island was actually not purchased by Schumacher. Instead, it was a gift by Sheikh Mohammed.

Each island ranges from 5.7 – 21 acres in size, with 50–100 m of water between each island. The development will cover an area of 9 km in length and 6 km in width, surrounded by an oval breakwater. Prices for the islands will range from $15-45 million (USD). Dredging started in 2004 and as of March of 2007 The World is around 90% completed. According to the National Geographic Channel (The Best of Megastructures) the overall price for the World is $14 Billion US Dollars.

Ski Dubai is claimed to be one of the largest indoor ski resorts in the world, with 22,500-square meters of indoor ski area. It is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, which is one of the largest malls in the world. An extremely efficient insulation system is the key to maintain the temperature of -1 degrees Celsius during the day and -6 degrees during the night when the snow is produced. Ski Dubai has 5 runs of varying difficulties, the longest being 400m.

Scheduled for occupancy in September 2009, Burj Dubai is a supertall skyscraper currently under constructions. But even it is not completed yet, it is already the tallest free standing structure in the world according to its developers, surpassing the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada which previously held the record for 32 years. Once completed, it'll hold the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, by any measure.

The Palm Jumeirah is in the shape of a palm tree. It consists of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 11 kilometer-long breakwater. The island is 5 kilometers by 5 kilometers and its total area is larger than 800 football pitches. The crown is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre bridge and the crescent is connected to the top of the palm by a sub sea tunnel. Over the next 2 to 3 years, as the tourism phases develop, The Palm Jumeirah is touted as soon to be one of the world’s premier resorts. Over 30 beachfront hotels will be opened by the end of 2009. This is just the beginning of the project. They’re 2 more bigger and better island planned. The Palm Jebel Ali and The Palm Deira. The Palm Deira, which will be almost as large in size as Paris, with an area of 80 square kilometers. It's the largest of 3 islands. Construction expected to be complete by 2015.

The Dubai Mall is an enormous mall. It will be the largest mall in the world when completed. It will cover a total area of 12.1 million sq ft. Featured attractions include the world's largest gold souk, world's largest aquariums, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, Oasis Fountain Waterfall, WaterFront Atrium, a view of the world's tallest building, Burj Dubai. The mall has already won a total five awards, with two awards from the Retail Future Project Awards at MAPIC. It is expected to be completed in late 2008.

The history of Dubai is not over yet. With it’s massive growth despite how this place began as a small, quiet place shows nothing can stop this little small city to be one of the most recognizable in the world.

Tags : Dubai Dubai World Central International Airport Burj Al Arab Hydropolis Underwater Hotel World Island Ski Dubai Palm Jumeirah Palm Jebel Ali Palm Deira Dubai Mall Burj Dubai UAE transformation rags to riches

King Tut - how he look like?

Now for the first time ever, the face of Egypt's most famous ancient ruler, King Tutankhamun, has been put on public display. Archaeologists took the mummy from its stone sarcophagus and placed it in a climate-controlled case inside his tomb in Luxor's Valley of the Kings. It has been 85 years since the pharaoh's tomb was discovered by British explorer Howard Carter.

As experts lifted Tutankhamun from his coffin they briefly set aside the white linen covering his remains, revealing a shriveled black face and body. The move is part of a plan to protect the remains. Archaeologists say they are under threat from the heat and the humidity brought into the tomb by the vast numbers of tourists visiting each year.

Tutankhamun ruled Egypt from 1333-1324 BC and is believed to have ascended to the throne aged about nine. Although in life he was of only moderate historical significance, in death Tutankhamun achieved worldwide fame thanks to the virtually intact state of his tomb when it was opened by Carter in 1922. The tomb was packed with gold and other treasures. The centerpiece of the tomb was the pharaoh's mummified body, covered in amulets and jewels and wearing a solid gold burial mask.

The treasures that were unearthed have captivated the world and drawn millions to the Valley of the Kings. Questions over why Tutankhamun died at about the age of 19, and rumors of a curse prematurely killing those involved with the excavation of his tomb, have only increased the pharaoh's fame. When the body was X-rayed in 1968, a shard of bone was found in his skull, prompting speculation that he was killed by a blow.

Some historians have argued he was killed for attempting to bring back polytheism after succeeding Akhenaten, who had abandoned Egypt's old gods in favor of monotheism. However a CT scan of his remains in 2005 led researchers to say that he was not murdered and may have died of complications from a broken leg. Egyptian antiquities chief Zahi Hawass said the research suggests the boy king died after the wound became infected, and though not all of the team agreed with the assessment, all rejected the idea that he was murdered.


Source : BBC News

Fake D.O.B yet real passort, impossible?

On 30th Oct 2007, an Indonesian was getting ready to fly back home to Surabaya, Indonesia after working in Penang, Malaysia until his work permit expire. When he approached the immigration counter with his passport, the officer couldn't believe at what he saw written on the passport. The Indonesian by the name of Yunus date of birth is written as 00-00-1961. Born in the month of 00 and on the date of 00? Acong, the officer on duty, convinced that it must be a fake passport and quickly report to his superior. Unbelievably, after examining the passport and checked at their system, they confirm that the passport is genuine!

Although cases like this surprises Acong and others, his superior with years of experience said this is very common. Indonesia, with more than 17,500 islands, it is the world's largest archipelago with an estimated population of more than 230 million citizens. Due to some political issue and problems with separatist in certain part of the country, they have a poor system to manage the database. The citizens don't have anything to proof their existence, except for a piece a birth certificate, but still they are some that did not receive any certification at all. Once this certificate is lost or destroyed, there is no way to identify their age and date of birth.

When their citizens apply for passport, and if they don't remember their date of birth and no documentation to proof it, officials will usually write the date as 1st or 31st, January or December with their estimated year of birth. For Yunus case, the official somehow decides to write as 00-00-1961, since Yunus only remember the year that he was born in but not the month and day.

Every year there are a few hundred thousand of Indonesians entering Malaysia to work as laborers and maids, legally and illegally. The immigration department in Malaysia found out that this was the 3rd time Yunus has entered Malaysia. The 1st time he came in illegally, was caught and deported back to his home country. The 2nd and 3rd time he entered with proper working documentations. Unable to find a job locally that can support his whole family, there is no surprise that Yunus will be returning to Malaysia anytime soon.


A special thanks to Acong for submitting this story personally.