Interesting facts-Tree of Life

Tree of Life, Bahrain

The source of water for this tree remains a mystery because it stands in a place completely free of water.

The Tree of Life (Shajarat al-Hayah) in Bahrain is one of the mysteries of world which is bound to be in your sightseeing list while in this Middle Eastern country. The Tree of Life in Bahrain is four century old mesquite tree which survives in the midst of desert. The mystery of the survival of the tree has made it a legend. People from all over the Middle East and the world make it a point to visit this place to see this wonder of nature. The name “tree of life” is absolutely appropriate for the tree as it truly represents the magic of life. A legend is also attached to the site where the tree is located. The local inhabitants believe with heart and soul that this was the actual location of the Garden of Eden.

The Tree of Life of Bahrain is located 1.2 miles or 2 kilometers away from Jebel Dukhan. The tree stands all alone in the heart of desert and from far away it looks like a green spot in the white desert. While going to this place extra caution should be taken to avoid your car from getting stuck in the sand. There are very less habitation near this place as this is in the midst of the desert.

While in Bahrain everyone should make an effort to pay visit to this ancient tree and it is one of the most famous of all tourist spots in this Middle Eastern country.

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Legendary Trees of Asia

If you’re planning to tour Asia, try to visit these legendary trees of the continent. Each one has its own interesting stories to share; one of them was even an instrument in one of the most gruesome killings in history.

Strangler Fig Trees (Cambodia) 

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Ta Prohm, a modern day name of a temple in Angkor, Cambodia built in the late 12th and early 13th century has been left much in its original condition in which it was found including the trees with their long endless spreading roots looking like octopus tentacles coiling among the ruins that makes it one of Cambodia’s tourist attractions. The larger species are said to be either silk-cotton tree (Ceiba oentandra) or thipok (Tetrameles nudiflora), and the smaller trees are either the strangler fig (Ficcus gibbosa) or Gold Apple (Diopyros decandra).

Cedars of God (Lebanon)

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The Cedars of God (Arz el Rab) is a small forest of about 400 Lebanon Cedar trees in Mount Lebanon. The trees are remnants of what used to be a thick forest in the mountains of Lebanon during biblical times. The Cedars of Lebanon are mentioned in the Bible more than 70 times. The wood was exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians and was valued by historical figures including Herod and Julius Caesar; it was used by Solomon to build the First Temple in Jerusalem. Today, the Cedars of God is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is strictly protected by the Lebanese government.

The Great Banyan (India)

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The Great Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) is a 250 year old Banyan tree that is a major tourist attraction in the Indian Botanical Gardens of Kolkata, India

. With its 2880 prop-roots that occupies an area of about 14,500 sq m (1.5 has; 4 acres), the tree looks more like a forest than a single tree.

Sri Maha Bodhi (Sri Lanka)

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Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Fig tree that is one of the most sacred relics of Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It is said to be a cutting of the Bodhi tree of India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. The Sacred Fig was planted in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka by King Devanampiyatissa in the year 249 BC. Siri Maha Bodhi is the world’s oldest living human-planted tree with a known planting date

Tree of Life (Bahrain)

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The Tree of Life (Shajarat al-Hayah) is a four century year old mesquite tree that stands alone in the middle of Bahrain’s barren desert. How the tree survives in the hot, parched dry land with no source of water remains a mystery. The Tree of Life is one of the top tourist attractions in Bahrain. The locals believe that the site is the actual location of the Garden of Eden.

Chankiri Tree (Cambodia)

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Remember Cambodia’s Killing Fields? To refresh your memory, the Killing Fields were several places in Cambodia where at least 200,000 people were executed by the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) and about 2 million were estimated to have died from the Khmer Rouge policies, including diseases and starvation. The Chankiri Tree or Killing Tree was not only a witness but an innocent instrument of the evil deeds as children and infants were slung against to kill them.

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Amazing pictures of objects devoured by the Jungle

The jungle is eating into everything in its way: cars, planes, statues, temples, churches. Nothing seems safe from the clutches of nature.

The At Prom temple complex in Angkor, Cambodia surely offers some astounding views of tree versus structure. At a closer look, this picture is even a bit scary, given how the trees are advancing from the top and from the ground.



This amazing detail was captured in Cambodia at the Angkor Wat temple complex. Notice how the tree has taken on the colour of the temple ruin (or is it the other way round?) and seems to be part of the structure, like a giant snake peeking down from the top. Don't miss how the roots have pushed the stone blocks apart.

In this picture of another structure in At Prom, it looks like the tree first destroyed the temple and then changed its mind by deciding to form a second temple entrance.

Here's a beautiful example of the power of a kapok tree in Angkor, Cambodia. Doesn't it look like a thin, white hand gripping the wall tightly?

Even this Buddha statue couldn't escape the Banyan tree's grip in Bangkok, Thailand. But being Buddha, he seems quite content with it.

Even in Mexico, the Mayan ruins in Palenque have fared no better than the others: they are slowly being eaten up by the greedy jungle.

Even vehicles are not safe from the clutches of the jungle - this jeep looks like it's been there a while. Notice how onetree root has grown around it.

This plane, too, has seen better days. It is now a rotting attraction in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize.

What looks like the skeleton of a truck was actually once a plane too. What we can see here are the tail, elevators, rudder and the tail gunner of a plane used in World War II and crashed in Guam.

Even boats are devoured by the jungle like this one here in Nicaragua.

Okay, this is technically not a jungle though residents of Georgia, USA might know better but here, a creeper called kudzu has taken over so completely that one can barely make out what the vegetation is covering (it was a house).

This stone house in Cairns, Australia is still maintained by someone (notice the flower pots in the front) but don't be fooled, the rainforest is approaching fast!

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Welcome to the Redwoods Treehouse Restaurant

The New Zealand Yellow Pages are building a restaurant 10 meters up on a redwood tree. It is now under construction on a site north of Auckland. This tree restaurant is designed by Pacific Environments Architects. This treehouse concept gives you an expression of childhood dreams and fairy tales. It is inspired by the chrysalis/cocoon safeguarding the emerging butterfly/moth. It has a 60m tree-top walkway getting you up to the restaurant and inside there’s ample space for 18 seating people and staff and complete with a bar. The kitchen and the toilet will be located at the ground level. The acrylic sheeting fixed to the roof under the fins to get the protection for tough weather conditions.

:: Yellow Pages:

: Pacific Environments Architects

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Dede Koswara – The Tree Man Undergoes Treatment”

Dede Koswara dubbed the Tree Man is back after nine months of operations to remove the woody growth from his body. He was once sacked from his job, deserted by his wife and shunned by his neighbors - treated like a freak becaused of his gnarled growths sprouting from his hands and feet. The warts on Dede’s body was the cause of a severe Human Papilloma Virus infection. The 37 year old man’s life quality has improved where he now can use his hand write and use the cell phone. Dede still has to go through more surgery in October after the fasting month to trim more warts and was given strong course of medicine including vitamin A in an attempt to prevent the return of the growth. 3 more images of Dede Koswara the tree man getting better after a break....

Dede Koswara, 37, who is also known as ‘The Tree Man of Java’ had underwent four major operations that hacked away the bark like tissue sprouting from his hands and feet. Dede was able to see the outline of his toes for the first time as medics removed more than 4lbs of warts from his body. Spending his last 20 years (his ordeal started when he was 15 and cut his knee where a small wart developed and spread) with the bizarre condition, Dede expressed that he wants to get better and find a job and hopes that one day he will meet a girl and get married.

4 more pics of Dede Koswara The Tree Man of Java .

Source: Telegraph UK

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