Calming Greens

Northern Lights, Tromsø, Norway

Whether its three bands of green across the night sky, or flickering curtains of emerald, the Northern Lights of Norway will provide you a unique appearance of the sky. The luminous green is a result from the energy released when large solar explosions and flares throw huge particles into deep space and hit the Earth's surface. http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/what-to-do/attractions-culture/nature-attractions-in-norway/let-there-be-northern-lights/what-are-the-northern-lights/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7147251/Aurora-borealis-awesome-pictures-of-the-northern-lights-in-Norway-taken-by-Bjorn-Jorgensen.html?image=3

http://www.baltictravelcompany.com/blog/index.php/norway/the-definitive-travellers-guide-to-the-northern-lights

Mai Chau, Vietnam

The lush green paddy fields of Mai Chau in Vietnam, accompanied with birdsong and irrigation streams will sure make you feel calm. Mai Chau is a successful grassroots tourism project, and a great place to take on some bike riding, hiking and relaxation. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/northwest-vietnam/mai-chau

http://www.worldmatetravel.com/travel-news/amazing-north-east-vietnam.html

Central Park, New York, United States of America

An urban park situated in Upper Manhattan, lies Central Park, an urban park - in fact, the most visited urban park in the US and one of the most filmed locations in the world. Central Park is home to a zoo, a skating rink, a castle, a model boat boating pool, a formal English rose garden, a theater, a marionette theater, museums, restaurants, boating lakes, ball fields, tennis courts, jogging tracks, bicycle routes, fountains, statues, open spaces, wooded areas, and much more! https://www.zealnyc.com/central-park/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park

http://www.e-perpustakaan.com/just-visiting-central-park-new-york-city-you-get-happiness/

An aerial view of Central Park - what a better place to relax from the busy New York. 

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/the-best-aerial-image-of-new-york-city-youll-ever-see/267018/

https://www.zealnyc.com/central-park/

Magical Blue Gems

By Izzi

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska

If someone told me this would be the destination following a kayak ride and an ice climb over a glacier, I'd be all hands on board. The Mendenhall Ice Caves is a 20 metre long glacier located in Southeast Alaska, where you can experience each form of the water cycle at once. There is nothing more magical than water running over rocks underneath blue ceilings inside a hollow glacier. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mendenhall-ice-caves

http://thehigherlearning.com/2015/02/23/the-coolest-places-on-earth-mendenhall-ice-caves-photos/

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Chefchaouen is named one of the prettiest towns in the Morocco, and how could you disagree? An artsy, blue-washed mountain village is like it is its own world. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/the-mediterranean-coast-and-the-rif/chefchaouen 

http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/chefchaouen-the-blue-city-1818/

Blue is spread all across the streets, walls, every street and alleyway, and even inside homes. No wonder Chefchaouen is also known as "The Blue Pearl of Morocco"! http://jamesclear.com/photo-essay-chefchaouen-morocco

http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/chefchaouen-the-blue-city-1818/

Marble Caves, Chile

6000 years + crashing waves + calcium carbonate = the smooth swirling blues waters which is reflected on the walls of the Marble Caves located in Chile. Hop in a boat to view these amazing vibrant blue grey chambers in the turquoise waters of Carrera. http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com/the-marble-caves-chile/ http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/marble-caves-of-chile-chico

http://blog.fluentcity.com/51-places-to-travel-before-you-die-your-travel-bucket-list/

Peyto Lake, Canada

Banff National Park in Canada is home to a glacier-fed lake, Peyto Lake. Over summer, large amounts of glacial rock flow into the lake, which gives the lake a beautiful, bright, turquoise colour (it looks so illustrated in photos, its unreal!). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyto_Lake

http://www.worldfortravel.com/2013/02/10/beautiful-peyto-lake-canada/

Red Hot Whereabouts

By Izzi

Cranberry Bogs, Massachusetts

Cranberries – everyone’s favourite little berries, packed with nutrients and antioxidants. But have you ever wondered how cranberries grow and thrive? A distinctive wetland, called a bog, is an ecosystem with thick sphagnum moss, acidic waters, peat deposits and a spongy, mat-like substance on the water’s surface. This environment provides fresh water, and counters unfavourable conditions these delicate and delicious cranberries need to grow and survive. The cranberry bogs in Massachusetts is amongst one of the famous geographic locations show casting a vibrant red glow over the water’s surface. Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/cranberry-bogs.htm

http://movies-wayneaddisoncyrus.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/cranberry-bog-images.html

http://www.massvacation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/670x400-8531075171_a220da5f37_c.jpg

Red Sea Beach, Liaoning Province, China

The biggest wetland and reed marsh in the world, appropriately named the Red Sea Beach, is located in Liaoning, China. It is composed of shallow seas and tide lands of a lively red radiance. The Red Sea Beach is home to more than 260 kinds of birds and 399 kinds of wild animals. The bright colour of the red grass genus Sueda brings an unusual yet impressive landscape of 26 kilometres long every autumn, attracting many tourists. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Seabeach

http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/incredible-red-seabeach-in-china-1968/

http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/incredible-red-seabeach-in-china-1968/

Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

Hitachi Seaside Park is an extraordinary flower park located in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan which blooms with various flowers all year round. Source: http://smarter666.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/hitachi-seaside-park-located-in.html 

http://planetden.com/nature/hitachi-seaside-parkjapan

http://smarter666.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/hitachi-seaside-park-located-in.html

Lake Retba, Senegal

Ever wonder what dunaliella salina bacteria would do to the colour of a lake? No need to do any experiments, just have a look at Lake Retba in Senegal. It’s PINK! The bacteria (completely harmless to humans by the way, and totally swimmable in!) produces a red pigment in order to absorb the sunlight, and thus gives the lake a distinct bubble gum pink colour. Now I know that this is barely red, but this geographical location was just too cool to not include in today’s post. Source: http://www.lakeretba.com/

http://amazingstuff.co.uk/nature/pink-lake-retba-senegal/#.Vfawp_mqpBc

Lake Retba is not the only pink lake in the world. Another pink lake, is Australia’s very own Lake Hillier in Western Australia.

http://whenonearth.net/swim-in-lake-hillier-pink-lake-australia/