Abandoned Toilet becomes Cozy Little Home for the Chinese Family

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Many people who aren’t satisfied with their living conditions have probably never heard about this remarkable man from China. For the past six years, the 32-year-old, Zeng Lingjun and his family live in the closet of one of the hotels in the city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province. 

Zeng Lingjun was born in a small village, in the Jilin Province of Northeastern China. As a boy, he dreamed of one day attending college, but because his family was too poor was unable to pay 5000 yuan ($ 794) for school, he had to abandon his dream and settle for becoming a cobbler and repair shoes for a living.

But he had bigger plans for himself, so one day, with just 50 yuan ($8) in his pocket, he left for Shenyang, the biggest city in northeast China. Six years ago, a friend arranged him an abandoned hotel toilet was available for rent at a very low price. He immediately borrowed the money he needed and rented the deserted toilet as his new home. He took down the old door and all the wooden cubicles, and laid down some planks to cover up the toilet bowls and make room for a bed. The dismantled cubicles were converted to storage space.

In 2008 Zeng Lingjun met his current wife, also a migrant worker. They married in 2010 and had a baby shortly after. Now the three of them live in the abandoned toilet. At one point, they saved enough money to move into a normal 80 square meter apartment, but they found themselves coming back to their old home just days after they had moved out, unable to afford all the expenses.

So they moved to the toilet. Their new home area of ​​20 square meters. Already fully adapted to their needs.

Two years back, they had a son, whom they named Zeng Dei (translated as “lucky”), with the hope that he proves lucky for their parents.

Their wedding pictures.

According to ancient tradition, many Chinese newlyweds wear red wedding dresses because it is believed that the color red brings wealth and prosperity.

Although the smell never lets them forget they live in a toilet, Zeng and his family just flush the toilets whenever the stench becomes unbearable, and just enjoy their life together.

He repairs shoes, cleans and makes key chains for the passers-by. His workplace is right outside of the hotel where his family lives. Zeng`s conscientious attitude to his work attracted many regular customers, who often pay him a little more for his services. In a month he earns 2,000 yuan ($ 317), which equals the average wage of Chinese workers in the factory.

Picture Credits: izismile.com

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Guinness World Records 2013: Some bizarre and Interesting Records - Compilation II

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One our previous post [Click Here] we read about some weird records. Here are a few more interesting ones:

The heaviest rideable bicycle weighs 750 kg (1650 lb) and was built by Wouter van den Bosch (Netherlands) and ridden in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Picture: Ranald Mackechnie/Guinness World Records 

Largest collection of Barbie dolls : Bettina Dorfmann (Germany) has 15,000 different Barbie dolls. She has been collecting Barbies since 1993.
Picture: Ranald Mackechnie/Guinness World Records.

Largest collection of Hello Kitty memorabilia: Asako Kanda (Japan) has 4,519 different Hello Kitty items. Her house is filled with Hello Kitty items, such as a Hello Kitty frying pan, a Hello Kitty electric fan and a Hello Kitty toilet seat.

Picture: Shinsuke Kamioka/Guinness World Records

The youngest professional drummer is Julian Pavone (USA) (b. 14 May 2004). As of 21 March 2010, he was five years, 10 months, three days old.

Picture: Kevin Scott Ramos/Guinness World Records

The largest drum set is comprised of 340 pieces, is owned by Dr Mark Temperato (USA) and was counted in Lakeville, New York, USA. Dr Mark Temperato is a member of the band called Jesus the Soul Solution. He transports the drum set in a custom-built trailer.

Picture: James Ellerker/Guinness World Records

The most balls juggled is 11 and was achieved by Alex Barron (UK), who managed 23 consecutive catches in what is known as a qualifying” juggling run. This feat was achieved at Roehampton Squash Club, London, UK.

Picture: Sam Christmas/Guinness World Records

The largest mining truck body by volume is the Westech T282C Flow Control Body which has a volume of 470.4 cubic metres at a coal density of 0.86 tons/m3. It was designed and manufactured by WESTECH (USA) an Austin Engineering LTD company and was presented and measured at the North Antelope Rochelle Mine, Wyoming, USA.
Picture: Guinness World Records.

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Guinness World Records 2013: Some bizarre and Interesting Records..

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The latest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records has already hit the bookshelves by September 13 2012. It’s the 57th edition of the world's best selling reference book.

And this year the book has some new entries such as the world shortest bull, the oldest gymnast, Largest Biceps, Shortest Woman and the lowest car. One record holder this year is for the world's tallest mohawk.

The book, of course,has many more interesting records to offer, but it's pretty impressive itself. The book is published in 22 languages in more than 100 countries and it's expected to sell around 2.7 million copies. 

Lets have a look at a few interesting records:

The world's largest biceps belong to Mostafa Ismail (Egypt) and were measured for left arm flexed at 64.77 cm (25.5 in) and non-flexed 62.23 cm (24.5 in) and for right arm flexed at 63.5 cm (25 in) and non-flexed 60.96 cm (24 in). The measurements were taken in Franklin, Massachusetts, USA which is where Mostafa now resides.

Picture: Guinness World Records/PA

More about him: Check here [Man with the World’s Largest Biceps]

The heaviest competing sportswoman living is sumo wrestler Sharran Alexander (UK) of London, UK, who weighs 203.21 kg (448 lbs).

Picture: Guinness World Records/PA

 The oldest gymnast is Johanna Quaas (born: 20 November 1925, Germany) who, at the age of 86 years, is a regular competitor in the amateur competition Landes-Seniorenspiele, staged in Saxony, Germany. She performed a floor-and-beam routine on the set of 'Lo Show dei Record' in Rome, Italy.

Picture: Guinness World Records/PA

The tallest living dog is ‘Zeus’ (USA) a Great Dane, who measured 1.118 m (44 in) tall and is owned by Denise Doorlag and her family, of Otsego, Michigan, USA.Zeus also takes over the 'Tallest dog ever' title from previous holder 'Giant George'.

Picture: Guinness World Records/PA

The tallest living horse is Big Jake, a nine-year-old Belgian Gelding horse, who measured 20 hands 2.75 in (210.19 cm, 82.75 in), without shoes, at Smokey Hollow Farms in Poynette, Wisconsin, USA.

Picture: Kevin Scott Ramos/Guinness World Records

The shortest bull is Archie, a 16-month-old Dexter Bull, fully registered in the Northern Ireland livestock inventory, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, who measured 76.2 cm (30 in) from the hoof to the withers.

Picture: Guinness World Records/PA

The tallest donkey living is Oklahoma Sam, a four-year-old American Mammoth Jackstock, who measured 15.3 hands (155.45 cm; 5 ft 1 in) tall on 10 December 2011, and is owned by Linda Davis of Watsonville, California, USA.

Picture: Guinness World Records / Rex Features

The tallest mohican measures 113.5 cm (44.68 in) and belongs to Kazuhiro Watanabe (Japan). The length was verified at Bloc de l'art hair salon, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
Picture: Shinsuke Kamioka/Guinness World Records.

Source: Guinness World Records

Check out the next list of Amazing World records: [Click here]

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100 years of Titanic: Memories

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The sinking of the RMS Titanic caused the deaths of 1,517 of its 2,229 passengers and crew (official numbers vary slightly) in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. The 712 survivors were taken aboard the RMS Carpathia. Few disasters have had such resonance and far-reaching effects on the fabric of society as the sinking of the Titanic. It affected attitudes toward social injustice, altered the way the North Atlantic passenger trade was conducted, changed the regulations for numbers of lifeboats carried aboard passenger vessels and created an International Ice Patrol (where commercial ships crossing the North Atlantic still, today, radio in their positions and ice sightings). The 1985 discovery of the Titanic wreck on the ocean floor marked a turning point for public awareness of the ocean and for the development of new areas of science and technology. April 15, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster. It has become one of the most famous ships in history, her memory kept alive by numerous books, films, exhibits and memorials. -- Paula Nelson.

 The British passenger liner RMS Titanic leaves from Southampton, England on her maiden voyage, April 10, 1912. Titanic called at Cherbourg, France and Queenstown, Ireland before heading westward toward New York. Four days into the crossing, she hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m., 375 miles south of Newfoundland. Just before 2:20 am Titanic broke up and sank bow-first with over a thousand people still on board. Those in the water died within minutes from hypothermia caused by immersion in the freezing ocean.(Frank O. Braynard Collection) 

A 1912 photograph of a dining room on the Titanic. The ship was designed to be the last word in comfort and luxury, with an on-board gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants and opulent cabins. (The New York Times Photo Archives/American Press Association)

Captain Edward John Smith, commander of the Titanic. The ship he commanded was the largest afloat at the time of her maiden voyage. Titanic was a massive ship - 883 feet long, 92 feet wide, and weighing 52,310 long tons (a long ton is 2240 pounds). It was 175 feet tall from the keel to the top of the four stacks or funnels, almost 35 feet of which was below the waterline. The Titanic was taller above the water than most urban buildings of the time. (The New York Times Archives)

 

This is believed to be the iceberg that sank the Titanic on April 14-15, 1912. The photograph was taken from the deck of the Western Union Cable Ship, Mackay Bennett, commanded by Captain DeCarteret. The Mackay Bennett was one of the first ships to reach the scene of the Titanic disaster. According to Captain DeCarteret, this was the only berg at the scene of the sinking when he arrived. It was assumed, therefore, that it was responsible for the sea tragedy. The glancing collision with the iceberg caused Titanic's hull plates to buckle inward in a number of locations on her starboard side and opened five of her sixteen watertight compartments to the sea. Over the next two and a half hours, the ship gradually filled with water and sank. (United States Coast Guard)

A photograph released by Henry Aldridge & Son/Ho Auction House in Wiltshire, Britain, 18 April 2008, shows an extremely rare Titanic passenger ticket. They were the auctioneers handling the complete collection of the last American Titanic Survivor Miss Lillian Asplund. The collection was comprised of a number of significant items including a pocket watch, one of only a handful of remaining tickets for the Titanic's maiden voyage and the only example of a forward emigration order for the Titanic thought to exist. Lillian Asplund was a very private person and because of the terrible events she witnessed that cold April night in 1912 rarely spoke about the tragedy which claimed the lives of her father and three brothers. (Henry Aldridge & Son/Ho)

R.M.S. Titanic's bow in 1999. (P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology) 

This Sept. 12, 2008 image shows one of the propellers of the RMS Titanic on the ocean floor during an expedition to the site of the tragedy. Five Thousand artifacts are scheduled to be auctioned as a single collection on April 11, 2012, 100 years after the sinking of the ship. (RMS Titanic, Inc., via Associated Press)

  This Aug. 28, 2010 image, released by Premier Exhibitions, Inc.-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, shows the starboard side of the Titanic bow. (Premier Exhibitions, Inc.-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Artifacts on display at "TITANIC The Artifact Exhibit" at the California Science Center: Binoculars, a comb, dishes and a broken incandescent light bulb, Feb. 6, 2003. (Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images,Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times)  

 Currency, part of the artifacts collection of the Titanic, is photographed at a warehouse in Atlanta, Aug. 2008. (Stanley Leary/Associated Press) 

With her rudder cleaving the sand and two propeller blades peeking from the murk, Titanic’s mangled stern rests on the abyssal plain, 1,970 feet south of the more photographed bow. This optical mosaic combines 300 high-resolution images taken on a 2010 expedition. (COPYRIGHT© 2012 RMS TITANIC, INC; Produced by AIVL, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)  

Two of Titanic’s engines lie exposed in a gaping cross section of the stern. Draped in “rusticles”—orange stalactites created by iron-eating bacteria—these massive structures, four stories tall, once powered the largest moving man-made object on Earth. (COPYRIGHT© 2012 RMS TITANIC, INC; Produced by AIVL, WHOI)

Source and more at: boston.com 
  

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Rejuvenating Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort

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The Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort (Western Canada)

Take time to treat yourself at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort’s Grotto Spa, the largest resort spa in British Columbia. The spa offers signature treatments and services with a focus on West Coast natural ingredients.

Designed to emulate a natural stone grotto, this 2,500 square foot warm water pool is infused with natural minerals and trace elements which detoxify the body and rejuvenate the spirit. The Grotto Spa Mineral Pool includes a two story waterfall, an invigorating glacial plunge cascade and a non-mineralized whirlpool. After a treatment or dip in the Mineral Pool, guest make their way to the third floor Relaxation Lounge to relax by the fire in their robes and sandals as they enjoy complimentary teas and fresh fruit.

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Rescued Baby Dolphin Being Nursed To Health

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After being washed ashore, apparently injured by a fishing net, the baby dolphin approximately 10 days old is nursed back to health. The baby dolphin was discovered by walkers on the banks of La Plata river near Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital. They did not find the sign of a mother nearby. 

Below are the magnificent pictures of the tiny dolphin now named Nipper – and the concerned penguin who oversaw his care. The erect-crested penguin is an oil spill rescue who’s also recuperating at the reserve .

An erect-crested penguin watches as Richard Tesore, head of the NGO Rescate Fauna Marina, holds a baby La Plata river dolphin in Piriapolis, 100 km (62 miles) east of Montevideo, November 5, 2010. 

Please post your comments..

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28 Years in the Jungle: The Shoichi Yokoi Story

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Shoichi Yokoi, the Japanese soldier who held out in Guam

It’s exactly 40 years since a Japanese soldier was found in the jungles of Guam, having survived there for nearly three decades after the end of World War II. He was given a hero’s welcome on his return to Japan – but never quite felt at home in modern society.

For most of the 28 years that Shoichi Yokoi, a lance corporal in the Japanese Army of world War II, was hiding in the jungles of Guam, he firmly believed his former comrades would one day return for him.

And even when he was eventually discovered by local hunters on the Pacific island, on 24 January 1972, the 57-year-old former soldier still clung to the notion that his life was in danger.

“He really panicked,” says Omi Hatashin, Yokoi’s nephew.

Startled by the sight of other humans after so many years on his own, Yokoi tried to grab one of the hunter’s rifles, but weakened by years of poor diet, he was no match for the local men.

“He feared they would take him as a prisoner of war – that would have been the greatest shame for a Japanese soldier and for his family back home,” Hatashin says.

As they led him away through the jungle’s tall foxtail grass, Yokoi cried for them to kill him there and then.

Using Yokoi’s own memoirs, published in Japanese two years after his discovery, as well as the testimony of those who found him that day, Hatashin spent years piecing together his uncle’s dramatic story.

His book, Private Yokoi’s War and Life on Guam, 1944-1972, was published in English in 2009.

“I am very proud of him. He was a shy and quiet person, but with a great presence,” he says.

Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi Displays Clothes to Guam Police

Underground shelter

Yokoi’s long ordeal began in July 1944 when US forces stormed Guam as part of their offensive against the Japanese in the Pacific.

The fighting was fierce, casualties were high on both sides, but once the Japanese command was disrupted, soldiers such as Yokoi and others in his platoon were left to fend for themselves.

“From the outset they took enormous care not to be detected, erasing their footprints as they moved through the undergrowth,” Hatashin said.

In the early years the Japanese soldiers, soon reduced to a few dozen in number, caught and killed local cattle to feed off.

But fearing detection from US patrols and later from local hunters, they gradually withdrew deeper into the jungle.

There they ate poisonous toads, river eels and rats.

Yokoi made a trap from wild reeds for catching eels. He also dug himself an underground shelter, supported by strong bamboo canes.

“He was an extremely resourceful man,” Hatashin says.

Keeping himself busy also kept him from thinking too much about his predicament, or his family back home, his nephew said.

Return to Guam

Yokoi’s own memoirs of his time in hiding reveal his desperation not to give up hope, especially in the last eight years when he was totally alone – his last two surviving companions died in floods in 1964.

Turning his thoughts to his ageing mother back home, he at one point wrote: “It was pointless to cause my heart pain by dwelling on such things.”

And of another occasion, when he was desperately sick in the jungle, he wrote: “No! I cannot die here. I cannot expose my corpse to the enemy. I must go back to my hole to die. I have so far managed to survive but all is coming to nothing now.”

Two weeks after his discovery in the jungle, Yokoi returned home to Japan to a hero’s welcome.

He was besieged by the media, interviewed on radio and television, and was regularly invited to speak at universities and in schools across the country.

Hatashin, who was six when Yokoi married his aunt, said that the former soldier never really settled back into life in modern Japan.

He was unimpressed by the country’s rapid post-war economic development and once commented on seeing a new 10,000 yen bank note that the currency had now become “valueless”.

According to Hatashin, his uncle grew increasingly nostalgic about the past as he grew older, and before his death in 1997 he went back to Guam on several occasions with his wife.

Some of his prize possessions from those years in the jungle, including his eel traps, are still on show in a small museum on the island.

Source: Wikipedia

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