THE NATURAL INFINITY POOL OF SOCOTRA
National Geographic calls the remote island of Socotra off the coast of Yemen in the Indian Ocean “the most alien-looking place on our planet,” because of its incredibly weird and bizarre plant life like the Dragon’s Blood Tree.
Yet it is safely far away from anarchic Yemen, peaceful and serene in its isolation. And it contains places of mesmerizing beauty – like this natural infinity pool on a cliff edge high above the ocean in full view. Socotra is spectacularly exotic, like nowhere else in our world. It is truly life-memorable to experience it. Wheeler Expeditions was there in the Spring of 2014 – and we’ll be there again in the Spring of ’23. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #129 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE DEMOCRATS’ MID-TERM OCTOBER SURPRISE
Democrats are facing their worst political environment in over a decade heading into November’s mid-term elections.
In response, Democrats have desperately tried to change the narrative by focusing on abortion and guns, but that’s gone over like a lead balloon. The economy and inflation are still at the top of any list of concerns.
In short, the fundamentals are just awful for the Democrats. That means they need to do something to influence the election that goes beyond actually enacting good policy, and if you listen closely, you’ll discern exactly what they are preparing.
THE DEMOCRATS’ MID-TERM SUMMER SURPRISE
As the Hunter Biden story continues to explode in scandal and scope, it’s becoming impossible to hide.
As we learned in last Friday’s (7/08) HFR: Joe Biden Sold Nearly One Million Barrels from U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to CCP-Owned Oil Company Linked to Hunter Biden Firm.
Then over the weekend: Shock As 4chan Cracks Hunter Biden’s Phone Password And Leaks Everything. The validity of the hack has been verified by the Secret Service.
Even if Fake News and Big Tech keep up their efforts to suppress it, it’s so vast and egregious that it’s going to erupt into a campaign issue in the fall — and Democrats can’t have that. So here’s what they’re gonna do.
THE HYPOGEUM OF MALTA
The extraordinary rock-cut necropolis known as the Hypogeum (hi-po-gee-um) is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world. For over a thousand years (3500-2500 BC), the temple and burial complex (eventually housing 7,000 skeletons) was carved out and down – dozens of chambers, with rock-cut replicas of above-ground temples including simulated corbelled roofs. (A corbelled roof uses stone slabs that progressively overlap each other until the room is roofed over.)
The Megalthic Maltese learned to cut from the limestone bedrock with tools of stone and antler horn for they had no metal. These folks figured out all by themselves how to build extraordinary temples to their gods and goddesses close to six thousand years ago. Nobody taught them. They were the first. Only one reason Malta is one of our planet’s most fascinating places. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #109 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE GLOBAL REVOLT AGAINST GREEN TYRANNY BEGINS
Green tyranny has finally provoked mass reactions, and the first government has fallen after imposing insane policies that wrecked the food supply for its people.
Both the president and the prime minister of Sri Lanka are resigning in the wake of massive mobs storming and occupying their residences. The video clip above shows the incredible size of the crowd storming the parliament building.
But it is not just third-world countries that are experiencing mass revolts against top-down green policies. Farmers in Holland are in open revolt against government plans to destroy their livelihoods, and the revolt is spreading to Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland.
The Global Woke should be listening. There’s a Bad Moon Rising for them.
LOVE OF AMERICA IS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
West Newton, Pennsylvania—As the sun dipped below the horizon of the Laurel Mountains off in the distance of the Evergreen Drive-In Theater, families with children were spread out on their sleeping blankets in front of their cars. A cluster of couples was sitting in folding chairs, enjoying each other’s company.
Then, they all stood and placed their hands over their hearts. They joined together in singing the national anthem as it was played across all three screens.
They remained standing and sang along with the images on the screen to Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” immediately after that. Seasoned attendees can always tell who the newbies are to the experience—they’re the ones moved to tears and wonder on their faces.
THE EUROPE THAT’S STILL THERE
It’s found here – the fishing port of the ancient village of Sesimbra in Portugal. 3,000 years ago it was called Sempsibriga – high place or briga of the Sempsi Celts. So much of Europe is gone now, steamrollered by modernity. Not here, where Portuguese fishermen sail out in their tiny boats for their daily catch as they have for countless generations. The best fish you’ve ever had is in Sesimbra’s local restaurants – wow, is the swordfish good.
While Portugal is a First World country with all the modernity you could ask for, it is unique not only for the charm of its history, preservation of its culture, and post-card picturesqueness, but the sweetness of its people. They are simply nice in a way that’s so captivating. Their traditional family values are part of their nature. The country resonates with peacefulness, an at ease serenity. It’s the Europe that’s still there. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #126 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
KEEPING YOUR SANITY BY TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF PANIC AND ANXIETY
At the famous Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., the outnumbered Athenians, led by their brilliant general Miltiades, took the Persians completely by surprise, sending them into a fit of terror thought to have been brought on by the god Pan—a panic—leading to a remarkable victory. The Athenians lost 192 men to Persia’s 6,400.
Panic and panic attacks—anxiety that seems to hit you out of the blue—can be extremely debilitating. It can make it difficult to function, and its unexpected nature can lead to a general feeling of anxiety, wondering and never knowing when we might get hit by it.
Now there’s recent research that shows what we can effectively do when faced with panic or anxiety.
LAKE BLED
First Lady Melania Trump would instantly recognize Lake Bled, for it is considered the most beautiful place in her home country of Slovenia. It’s a glacial lake up in the Julian Alps near the border with Austria. The small lush island you see has been a pilgrimage site for millennia – first to the Temple of Ziva, the Slovene goddess of love and fertility, then until now to the Church of the Mother of God. For all that time, Slovene couples came here to get married.
There are 99 steps from the rowboat landing to the church, and from ancient times to today, the tradition is that for a happy and long-lasting marriage, the groom must carry his bride up all 99 steps while she must remain silent while he does.
Lake Bled is a place of deep serenity and joyous calm. Come here to experience both. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #178 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
OUTRAGEOUS
