The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (The Pink Mosque), Gawd-i Arabān quarter, near Shāh Chérāgh Mosque, Iran

The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, is a traditional mosque in Shiraz, Iran. It is located in Gawd-i Arabān quarter, near Shāh Chérāgh Mosque. It was built during Qajar dynasty rule of Iran. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques in Iran.

The mosque includes extensive coloured glass in its facade, and displays other traditional elements such as the Panj Kāse ("five concaved") design. It is named in popular culture as the 'Pink Mosque', due to the usage of a considerable number of pink-colored tiles for its interior design. With dazzling stained glass, thousands of painted tiles on the ceiling and Persian rugs covering the floor, this place of worship is a gorgeous rainbow of color in every direction, like stepping into a kaleidoscope. 

The mosque was built during the Qajar dynasty, and is still in use under protection by the Endowment Foundation of Nasir al Molk. Construction began in 1876 by the order of the late Hassan Ali Nasir al-Molk, one of the lords and aristocrats of Shiraz, the son of Mirza Ali Akbar Qavam-ol-Molk, the ruler of Fars and was completed in 1888. The designers were Mohammad Hasan-e-Memār, an Iranian architect who had also built the noted Eram Garden before the Nasir al-Molk Mosque, Mohammad Hosseini Shirazi, and Mohammad Rezā Kāshi-Sāz-e-Širāzi.

Inside the mosque is an open courtyard with a rectangular pool in the center, surrounded by flowers. The building’s facade features dozens of arabesque arches, adding to the beauty of the light show from the stained glass.

Although stained glass is mostly popular in churches nowadays, the earliest discovered was in Syria from the 7th century. We do have evidence of techniques and recipes for obtaining stained glass by the Arabic chemist Jabir ibn Hayyan in his book Kitab al-Durra al-maknuna (The Book of the Hidden Pearl) published in the eighth century CE. Orsi windows are windows made of a mixture of wood and colorful glass in the Safavid and the Qajar dynasties. Orsi differs from stained glass used in many churches and Ottoman mosques which serve as illuminated images rather than a source of light. Light is a major feature in many mosques considering it being a major symbol of God in Islam.

 This is mentioned in a chapter in Quran:

″Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth″

Orsi in Nasir al Molk mosque creates a major definitive feature that makes up the colorful spiritual feeling of awe in the visitor when entering. The main purpose of Orsi is creating colorful light on the interior of the building. The mosque has seven wooden doors with colorful Orsi connecting the interior mosque to the courtyard. Orsi windows are characterized for using geometric shapes in their designs due to the prohibition of images and icons in islamic art.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque has two eastern and western shabestans. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque has gorgeous tiled altar and twelve columns along with stained glass windows. The arts of tiling and painting in shabestans, and beautiful decorations of Mihrab have extraordinary beauty. The harmony among columns, fantastic geometric patterns, the play of light and colors, and the splendid Muqarnas all dazzle the eyes of visitors and photographers. The mosque has great elements of traditional architecture such as a central fountain, an iwan, panj kāseh-i (five concaves), faience, and plaster-works.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque has been inscribed as one of the national heritage sites of Iran and it annually attracts many travelers to Iran. The best time to visit the mosque is early in the morning and about 8 to 9 am. This is the best time to see the light passing through the stained glass windows and making kaleidoscopic space that amuses travelers, photographers, and worshipers. The interesting point is that Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is still used for worship. Today this glorious mosque is under protection by Nasir al-Mulk’s Endowment Foundation.

Adachi Garden and Museum, Furukawacho, Yasugi, Shimane, Japan

The Adachi Museum of Art opened in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, Japan in 1970. It houses a collection of modern Japanese art, including paintings by Taikan Yokoyama, and has a celebrated garden.

Its 6 gardens and around 1,500 exhibits of Japanese paintings, pottery, and other works of art occupy the 165,000 square-meter area. Adachi Museum of Art earned the top rating of three stars in Michelin Green Guide Japan because of its elegance.

The Adachi Museum of Art was founded by Adachi Zenko in 1970 as a way of combining his passions for Japanese art and garden design. He hoped that viewing the gardens and artwork together would expand peoples' appreciation and interest in Japanese art.

The Adachi Museum of Art is best known for its award winning garden. It has been named the best garden in Japan annually since 2003 by the "Journal of Japanese Gardening". The garden can be enjoyed at anytime of the year and shows a different character depending on the season. It can only be viewed from the museum building.

In addition to the gardens, the Adachi Museum of Art also houses a collection of nearly 1300 twentieth century paintings and artworks which are rotated seasonally. There is also a permanent exhibit of paintings by Yokoyama Taikan, as well as a ceramics exhibit.

The Adachi Museum of Art is located one hour outside of Matsue: Take a train from Matsue Station to Yasugi Station (20 minutes, 420 yen by local or rapid train, covered by the Japan Pail Pass), from where there are two free shuttle buses per hour to the museum (20 minutes). Limited express trains from Okayama also stop at Yasugi Station before continuing to Matsue.

As well as the great collection of Japanese art works, the museum is also widely known for its Japanese garden. The 16.5 ha picturesque garden was created by the founder Zenko Adachi himself with the belief of “the garden is also a picture”and he has devoted his late life to gardening until his death at 91 years-old. His garden is often described as “living Japanese painting” and past over 10 years, it was chosen as “the most beautiful Japanese garden” by Journal of Japanese Gardening, also listed as a three-stars site on Michelin green guide Japan. The garden has 6 different sections showing different feature on each season and can be only seen from the museum building.

Adachi Museum of Art is definitely one of the best must-sees in Shimane, or even in Japan. Its splendid Japanese gardens were chosen as the No.1 Japanese Garden for thirteen straight years. The museum is blessed with beautiful nature, visitors can observe the combination of the garden and the surrounding mountains changing its faces by seasons. In addition, the Michelin Green Guide and the Guide Blue Japon praise the garden with three stars, the garden gains more and more attentions from overseas.

Outline of Adachi Museum of Art Adachi Museum of Art was established in in 1970 by a local businessman, Zenko Adachi. The museum houses Japanese paintings including masterpieces of Yokoyam Taikan , who has built the modern Japanese art, Sakakibara Shiho, and ceramic artworks by Kitaoji Rosanjin, and a local artist Kawai Kanjiro . Exhibited items change every seasons, for times a year.

For more information  - Adachi Garden and Museum

Ginnie Springs (Clearest Springs in Florida.), Northwest of High Springs, Florida, USA

Ginnie Springs is a privately owned park in Gilchrist County about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northwest of High Springs, Florida, USA. It is located on the south side of the Santa Fe River, to which it is connected. The water is clear and cold and there are accessible caverns with a sand and limestone bottom. Ginnie Springs has been privately owned by the Wray family since 1971 and began functioning in 1976. In the mid-1990s when scuba diving grew in popularity, Bob Wray opened the springs to the public. Due to the increasing number of scuba diver deaths, Wray took precautions by putting in an iron grate over the most dangerous part of the cave and placing warning signs for divers. The popularity of Ginnie took off and it became a nationally renowned diving spot which is still largely popular today

Today in addition to diving, customers can swim, snorkel, canoe, kayak, stand up paddleboard, and tube along the Sante Fe River. Along the river, there are various springs travelers can enter and swim in. This is a source for bottled spring water. Due to the crystal-clear water of the spring, it is easy to view wildlife as well as wreaths underneath.

Nestle was granted permission to take over 1.1 million gallons daily from the aquifer that feeds Ginnie and other nearby springs. This has sparked a global outcry. 

Ginnie Springs is one of the most popular places in Florida to go river tubing. Tubing the Sante Fe River as part of the Ginnie Springs tube run takes about 1 hour to complete from start to finish. Near the springs the water is 72 degrees Fahrenheit but warmer in the river. Since it is a privately owned spring, there are few restrictions on tubers in the Sante Fe River. Tubers are permitted to use tubes of any size and are also allowed to consume alcohol while tubing. Ginnie Springs is one of the few springs in Florida which allows the consumption of alcohol on the tube run.

Ginnie is also well known for camping. Visitors can make reservations for water and electric campsites. There are 129 water and electric campsites in total, which are located across from the park's store. A reservation is not needed for primitive campsites, but they are first-come, first-served.

Ginnie Springs is one of the clearest springs in Florida. The 72-degree water is perfect for river tubing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba and cave diving. Visitors to Ginnie Springs Outdoors can enjoy camping (wilderness sites or sites with electricity), an overnight rental cottage, picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, river tubing and volleyball.

You can experience the outdoors without having to sacrifice the luxuries you are accustomed to. Clean and updated facilities give you every opportunity to focus on relaxing. Ginnie Springs offers amenities such as volleyball courts, covered pavilions, playground, and even wifi-access. Whether you are here for the weekend or just the day, you have all the comforts of home while still enjoying time away.

for more information - Ginnie Springs