The Sanctuary of Truth (Unfinished Museum), Pattaya, Thailand

The Sanctuary of Truth is an unfinished museum in Pattaya, Thailand. It was designed by the Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphan in the Ayutthaya style. The building is notably constructed entirely out of wood, specifically Mai Deang, Mai Takien, Mai Panchaat, and Teak, and it contains only wood-carved idols and sculptures. Construction first began on the Sanctuary of Truth in 1981 and continues as of 2020, though visitors are permitted inside with hard hats. Located on 13 hectares of land, the temple houses an internal space of 2,115 m2, with the tallest spire reaching to 105 m.

The building has been under construction since 1981, and may not be finally completed until 2025 at the earliest.Though under construction, tourists are able to visit the Sanctuary. Inspired by the temples in Ayutthaya,the hand-carved wood structure features Thai architecture. The museum was built by Lek Viriyaphan. Every surface of the structure is decorated with ornamentation from the Thai, Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, and Khmer traditions.

The Sanctuary is made of several different types of wood, giving different parts of the Sanctuary different textures. The oldest wood that has been used is takien wood, used to build the main post and expected to last for 600 years. The structure is composed of wood such as Xylia xylocarpa, Mai-Takien, Mai-Panchart, and teakwood.

The Sanctuary features a four-faced Brahma statue on its rooftop. The Northern hall features Guanyin and other sculptures. The Southern hall features astronomical themes, namely the sun, moon, and planets, in addition to sculptures of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The Western hall features representations of the Classical element (earth, wind, water, and fire). The Eastern hall features familial representations. The wooden Sanctuary is over 100 meters tall and makes for an impressive sight against the backdrop of the Gulf of Thailand. The indoor space is 2,115 square meters.

The sanctuary is perhaps best described as a monument to Thai craftsmanship, with its stunningly detailed carvings of elephants, people and scenes, creatures and deities from mythology. They pay homage to and are a reflection of the Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge and Eastern Philosophy and they adorn every single surface – both inside and out – of the building. They are also a reflection of the fleeting nature and ceaseless toil of human existence because none of the wood is treated or protected from the elements, meaning that older parts gradually succumb to the rigours of the weather and climate and need to be replaced. The construction of the sanctuary, which began in 1981, is an on-going, never-ending task.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (The Guitar Hotel), Hollywood, Florida, United States,

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, also known as "The Guitar Hotel", is a hotel and casino resort near Hollywood, Florida, United States, located on 100 acres (40 ha) of the Hollywood Reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The property currently has one hotel tower, a 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) casino, large poker room, a 4 acres (1.6 ha) lagoon-style pool facility with a center bar and many private restaurants, shops, spa, cabanas, bars and nightclubs, and the Hard Rock Event Center. A large expansion was completed in October 2019.

The resort currently has a 12-story "classic Hard Rock Hotel" with 469 guest rooms and suites. Guests are greeted by a 50-foot (15 m) tall signature Hard Rock guitar, (based on a famous Gibson electric guitar model) at the entrance of the hotel, along with a massive LED advertising screen at the front of the main parking garage. The resort has 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m2) of meeting space, including a 38,000-square-foot (3,500 m2) exhibit hall.

The Hard Rock's $1.5 billion property expansion project added a 450-foot (140 m) "Guitar Hotel" with 638 rooms and a seven-story 168-room "Oasis Tower" overlooking the pool cabanas these new buildings were scheduled to open on October 24, 2019, several months in advance of Super Bowl LIV being held in Miami on February 2, 2020. The expansion also included a 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m2) "Rock Spa", and over 20 new dining and nightlife destinations. Between the existing 12-story hotel, new Guitar Hotel, and new Oasis Tower, over 1,200 hotel rooms became available in October 2019.

On May 9, 2014, Seminole chairman James Billie announced a $100 million upgrade of the tribe's casinos, with much of that spent on the Hard Rock Hollywood location, including improved entryways, center pool bar, pool facility upgrades, updated hotel room and suite interiors, and a new restaurant. As of March 2019, the tribe's upgrade budget was significantly increased to over $2.4 billion, split mainly between this location and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa.

The current casino layout covers over 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) featuring slot machines and various table games including blackjack, baccarat, mini baccarat, Pai Gow poker, Let It Ride and three card poker. The casino does not have live craps and roulette, although there are electronic versions of those games available. As of June 2018, the poker room is located in a former ballroom area, relocated from its prior venue due to ongoing construction work.

Blackjack is the most popular card game in the United States and was an addition to the casino. In a deal valued at $1.1 billion, former Governor Charlie Crist gave the Seminole Tribe a license for blackjack in its casinos. In exchange, The Seminole Tribe loaned the State of Florida $1.1 billion over the course of two years. On July 3, 2008, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the governor's agreement was unconstitutional, but table games continue to operate because the Federal Department of the Interior approved the now-invalid pact with the state. The addition of blackjack to the Hard Rock casinos in Hollywood and Tampa gave credibility to its claim of being a major gambling destination.

Hard Rock Live is a 7,000 seat multi-purpose theater, which opened on October 25, 2019 with a concert by Maroon 5. The theater replaced a 5,500 seat arena of the same name, which hosted different types of events including musical acts, comedians, boxing and other smaller events, along with a residency by Billy Joel. The arena was razed in March 2018 as part of the property-wide expansion which included the new theater. During construction of the new theater, events were held at the temporary 3,500 seat Hard Rock Event Center, which hosted acts like Britney Spears on her Piece of Me Tour.

The 69th edition of the Miss Universe competition, was held on May 16, 2021 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino where Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa crowned her successor Andrea Meza of Mexico at the end of the event.

This resort features 11 restaurants, a full-service spa and a casino. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, an indoor pool, a nightclub and 3 bars/lounges are on-site. All 481 rooms offer free WiFi and free wired Internet, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and comforts such as pillowtop beds and premium bedding. 24-hour room service, coffee makers and video game consoles are among the other amenities available to guests.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino offers 481 forms of accommodation with video game consoles and a safe. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels and pay-per-view films. Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries and hairdryers.

This Hollywood resort provides complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and an iron/ironing board. In-room massages and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered on a daily basis. Recreational amenities at the resort include an indoor pool and a health club.

Rock Spa has massage/treatment rooms and couples treatment room(s). Services include hot stone massages, facials, body wraps and body treatments. The spa is equipped with a spa tub. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and reflexology. 

For more information  - The Guitar Hotal (Official Website)

Jonathan, (Oldest Living Animal On Earth), Island of Saint Helena, British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, Africa

Jonathan (hatched c. 1832) is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), a subspecies of the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and is the oldest known living land animal. Jonathan resides on the island of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Jonathan was brought to Saint Helena from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean in 1882, along with three other tortoises at about 50 years of age. He was named in the 1930s by Governor of Saint Helena Sir Spencer Davis. He continues to live on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the governor, and is cared for by the government of Saint Helena.

His age is estimated because he was 'fully mature' when brought to Saint Helena in 1882. 'Fully mature' means at least 50 years old, giving him a hatching date no later than 1832. A photograph featuring Jonathan originally thought to date from 1902 actually dates from 1886, showing Jonathan four years after his arrival on Saint Helena. Measurements taken from the photograph show that he was definitely fully mature in 1886. 

The all-time verified record holder for the world's oldest tortoise, according to Guinness World Records, is Tu'i Malila, which died in Tonga in 1966 at the age of 189. Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise that died in 2006 in the Alipore Zoological Gardens of Kolkata, India, is believed to have lived to the age of 255 years, but this has not been confirmed.

In February 2014, as part of the Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the baton visited Saint Helena and Governor Mark Capes, whilst holding the baton, posed for a photo alongside Jonathan in the grounds of Plantation House.

BBC Radio featured Jonathan in an episode of From Our Own Correspondent in March 2014 after ocean rower Sally Kettle visited Saint Helena. The Saint Helena five-pence coin has Jonathan on its reverse.

As of December 2015, Jonathan was reported to be "alive and well. He's blind from cataracts, has lost his sense of smell, and so cannot detect food (his fellow giants mug me and can detect the tiniest morsel dropped on the ground), but he has retained excellent hearing." In January 2016, the BBC reported that Jonathan was given a new diet intended to keep him healthy and extend his life. Due to his old age, Jonathan spends his days doing almost everything with his mate, including eating, sleeping, and mating.

Being the oldest land animal in the world, he has almost royal status. He is dignified and interacts in a friendly way as long as people move slowly around him. We are all very fond of him.

Beehive Ginger (Shaped Like a Horn), South Asia

Beehive Ginger is an ornamental ginger native of Thailand and produces spectacular cones of flowering bracts that begin a greenish color and eventually age to a bright golden yellow, pink or red. Cones can be large, up to 20-30cm tall. The cones grow on a short spike from the base of the plant. In tropical areas the plant will grow all year around but in cooler climates goes dormant in winter. Plant in part shade, soil should be well drained and moist. This ginger will grow well in full sun as well in the subtropics and tropics, but foliage will be a lighter green and some sunburn might occur during very hot weather. Does not tolerate frost. In Australia it will grow as far south as Sydney. This makes an excellent, long lasting cut flower.

It is a species of true ginger, native to Maritime Southeast Asia. It is primarily grown in the West as an ornamental plant, although it has been used in South-East Asia as a medicinal herb.

The scientific name of the species is Zingiber spectabile. "Zingiber" is originally from a Sanskrit word that means "shaped like a horn" and refers to the horn-shaped leaves of most species of ginger. "Spectabile" is derived from the Latin spectabilis, meaning 'visible' or 'spectacular'. The plant is commonly known in the West by the common name "beehive ginger", due to its unusual inflorescences which resemble a skep beehive. It is also referred to by the common names "Ginger wort" or "Malaysian ginger".

In common with most plants in genus Zingiber, the leaves of the plant are long and mostly oblong shaped, tapering to a single point at their tip. Under ideal circumstances, the plant can reach a height of 4.5 metres (15 ft), or even more.

The plant's inflorescence is set atop a spike and can measure up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in height. The bracts attached to the structure can differ in colour, from white, to yellow, orange, or even red, often darkening as the bracts mature and develop.The flowers themselves are small, with purple petals and yellow spots, and a fragile, papery texture.

In Indonesia, the plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation of the eyes.It is prepared for use by pounding the leaves of the plant into a thick paste, and then topically applying it to the required part of the body. It has also been recorded being used to treat burns, as a treatment for headaches and back pain, and as an agent for food preservation.

Academic research has found that the plant has antimicrobial properties, and significant concentrations of the Zerumbone synthase enzyme, which may be effective in treating colon cancer.