Rock climbing has its perils but it can be endlessly thrilling at the same time as it takes you to the most awesome natural spots of the world. However, you normally do not undertake this adventure activity without taking some self-protective measures. One such extraordinary person to brave the towering elevations world over without taking any safety measures was the legendary sports practitioner Dan Osman. Known for his spine chilling “free-soloing” and “rope jumping” ventures, this Asian American daredevil set a record for a 1000 feet freefall. If you aspire to test your fortitude and reach somewhere near that mark, you must start by knowing the most desirable rock climbing sites of the world more closely.

Dan Osman (February 11, 1963 – November 23, 1998) was an extreme sport practitioner, known for the dangerous sports of “free-soloing” (rock climbing without ropes or other safety gear) and “controlled free-falling” (falling several hundred feet from a cliff while relying on a safety rope), for which his record was over 1000 feet / 304.8 meters. He was known for living a bohemian lifestyle, rarely working, and living in a treehouse for months at a time. He was the star of several rock climbing videos, which brought free-soloing to a wider audience. He died November 23, 1998 at the age of 35 after his rope cut while performing a controlled free-fall jump from the Leaning Tower rock formation in Yosemite National Park. The exact cause of the failure is unknown, but a change in jump site selection which caused a rigging entanglement is most likely.

15. Meteora, Greece

The name of this elevated region sums up to “suspended rock” and it holds only the second place of importance to the Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Kalambaka, Greece after Mount Athos. Located between the Peneios River and Pindus Mountains, these monasteries have a spectacular series of natural sandstone rock pillars in their background. This UNESCO World Heritage Site happens to be the shelter of about six monasteries and one of the spots for potential rock climbing importance.

14. Dead Horse Point

You must have seen this magnificent rocky peak in the opening scene of the movie Mission Impossible where Tom Cruise is shown climbing it. It also features in the Grand Canyon scenes of the film Thelma and & Louise. Situated next to the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, this mountain has some of the most interesting topographical features. The sudden descent of the plateau at the three sides giving rise to the narrow strip of land is truly eye catching. However, the excessive aridity of this place is a deterrent to the greater inflow of tourists who dread the hardship of food and water deficiency.

13. Spider Rock

Photo by Timothy K. Hamilton

This is an amazing 244 m / ( 800 ft ) tall red sandstone monolith found in the Canyon de Chelly National Park of Arizona. It was formed over 230 million years ago through the concretization of sand layers deposited by wind. It derives its name from the Navajo legend of the Spider Woman who supposedly made it her home. She is given the position of a savior and revered by the Dine as a deity.

12. Shiprock, New Mexico

Shiprock was formed by a volcanic eruption that dates back to 30 million years and now remains as a matchless basalt exhibit of the central feeder pipe of a volcano. Rock climbers making it to the top can see a series of volcanic vents and small pinnacles specking the main peak. Some of these contain wonderful example of magma solidified in mid-air that the locals refer as the sacred Tse Bitai meaning ‘the winged rock’. Even if you do not want to climb it, you can see the central part of Shiprock from several kilometers away because of its diameter of 500 meters and altitude of 600 meters. This area of extinct volcano spans almost 20,000 square km into the surrounding Arizona, Utah and Colorado regions.

11. Agulha do Diabo

The name of this 2050 m high spire located in Serra dos Órgãos National Park translates to ‘Devil’s Needle’. It is not easy even for professional mountaineers to scale its height because of the many natural impediments it poses in terms of the trail to the base, the summit, the distance and the weather. However, it makes for a very lovely view once you make it to the peak. The specialty of this mountain is that it is partly concealed among rock blocks and towers extending for over two thousand meters. The first successful attempt to climb it was made in 1940.

10. Las Torres de Vajolet, Italian Alps

It is best not to judge this peak by its gross photographs but to see it yourself to dispel all doubts about its beauty. The Delago arête route remains the most convenient climbing route to score this mountain. Notwithstanding the protective measures you take, this tentative nature of the Delagokante slope is sure to snatch away the breaths of the best of rock climbers.

9. Prekestolen, Kjerag plateau, Forsand, Norway

The name of this 604 m / ( 1980 ft ) tall mountain that varies between Prekestolen and Preikestolen roughly translates into Preacher’s Pulpit or Pulpit Rock. It has a rare squarely top, that measures roughly 25 by 25 meters and that explains the secret behind its name. It was one of the favorite natural haunts of Norway and attracted 95,000 people in 2006 in a 3.8 km hike. The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association offers guided tours around the Prekestolen covering Prekestolhytta. It may take you anything between one to three hours to complete the hike though professionals used to sudden elevations might make it in a much lesser time.

8. El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California

Situated in the northern side of Yosemite National Park, this 900 m / ( 3,000 ft ) granite monolith has baffled cliff climbers of the world. Its altitude is not as challenging as is its vertical ascent. It was named so by the Mariposa Battalion during their 1851 exploration and it means ‘the captain’ or ‘the chief’ in Spanish. There is a trail alongside the Yosemite Falls leading to the summit of this cliff but the real difficulty lies in crossing the solid granite face. It is said that the constituting granite of this cliff is over 100 million years old and has almost no joints. The quality of the granite changes into Taft Granite towards the top and some parts of it are deemed to have formed by ages of glacial action.

7. Mount Thor, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Situated in the Auyuittuq National Park of Canada, the west face of Mt. Thor or Thor Peak rising up to 1,675 m (5,495 ft) enjoys the rapport for being the tallest vertical cliff of the world. Its remoteness and vertical angle of 105 degrees makes it one of the favorite haunts for rock climbers and campers alike. The granite spire that forms a part of the Baffin Mountains was first ascended by an Arctic Institute of North America team in 1953. The longest rappel to date was arranged on this mountain in July 23, 2006 by a group of young American people. Even non-climbers can see and admire the beauty of Mount Thor in the famous “No Quarter” sequence of the concert film ‘The Song Remains the Same’.

6. Mount Roraima

Forming the border between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, this mountain measuring 2,810 m (9,219 ft) remains the tallest of Guyana. It is situated in the Canaima National Park of Venezuela and is one of the most ancient geological formations you will find. Sir Everard im Thurn was the first to climb this steep plateau in 1884. It is supposed to be inspiration behind the famous novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – ‘The Lost World’ and remains special even for the Pemon Indians.

5. Bugaboo Spire, Columbia-Kootenay, Canada

Placed between the Vowell Glacier in the west and the Crescent Glacier in the east, this is one of the famous Alpine rock climbing spots of Canada. Its name evolved as a reference point used by miners to signify the Bugaboo Creek and Bugaboo Pass. The word Bugaboo means ‘an object of obsessive, usually exaggerated fear or anxiety’ as it was truly found by the team of Conrad Kain who climbed it for the first time in 1916 when Canada was in the throes of World War I. This venture is still remembered as one of the toughest technical climbs ever attempted.

4. Las Torres, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia

You will find the Torres del Paine National Park of Chile full of the natural wonders like mountains, glaciers, rivers and lakes that makes it a spot of tourist interest. Lying 112 km to the north of Puerto Natales and 312 km to the north of Punta Arenas, this park is also the home to the Paine massif that has a commanding elevation contrasting to the plains to the Patagonian steppe. While sightseers would prefer exploring the neighboring Los Glaciares National Park and Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, a rock climber can scarcely ignore the call of this eastern spur of the Andes. The climbers certainly enjoy the sight of the myriad interlacing valleys that separate the various granite spires and mountains of the massif.

3. Saint Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland

This is one of the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps and it stands tall at an awesome 4,478 m /  (14,692 ft) altitude. The British alpinist Edward Whymper and his team were the first to climb it in July 1865. However, the route was so hazardous that the team lost three of its members in its way down the descent.

2. Cerro Torre, Patagonia, Argentina

This upright granite mountain standing tall at 3,128 m / ( 10,280 ft ) may appear insurmountable in the very first glance. Being exposed to rough weather conditions, this remarkably steep- walled mountain posed a challenge to even the best of climbers. However, the iconic Italian alpinist Cesare Maestri and his companion the Austrian ice climber Toni Egger remained undaunted by the sight of the snowy cape surrounding the spire and finally conquered it on January 31, 1959. It took the duo four days to make it to the top and their achievement has left behind an undying inspiration for aspiring climbers. It was subsequently approached through other climb routes by mountaineers Garibotti, Salvaterra, and Beltrami.

1. Nameless Tower

This is the other name of the majestic Trango Towers located on the Baltoro Glacier in Baltistan, Northern Pakistan. This ambiguity about its name further mystifies this 6,239 m / ( 20,470 ft ) high pointed granite spire found on the Karakoram offshoot, Baltoro Muztagh. Its large size and vast ridgeline expanding up to 1000 m has fascinated rock climbers over years. The first mountaineer to leave his footmark upon its summit was the British climber Joe Brown, accompanied by Martin Boysen, Mo Anthoine and Malcolm Howells. Today you will find 8 separate climb routes to its peak, among which the Eternal Flame remains a favorite for those daring to go the Dan Osman way.

1. Bhumibol Adulyadej – King of Thailand

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (L), Queen Sirikit (C) and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn greets a crowd from the balcony of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace on December 5, 2007, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo from Darriuss Royce

King Bhumibol, the 80-year-old king of Thailand, is worth US$ 35 billion. He is the longest serving monarch in Thai history. He has benevolently used his royal wealth in over 3,000 rural development projects in the country. He has a world record in having the highest number of honorary university degrees (136). The royal palace in Bangkok was built in 1782. The palace consists of an aggregate of buildings on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The total area is 218,400 sq. m. The palace has a sacred Buddha temple. You have to follow a strict dress code to enter the royal palace (this is applicable for both men and women).

Official residence: Grand Palace – Bangkok

Photo from m_l_monschein

2. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
– President of UAE and hereditary ruler of Abu Dhabi

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan (C) Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al-Nahayan (L) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayyan (R)
Photo from Fazza3

The 60 year old president of UAE is worth US$ 23 billion. The oil reserve pool is the president’s source of wealth. Amiti Palace is the official residence of the President.

Official residence: Amiti Palace

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Interesting fact:

Emirates Palace – This luxurious hotel, managed by The Kempinski Group, is probably the most expensive hotel ever built in the world, costing the Abu Dhabi government roughly US$3 billion. Often mistaken as the presidential palace. It has about 400 rooms and gold has been used to decorate the interiors along with highest quality of marble. Several classical and popular music and ballet performances have been staged at the Emirates Palace’s Conference Centre since its inauguration.

Photo from Sporty Morty

3. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud – King of Saudi Arabia

The 84-year-old king of Saudi Arabia is worth over US$ 21 billion. King Abdullah is known for his benevolence. He bore the entire expenditure of operation of Polish conjoined twins. He was reciprocated with “honorary citizenship” of the Polish town where the twins were born. The King’s palace in Riyadh is more than 1 sq. mile in area. The palace has polished stone walkways and serene water bodies. The pink palatial buildings are true architectural marvels.

Official residence: King’s Palace in Riyadh

4. Haji Hassanal Bolkiah – Sultan of Brunei

Photo from rentasimages

The 62-year Sultan of Brunei, the 29^th heir to the throne of an unbroken 600-year-old Muslim dynasty, has a net asset worth of $20 billion. The Sultan has anything between 3000 to 6000 cars in his collection. The Istana Nurul Iman palace, the Sultan’s official residence, provides visitors a spectacular sight. It is the biggest palace in the world, much bigger than the Vatican palace. US$ 350 million was spent in erecting the palace. It has 1788 rooms, 257 bathrooms and the total floor area is 2,152,782 sq. feet.

Official residence: Istana Nurul Iman Palace

Photo from Treksek

5. Hans-Adam II – Prince of Liechtenstein

The 63-year-old prince is the 15^th in succession to the throne of Liechtenstein. His net worth is 5 billion US$. Castle Schloss Vaduz is his official residence. The palace overlooks the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. The main alter has a late-gothic architecture. The original entrance of the spectacular palace has a height of 11 m.

Official residence: Castle Schloss Vaduz

6. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani – Emir of Qatar

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and his daughter and chief of staff Sheikha (Princess) Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani

Sheikh Hamad, Emir of Qatar is aged 56 and worth 2 billion US$. Sheikh Hamad is instrumental in developing Qatar’s oil and natural gas resources. His fame is also attributed to the modernization of the country’s armed forces. His Royal Palace is in Doha. He does not live there. The palace is mainly used for parliamentary affairs and for receiving guests.

Official residence: Royal Palace in Doha

Pictures copyright of owner / Photo from baldrick2dogs

7. Mohammed VI – King of Morroco

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and Princess Lalla Salma

The 46-year-old Moroccan king has asset strength of 1.5 billion US$.  The king is reputed for his drive to modernize the society and inject a culture of accountability. He has tried to eradicate poverty from Moroccan society. The Royal Palace in Rabat is open to the public. The king has a personal mosque within the palatial complex. The palace is famous for its lush green gardens and the entrance gates are truly majestic.

Official residence: Royal Palace in Rabat

8. Albert II – Prince of Monaco

Prince Albert II, aged 50, is the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. His net worth is 1.4 billion US$. He is the first head of state to have visited the North Pole. He is also the Global Advisor to Orphans International. His palace remains open to the public during the summer. The palace hosts many functions ranging from open-air concerts to children’s Christmas parties. It has an Italian-styled gallery and lot of awesome salons. The palace has several attractions. Among them the Throne Room, which overwhelms you with memoirs of the Renaissance period, and the Sainte-Marie Tower are notable.

Official residence: Prince’s Palace of Monaco

9. Qaboos Bin Said – Sultan of Oman

Qaboos Bin Said, the Sultan of Oman, has royal properties worth $1.1 billion. The 67-year-old Sultan captured the throne after overthrowing his father. His riches are accounted to surplus oil production. He owns a 500 ft yacht. The Al Alam Royal Palace, the residence of the Sultan, overlooks the serene Muscat harbour. The regal palace is an exquisite marvel of art and architecture. Simply stated, the palace seems to be taken out of a fairy tale book.

Official residence: Qasr al Alam Royal Palace

10. Prince Karim Al Husseini Aga Khan – leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims

Prince Aga Khan, aged 71, is the spiritual leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims. Aga Khan, worth 1 billion US$, chairs the Aga Khan Development Network that invests in Asian and African development projects. He donated his palace to India in 1969 in the honor of Mahatma Gandhi and the Gandhian philosophy. The palace, located in Pune, India was built in 1892. The main aim behind construction of the Aga Khan palace was to provide employment to local people hard-hit by famine.

Official residence: Aga Khan Palace

11. Elizabeth II – Queen of U.K.

Queen Elizabeth II is the oldest living emperor in the history of United Kingdom at the age of 82. Her net worth is 650 million US$. She plans to rule until she becomes physically unable. The Buckingham palace is the official residence of the royals. It is also a site for hosting state occasions and welcoming international guests. The palace, having 775 rooms, is kept open for visitors on a regular basis.

Official residence: Buckingham Palace

12. Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah – Emir of Kuwait

It is interesting to note that Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, does not have a royal blood. He was the foreign minister of Kuwait and ascended to the throne in 2006 after the crown prince became too ill to rule. The royal wealth is estimated at 500 million US$. However, his wealth comes in the form of a stipend. He is promoting economic reforms in Kuwait currently. Dar Salwa palace is the official residence of the Emir.

Official residence: “Dar Salwa” Palace

13. Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard – Queen of Netherlands

Queen Beatrix Armgard, the queen of Netherlands, has a net asset worth of 300 million US$. The queen is rumoured to have stepped down so that his eldest son can ascend the throne. This will make her son the first Dutch king in over a century. Huis ten Bosch Palace is the official royal palace of the queen.

Official residence: Huis ten Bosch Palace

14. Mswati III – King of Swaziland

Swaziland’s King Mswati III (in the foreground)

King Mswati, the king of Swaziland, has a net worth of 200 million US$. The king, ascending to the throne at a tender age of 18, has reportedly spent 2.5 million US$ to celebrate 40 years of his country’s independence along with his 40^th birthday. He leads a lavish lifestyle and has 13 brides. Lozitha Palace is the official residence of the king.

Official residence: Lozitha Palace

15. Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa – King of Bahrain

King Of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa With George W. Bush

Sheikh Hamad is the emir of Bahrain since 2002. He is an alumnus of the Cambridge University. He takes active interest in preserving the country’s cultural heritage. Sports and fishing are also his areas of interest. The Riffa Palace is his official residence.

Official residence: Riffa Palace

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16. Albert II – King of Belgium

Albert, the king of Belgium, is the titular head of state. He symbolizes the entire nation and appoints the Belgian cabinet after an election. The Royal Palace in Brussels, known as Palais Royal, is the King’s palace. However, he prefers to live in Chateau de Laeken.  The Royal palace is a neo-classic architectural marvel. It is open to public during summer.

Official residence: Royal Palace in Brussels

17. Yang di-Pertuan Agong Mizan Zainal Abidin – Sultan of Terengganu, Malaysia

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al Wathiqu Billah, Al-Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Al-Haj (Center)

Yang Zainal Abidin, the Sultan of Terengganu, is the youngest Malay ruler. There are six sultans in Malaysia. One of these six, in this case Yang Zainal Abidin, has been elected as the King of Malaysia. He is the constitutional head of the country. His official residence is Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur. The palace has a ground area of 28 acres. It overlooks the Klang River.

Official residence: Istana Negara – Kuala Lumpur

18. Margaret II – Queen of Denmark

Margaret II, the queen of Denmark, is a great painter. She is also known for her addiction to tobacco. The queen has multiple palaces. The winter residence is at Amalienborg palace; the summer residence is at Marselisborg palace (or Graasten Palace or on the royal yacht); and the spring and autumn residence is at Fredensborg Palace.

Official residence: Amalienborg Palace ( winter )

19. Akihito – the Emperor of Japan

Emperor Akihito is the 125^th emperor of Japan. His rule is now merely ceremonial. The king is considered to be a direct descendent of God. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is the official residence of the emperor. It is open to the public on just two days of the year – January 2, when the king wishes New Year to his subjects, and on December 23^rd – his birthday.

Official residence: Imperial Palace in Tokyo

20. Abdullah II – King of Jordan

King Abdullah is the constitutional head of Jordon and retains substantial power. He has contributed greatly to the economic revival of the country and he is applauded for his pro-reform outlook. He is an alumnus of the Oxford University. The Raghadan Palace is the official residence of the King.

Official residence: Raghadan Palace

21. Henri – Grand Duke of Luxemburg

Henri, the Grand Duke, is the head of the state of Luxemburg. He is known for his anti-euthanasia stands. Interestingly, he is a member of the International Olympic committee. The Grand Ducal Palace is his official residence. It is an awesome palace, located in the middle of the city. Built in 1572 as a town hall, it has become a palace replete with history.

Official residence: The Grand Ducal Palace

22. Harald V – King of Norway

Harald V is the king of Norway. The king has no real powers, but only ceremonial authority. He resides in the Royal Palace in Oslo. The palace was built in the first half of the 19^th century.

Official residence: Royal Palace, Oslo

23. Juan Carlos I – King of Spain

Juan Carlos I, the king of Spain, is highly popular among his subjects. He helped in establishing democratic governance in Spain. The Royal Palace in Madrid is the designated residence of the King, although the king prefers to live in a smaller palace on the outskirts of Madrid. The Royal Palace is still used for state occasions. It is the largest palace in Western Europe. It has a total area of 135,000 sq. m and has over 2800 rooms.

Official residence: The Royal Palace of Madrid

24. Carl XVI Gustaf – King of Sweden

The present monarch of Sweden is King Carl XVI Gustaf. He is the seventh king in the Bernadotte dynasty of Sweden. The Royal Palace of Stockholm is the official residence of the king. However, the private residence of the royal family is the Drottningholm palace. The palace has 609 rooms and is considered as one of the largest royal palaces in the world.

Official residence: Royal Palace of Stockholm

24. Norodom Sihamoni – King of Combodia

Norodom Sihamoni is the king of Combodia, although under the present constitution, he has no real power. The royal palace of Phnom Penh is his official residence. The palace was constructed over a century ago and it hosts all major ceremonial functions of the country. Foreign dignitaries also stay here.

Official residence: Royal Palace of Phnom Penh

26. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk – The Dragon king of Bhutan

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchukm is the Dragon king of the secluded Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The Oxford-educated bachelor of 28 years is the youngest reigning monarch in the world. The Tashichoedzong Palace is the official residence of the royal family. The palace houses the government and the central clergy of monks. It remains open to the public during festivals, weekends, and after office hours.

Official residence: Tashichoedzong Palace

27. George Tupou V – The king of Tonga

George Tupou V is the ruler of the Polynesian archipelago that consists of 150 islands. The king lives in the royal palace of Nukualofa, the capital. The palace is wooden and is not open to the people. The king made strong fencing arrangements after some people broke the old, sacred fence after 1990.

Official residence: Royal Palace, Nuku’alofa Tonga

28. Letsie III – The king of Lesotho

(Letsie III / lesotho.gov.ls)

Letsie III is the king of Lesotho. Interestingly, Lesotho is the only independent state in the world that lies over 1000 meters above sea level. The Royal Palace in Maseru is the official residence of the king.

Official residence: Royal Palace in Maseru, Lesotho

(Royal Palace in Maseru / ornamentalsheep.blogspot.com)

They have toured 4 continents, 57 countries and still craving for a cycling trip across Asia in November 2008. Pat and Catherine Patterson at 62 and 48 in 2002 respectively, had begun their “world tour” four years ago. The couple sold their real-estate company and cars, bought a new home and let that up for rent, and gave their furniture to their children. They had set out for a journey “leaving it all behind”.

It was way back in 1985, while on his brief trip to China, that Pat realized the essence of liberty for the first time in his life. At the end of his tour to China, Pat realized the “insanity” of touring foreign countries on bike. Some years later, Pat got married to Catherine, and while helping Pat in compiling his photos from his bicycling trip in China, she proposed for such a trip together.

Pattersons began their trip in 2002, biking from California in the east, transversing United States to reach Greenland, further, they continued through Europe and Russia moving down to Africa, and taking to southern Chile and lastly making their way back to California. The couple could realize at the end of it, the weight of the world was lifted off their shoulders.

Just imagine a free fall from a plane without a parachute, obviously the height of insanity – Travis Alan Pastrana turns it to reality. Born on October 8, 1983, in Annapolis, Maryland, this intrepid motor-driver has several records to his name. Pastrana won the sport’s Freestyle MotoX world championship at age 14. Moreover, the expert rider’s achievements include X Games gold medals in a number of events – motocross, freestyle motocross, supercross and rally.

Pastrana’s popularity in the circuit owes to his groundbreaking sport’s tricks. At X Games 12 in Los Angeles, he stunned the spectators with an amazing double backflip landing, in fact he was the first rider to attempt such a trick, which earned him the Moto X Best Trick Gold Medal. Pastrana has always been a Suzuki motorcycle rider, and remained loyal to the brand.

Further, he has two Dirtbike racing championships – the 2001 125cc East Coast Supercross Championship and the 2000 AMA 125cc National championship – to his credit. What makes Pastrana a podium threat in every race is his aggressive and never-say-die attitude. His immaculate spot jump combinations, and acceleration through the whoop makes him the favorite on the track.

He has encountered severe injuries in his career and recently suffering with problems in his knees, which stopped him from competing supercross races. However, after his retirement from Freestyle Motor X in 2007, Pastrana is all set to go for kill in Red Bull X-Fighters tour.

Strange enough an Indonesian fisherman with tree-like roots protruding from feet and arms – vexed medical experts, until hopes were revived by an American doctor. Dede had warty roots growing on his limbs after a knee cut in teenage accident. It was from a Discovery Channel documentary that American dermatologist Dr. Anthony Gaspari of the University of Maryland came to know of Dede’s misery and suggested that his condition could be cleared to a large extent by daily doses of a synthetic form of Vitamin A.

Reconciled to his circumstances, with local doctors having no cure for his condition, Dede was deserted by his wife and lost his job. He was stricken by poverty with his two children to nourish. To meet the ends, Dede participated in a local “freak show”, parading before paying audience along with other victims of peculiar diseases. Except for support from his extended family, he was often a target of gag and abuse in his fishing village.

Dede’s case was far rare and most mysterious – testing samples of the lesions provided that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – a typical infection which helps the small warts to develop, was responsible for his state. Dr. Anthony Gaspari describes Dede’s problem as a rare genetic fault that impedes his immune system, and intrigued over the Dede’s strange immune condition, the doctors wants to fly him to America, however with financial and bureaucratic barriers Dede’s fate is still to be decided.

From few centuries, furniture as product is selling by many companies. Almost every person finds best furniture store for purchasing best furniture. But, many people always prefer to purchase cheap furniture with better quality. With the home furniture, the baby furniture is also getting popularity but it is quite expensive then home furniture. In this century, with the remote furniture introduction the trend is shifting towards another direction.

Contesting for the best-looking bottoms in the world, 19-year-old women Kristina Dimitrova and a 24-year-old Andrei Andrei, the male counterpart made it to the crown. The jury declared the Bulgarian Kristina and Romanian Andrei, the women and men as world backside champions of the backside beauty contest sponsored by a lingerie firm. Besides a hefty 10,000-euro (14,400-dollar) cash prize, each winner acquired a contract for the company’s next international advertising campaign. What is more, they also earned a year-long insurance policy for their backsides in case of an injury.

The ”backside battle” was a great contest with 5,000 people from 29 countries, posting photos of their rear ends on the Internet, in response to an urge from the European company Triumph, three months ago. Interestingly the site baited more than five million visitors – 130,000 registered members, who choose their 10 favorite male and female bottoms across each country. Finally, 45 men and women qualified for the finals in Munich, out of which the two aces were chosen by seven eminent jury members including representatives from the fashion and fitness industry.

Nick’s life had many hardships, more so at his school. On being bullied by others in school he got extremely depressed, almost on the verge of attempting suicide before he began to recognize that his feats could inspire many. He learned to write using the two toes, and later on learned to operate computer and type using the “heel and toe” method. With the turn of events, at seventeen, Nick offered speeches to his prayer group and in due course started his non-profit organization, “Life Without Limbs.”

Nick cracks great jokes on the way people react to his appearance. He loves the way kids react at him. On one occasion, a kid shocked at his appearance exclaimed “what happened!” Nick replied – “Cigarettes.” Nevertheless, Nick continues his good work for the disabled and plans to promote his thoughts through his ‘No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!’ to be completed by the end of 2007.

Luck has always been on his side or vice versa, the Croatian music teacher Frane Selak (born in 1929) is well known for as many fatal accidents as spectacular escapes. The first of his numerous near-death experiences began on a cold January day in 1962, when Selak was on a train to Dubrovnik. Seldom had Selak thought where he was heading until odyssey terminated, with the train suddenly plunging into the icy river killing 17 passengers. Although he managed to escape, not without a broken arm, minor scratches and bruises.

A year later, Selak was flying from Zagreb to Rijeka when abruptly a door blew away from the cockpit of the plane, as he was blown off the plane. The accident took a tool of 19 people; however, Selak was lucky enough to land on a haystack, to wake up in hospital with minor injuries. It was in 1966 that he met with the third misadventure while traveling on a bus that crashed and plunged into a river. There were four people dead, astonishingly Selak managed to escape unharmed.

In 1970, Selak was driving along when all of a sudden his car caught fire. He was fortunate again to have left the car before the fuel tank exploded. Three years later, Selak’s another car caught fire, blowing flames through the air vents. To a greater dismay, Selak only injury was that he lost most of his hair. He named “Lucky” by his friends.

In 1995, Selak was in Zagreb when a bus hit him, this time again it was nothing more for the man, except a few injuries. The following year, while driving through a mountain road, Selak drove off a guardrail to escape an oncoming truck and landed on a tree to watch his car explode 300 feet below.

Surprisingly, with the turn of events in 2003, Selak won $1,000,000 dollars in the Croatian lottery, when he was heard saying “I know God was watching me over all these years.” Selak feels he can be looked upon either as “the world’s unluckiest man, or the world’s luckiest man,” however he prefers the latter.