The Lost Islands of Socotra, Yemen

Socotra is a collection of 4 islands cut away from the rest of the world about 6 million years ago. It is one of the most isolated places on earth. Socotra's long isolation and fierce climate has given birth to a unique variety of endemic flora, giving Socotra the distinction of being 'the most alien looking place on earth'.

Socotra's enchanting islands lie about 240 km east of the Horn of Africa and 380 km south of the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen. Socotra, the 'Galapagos of Indian Ocean', is the largest island in the Middle East and is known to the world as one of the best sites to witness biodiversity.
The name 'Socotra' comes from Sanskrit 'dvipa sukhadhara' meaning 'island of bliss'. I personally believe that it is the peace and the natural grace of the place that earned it such a name.

Socotra has a seriously harsh climate. The average temperature around the year is about 25 degrees Centigrade. Rains are very scanty and strong winds hit the island in monsoon.

Socotra's geography is also a major reason why it is such a fascinating place. Its little patch of land has a diverse geography. The landscape consists of features like plains, plateaus, sandy beaches and mountains as high as 1503 meters. The plateaus are full of caves, some of which go as deep as 7 km. There are sand dunes and amazing beaches which add to the awesomeness of the place.

Inspite of the scorching temperature, Socotra supports one of the world's most amazing plant life. For some people, it is the fierce heat itself and the lack of water that has helped Socotra's flora to evolve in such unique forms.
Socotra is home to a total of 825 plant species, out of which about one third are endemic i.e found nowhere on earth. Which makes Socotra one of the world's largest endemic plant populations.

Dragon Blood Tree

This is one of Socotra's most popular plant. It is named the Dragon's Blood Tree. It's unique quality doesn't lie in it's strange shape but the red sap it produces which is used to make crystals which are used for dyeing and for medicines.

Socotra Bunting	Socotra Cormorant
Socotra Lizard

Socotra also offers a diverse show of fauna, with birds mostly dominating the environment. Socotra has about 140 species of birds which make it a heaven for bird watchers. Out of the 140, 10 species are endemic. The most important birds found on Socotra are the Socotra warbler, Socotra sunbird, starling, bunting, sparrow and cisticola.
Socotra also has some small reptiles with mammals only present in the form bats and feral cats.

The misty Socotra city

The 4 islands of Socotra have a total population of about 70,000. The inhabitants are mostly of Arabian and African origin who speak a language called Socotri, the language itself being endemic. They are peaceful, joyful, and hospitable. For me, they all deserve a big thankful hug for conserving this amazing ecosystem for the rest of the world.

Toddler almost killed after his egg collection hatches into Eastern Brown Snakes

Kyle Cummings, a 3-year old toddler, was almost killed when his egg collection hatched into Eastern Brown snakes.

It all started about a few weeks ago, when Kyle Cummings came across with a clutch of nine eggs while playing in his family's 3 acre property near the city of Townsville, in Queensland state. Unaware of what the eggs actually carried, the young wildlife enthusiast brought the eggs home and kept them inside a box, leaving the box in the warmth of his bedroom closet.
It was not until Donna Sim, Kyle's mother, lost her soul in fright when she found the baby snakes writhing in her son's wardrobe. Seven of the nine eggs had hatched into deadly eastern browns.

"I was pretty shocked, particularly because I don't like snakes," Sim told the Townsville Bulletin newspaper.

 Fortunately, Kyle had closed the box tight enough so as to confine the Eastern Browns.
Reptile specialist Trish Prendergast, who is also the Townsville-based reptile coordinator of the volunteer group North Queensland Wildlife Care, was handed the container on Tuesday and released the snakes into the wild that night. Trish said that Kyle Cummings could have been killed if he had handled the eastern brown snakes - the world's most venomous species on land after Australia's inland taipan.

"If he'd opened the container he might not be here today." she said

Snakes kill 3-4 people each year in Australia, most of them as a result of bites from Eastern Brown snakes.

20 Christmas Fun Facts You Never Knew

The Holiday Season is on your doorstep. Enjoy these truly amazing fun facts about Christmas you never knew.

1. The Greeks celebrated Christmas on January 7. Until in A.D. 350, Pope Julius I proclaimed December 25 the official date for Christmas.
2. In Greek, 'X' stands for Christ. This is from where the word 'Xmas' originated.

3. If you wait for Santa to bring you a gift on every Christmas Eve, then keep these facts in mind. According to US scientists, if Santa is to deliver all the world's gifts on Christmas eve, then he would have to visit 822 homes a second, while travelling at no less than 650 miles per second. That has to be fast...
4. The legend of Santa Claus comes from a real saint, St. Nikolas of Myra, who lived in today's Turkey around the fourth century. The term 'Santa Claus' is itself derived from Sankt Niklaus, German name for Saint Nicholas.
5. According to a story, the tradition of Christmas stockings have been originated from three sisters who could not afford a marriage dowry. They were helped by Saint Nicholas, who crept down their chimney and filled their stockings with gold coins.
6. Apples were the first known Christmas tree decorations. Until they were replaced by lights, a trend first started by protestant reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546). According to a story, he got the idea after watching stars shining between the branches of a fir tree.

7. In Britain, people wear paper crowns on Christmas. The origins of this tradition can be traced back to the Roman Saturnalia Celebrations.
8. The term 'Christmas' has been derived from the Old English word "Cristes maesse" which means "Christ's Mass".
9. Christmas was first celebrated in Britain in 521 in York.
10. An average Christmas tree takes 15 years to grow.
11. An average household in America mails out 28 cards on Christmas and see 28 Christmas cards return to their place.
12. In Canada, Santa Claus has his own postal zip code, H0H 0H0.
13. In 1647, Christmas was made illegal by the English Parliament. The Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell, who considered feasting on a holy day to be immoral, banned the Christmas festivities. The ban was lifted only when Cromwell lost power in 1660.
14. The song "Jingle Bells" was originally written for Thanksgiving in the year 1857.

15. The Norwegians believed that witches come out on Christmas eve to look for brooms to ride. Thus, all the brooms in the house were hidden and men went outside and fired a shotgun to frighten the evil spirits away.
16. 56 percent Americans say that they always sing Christmas carols to their pets.
17. During the Christmas buying season, Visa cards are swiped an average of 5340 times every minute in the United States.
18. There are two islands in the world named 'Christmas'. One in the Pacific ocean and the other in the Indian ocean.
19. According to a study, two weeks before Christmas is the most popular time for couples to break up.
20. The Germans made the first artificial Christmas tree out of dyed goose feathers.

More Christmas Fun Facts

Here is a great book to dive deeper into Christmas facts. You may find some questions in this book that will stump you. Some of the answers may even surprise you. A fun read for the whole family. Buy Christmas Facts for Fun from Amazon