Australian Open Of Surfing: 2012

Pro surfing fans have much to look forward to this weekend as the Australian Open, making its debut on the shores of Sydney, is currently taking place until February 19th, 2012 at the revered Manly Beach, widely known as the birthplace of Australian surfing.

Socotra: The Isle of The Dragonsblood

Situated 250 miles off the coast of Yemen, Socotra is the largest member of an archipelago of the same name, a four-island ellipsis that trails off the Horn of Africa into the Gulf of Aden. Of stunning natural beauty and described as the most alien-looking place on Earth, Socotra, land of the rare Dragon Blood Trees, is of universal importance due to its unique biodiversity with rich and distinct flora and fauna.